VIDEO: 4/29 National Security Hearing re: Cuba

[magbana]

Below is the URL for the 1 hour, 37 minute House hearing on the national security implications of US policy toward Cuba. Further below is the list of speakers.

Interesting that just one day after Gen. Barry McCaffrey states that Cuba is not a threat to the US' national security and that he can't understand why it is still on the terrorism list, the State Dept. keeps it on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kEwxSRgS5c

"Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Defense and Security
Hearing Notice: “National Security Implications of U.S. Policy toward Cuba”

Media Advisory

April 28, 2009

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Catherine McKenna Ribeiro (Tierney): [phone] Cell: [phone]

NATIONAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING
“National Security Implications of U.S. Policy toward Cuba”

WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs will conduct an oversight hearing on the national security policy implications of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The hearing aims to investigate the impact of current U.S.-Cuba policy on U.S. national security and evaluate the potential effects of increased U.S.-Cuba interaction on U.S. national security interests.

The issue of whether to bolster relations with Cuba is the focus of considerable debate on both sides of the aisle. It is a matter that involves extremely complex fiscal and political sensitivities. This hearing will provide an opportunity to address many of these issues.

WITNESS LIST: This hearing will feature top independent experts with extensive experience in Latin America and in their specific areas of expertise (e.g., military, energy security, drugs, etc.) including:

• General Barry McCaffrey, President, BR McCaffrey Associates; former SOUTHCOM Commander; former Drug Czar
• Mr. Jorge Pinon, Energy Fellow, Center for Hemispheric Policy, The University of Miami (see note below)
• Dr. Rensselaer Lee, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute
• Mr. Phil Peters, Vice President, Lexington Institute
• Ms. Sarah Stephens, Executive Director, Center for Democracy in the Americas

WHERE: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building

WHEN: 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2009"
http://nationalsecurity.oversight.house.gov/story.asp?I...


NOTE:

Jorge R. Piñón, an energy fellow with the University of Miami’s Center for Hemispheric Policy, former president of Amoco Oil Latin America, and an energy advisor to the Brookings project on U.S. Policy toward a Cuba in Transition, will testify before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs.


Mr. Piñón will be presenting key findings in the recently released Brookings report; “Cuba: A New Policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement.” As part of a phased strategy, the report highlights the need for Cuba to achieve energy independence from single source suppliers such as Venezuela, and addresses the role that American oil and oil service and equipment companies could play in shaping Cuba’s domestic and international policies.

Dóra Beszterczey | Research Assistant, U.S. Policy toward a Cuba in Transition |

The Brookings Institution | 202-797-6031 | 202-797-6003 Fax | [email protected]