George Gedda, a retired diplomatic correspondent for The Associated
Press, has a new book out based largely on his 31 visits to Cuba,
all but a few on assignment for AP. "Cuba-The Audacious Revolution"
offers a rare close-up look at the struggles of the Cuban people in
overcoming the challenges of low pay, substandard housing,
malfunctioning public transportation and chronic food shortages.
The system that Fidel Castro created provides free health care and
education, both laudable goals, but delivery on them often has been
uneven, especially since the collapse of his one-time patron, the
Soviet Union. As Gedda points out, under the rule of brother Raul,
Cuba has become less ideological and more reformist, especially on
the economic front. Also, Cubans are freer to speak their minds now
than before. As of 2011 there has been little movement toward a
more respectful relationship with the United States, the chief bone
of contention being the U.S. embargo against Cuba, in place for a
half-century though in diluted form. Not content merely to turn
Cuba upside down, Castro also saw the replacement of capitalism
with socialism as the key to development in the Third World, where
he is an admired figure even though his recipes for that vast
region have largely been unheeded. What the experts are saying:
.."... a great introduction to Cuba...a fascinating, fast-paced,
read about a fascinating, vexing country...nobody will be able to
gainsay Gedda for his source material or the humanity and
sensitivity he brings to the subject ... provides a view of Fidel
Castro's Cuba and his audacious revolution that is hard to match by
anyone who does not live there." John Maisto, retired U.S. diplomat
and three-time U.S. ambassador. "Gedda complements his rich
vignettes drawn from his 31 visits to Cuba with well-informed
research and considerable knowledge of the wider region to produce
an engaging, valuable account." Michael Shifter, president,
Inter-American Dialogue, Washington
General
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