PLATFORM : Arm the Raft People

In Cuba, as in Haiti, the real answer to these tragedies lies with the people themselves, not in some notion of U.S. troops acting either as a landing force or welfare support group. Guantanamo Bay is actually a training base, or at least it was. So let’s get it back on line; let’s make an announcement to all those strong, dedicated Cubans who braved sharks and 10-foot waves that they can volunteer to be trained at Guantanamo to form a force that one day will free their people from Fidel Castro’s grip.

In spite of almost universal disdain, Castro has been able to remain in power because he is protected by personal security troops, numbering 10,000 by some estimates. Remember, there are more than 20,000 Cubans at Guantanamo already, plus another million or so living in Florida who just might welcome a chance to participate in bringing down Castro.

As the training began to turn out an elite fighting corps, word could be beamed to the people of Cuba that help is finally on the way, help from their own husbands and sons--who better to liberate their country?