Monday, October 19, 2009

Come for the Disaster-Preparedness Lecture, Stay for the Totalitarianism   [Mark Hemingway]

It was in the web briefing yetserday, but my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I finally read "New Orleans mayor learns about disaster response in Cuba." So one day after President Obama is in the Big Easy, Mayor Ray Nagin heads off to Cuba to learn about disaster preparedness? What does the Cuban government possibly have to teach us? Here's the Cuban disaster-preparedness plan in a nutshell: Kill off the private economy for 50 years so that when a hurricane comes you don't have to worry about jobs lost or having much in the way of infrastructure to be destroyed. Brilliant! Even CNN couldn't write up a report on the trip without seeming dubious:

Cuba is internationally applauded for exceptional disaster management, according to a news release from Nagin's office.

Then there's this:

Three powerful hurricanes hit Cuba last year, damaging half a million homes and causing $10 billion in losses, according to the Cuban government. But only seven people died, thanks to a smooth evacuation plan.

Well, I'm sure Cuban government's track record for honesty regarding disaster prepardness is beyond question. On the other hand, CNN notes that Cuba's success at responding to disasters might be because of this:

Some aspects of the communist nation's response, including mandatory evacuations, may not be possible in a democracy.

Tom Friedman must be so jealous! Also, I'm probably hitting my head against the wall here but, again, why is it acceptable for a neverending stream of Democratic politicians to make the trek to Cuba and kiss Fidel's ring? Does having free health care* excuse a lengthy history of dragooning dissidents and gay people into prisons? Just last month Juan Carlos Gonzalez Marcos got a two-year prison sentence for getting drunk and ranting to a film crew about how widespread hunger is on the island. Somehow I doubt a visit to his prison cell is on Nagin's itinerary.

*By "free health care" I mean you have to bring your own linen to the hospital and pray you don't have a serious illness requiring sophisticated equipment and advanced medical training, but don't tell that to the international community!

10/19 02:27 PMShare