Martinez: Accept Cuba Offer

Florida Senator Mel Martinez, who was considered by many as rather moderate on Cuba issues before running for Senator, is showing signs of this by stating that he would accept castro's offer of over 1,000 doctors to aid Katrina victims in a Herald article published today.

Martinez's statement distances himself from the traditional Cuban-American lawmaker stance which so far has been to turn down any aid offer from Cuba. It remains to be seen whether the Bush administration will follow Martinez's recommendation, or turn down the aid.

I'm sure many see accepting Cuba's offer as acknowledging a "good deed" on the part of castro, and accepting it would make el barbudo look good. I can understand that sentiment.

However, we're not talking about selling goods to Cuba for cash here. We're not talking about pumping dollars into Cuba. We're dealing with our own people who need help following a natural disaster.

My opinion will likely not sit well with many Cuban-Americans, but if castro is serious about sending 1,600 doctors here, then fine, let's take them in. We have nothing to lose here, and a lot to gain, including the distinct possibility of some talented Cuban doctors defecting.

It would also make fidel look bad for turning down U.S. and European offers of aid after Hurricane Dennis hit Cuba in July, regardless of what Ana Menendez thinks.

Martinez: Cuban aid should be welcomed

Sen. Mel Martinez said he was 'grateful' for Cuba's offer to send doctors to assist in the Katrina relief effort, though the Bush administration has not responded to the offer.

BY PABLO BACHELET

WASHINGTON - Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez said Wednesday that the U.S. government should accept Cuba's offer to send hundreds of doctors to treat victims of Hurricane Katrina, provided they are needed and "reasonably well-trained.''

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has offered to send nearly 1,600 physicians, potentially introducing another element of friction in the four-decade-long confrontation between the two adversaries. The Bush administration has said it will accept all offers of aid, but has also suggested that the United States did not need more doctors.

Castro's offer has put the administration in a tight spot. Refusal could be perceived as placing politics before the needs of victims.

Martinez, the first Cuban American to serve in the U.S. Senate, said he wondered if it was ''appropriate'' for Cuba to send the doctors, because many had already been dispatched to Venezuela and there was a shortage of medical help on the island. Cuba sends Venezuela doctors as part of payment for subsidized oil.

''But if we need doctors, and Cuba offers them and they provide good service, of course we should accept them,'' he said in his Washington office. ``And we're grateful for that offer.''

DIFFERING VIEW
Martinez is distancing himself from some of his fellow Cuban-American lawmakers.

Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said: "I see no need for us to accept the doctors, because we have many U.S. doctors who can meet the medical needs of Katrina's victims. Cuban doctors should take care of poor Cubans who lack proper medical care on the island.''

Martinez recalled how Cuba rejected a U.S. offer to send $50,000 when the island was ravaged by Hurricane Dennis in July. ''I regretted that,'' he said.

Castro has refused all U.S. aid as long as Washington maintains the trade embargo against the island.

The Bush administration has not responded to Cuba's offer, which was made over a week ago.

''We will wait as many days as necessary,'' Castro said Sunday, when he thanked the doctors, many of whom had volunteered for the service.

VENEZUELA'S OFFER
Martinez also welcomed an offer by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, a close ally of Castro and a fierce critic of the Bush administration, to donate $1 million to the Red Cross. Venezuela will also ship one million barrels of oil to the United States this month, in addition to the usual exports. Venezuela is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil to the United States.

Asked if he thought Chávez was using the offer for political purposes, Martinez said, ``I think at this time we accept any offers of assistance in good faith. He's offered oil. That would be very helpful.''

In December 1999, Washington dispatched two boatloads of aid for Venezuela when more than 15,000 people perished in mudslides. But Chávez refused help, and the vessels, which were transporting members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, were turned back. Venezuela never gave a reason for the refusal.