Caleb McCarry

Caleb McCarry is the Bush administration's Cuba Transition Coordinator, tasked with coordinating the U.S. government's efforts to aid the opposition in their efforts to overthrow the Communist government of Cuba and transition towards Capitalism and Liberal democracy. The position developed out of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. McCarry described the Commission's purpose as to put forth "an intelligent, generous and above all respectful offer of support to the Cuban people" in efforts to end "the dictatorship [that] has willfully and cruelly divided the Cuban family." [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/50346.htm] His mission is described by the Cuban government as "part of a broader U.S. 'plan for Cuba's annexation.'" [http://www.coxwashington.com/hp/content/reporters/stories/BC_US_CUBA27_COX.html]

McCarry was previously staff director for Rep. Henry Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee. He is the son of the novelist and former CIA agent Charles McCarry. He is 44, married, and has two teenage children. He speaks Spanish and has a degree in Spanish literature.

McCarry worked in the office of Senator Jesse Helms, co-sponsor of the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, that extended the US embargo considerably.

Biography

In 1990, McCarry was director of a Guatemalan project of the Center for Democracy, an organization designed to "promote the democratic process in the United States and abroad." [http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/cfd.php]

While a congressional staffer, McCarry was known for his opposition to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. An anonymous State Department source told a Salon.com journalist that McCarry was involved in funneling money to Aristide's opposition via the International Republican Institute, which is funded by the United States government. [http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/history/2004/0716otherchange.htm]

In 2004, McCarry participated in the Haiti Democracy Project, " [a] Delegation to "Help Haiti Move Forward". [http://haitipolicy.org/Delegation.htm]

Cuba Transition Coordinator

According to a BBC News Online article of April 11, 2006, "He says his job is to help Cubans "recover their freedom after 47 years of brutal dictatorship". To achieve this, Mr McCarry has a budget of $59m to "hasten the transition" and to ensure that neither Raúl Castro nor any of the other "pretenders", from Vice President Carlos Lage to Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, automatically continue the current system." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4899414.stm]

The creation of a "Cuba Transition Coordinator" post within the United States government was heavily criticized by Cuban government officials. Shortly after McCarry's appointment, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque told the United Nations that the United States' plans to overthrow the Cuban government are "delusional". [http://www.coxwashington.com/hp/content/reporters/stories/BC_US_CUBA27_COX.html]

Several prominent Cuban dissidents, including well-known anti-Castro activists Oswaldo Payá and Elizardo Sanchez, said McCarry's appointment was counterproductive, as " [i] t will allow the Cuban government to raise the spectre of foreign interference in the internal affairs of our country." [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050802/asp/foreign/story_5063829.asp]

ee also

Cuba-United States relations

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/50346.htm Announcement of Cuba Transition Coordinator Caleb McCarry] from the US State Department.
* [http://www.state.gov/p/wha/rls/rm/2005/50360.htm Statement by Cuba Transition Coordinator Caleb McCarry] from the US State Department.
* [http://usinfo.state.gov/wh/Archive/2005/Jul/28-883604.html Secretary Rice Appoints New Transition Coordinator for Cuba] , US State Department.
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4899414.stm Planning for a Cuba without Castro] , BBC News Online, April 12, 2006.
* [http://havanajournal.com/politics/entry/josefina_vidal_vs_caleb_mccarry_opinion/ Josefina Vidal vs. Caleb McCarry]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4726301.stm New post to help Castro 'demise'] , BBC News online, July 28, 2005.
* [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050802/asp/foreign/story_5063829.asp Condi co-ordinator to take on Castro] , The Telegraph (Calcutta, India), August 2, 2005.
* [http://www.canf.org/2005/1in/noticias-CANF/2005-jul-28-PRESS-RELEASE-CANF-applauds-white-house.htm CANF applauds White House choice of Caleb McCarry for New Cuba] from the Cuban American National Foundation.