UCD a Cold House for Caleb Charles McCarry and U.S plans for Cuba.

dublin | miscellaneous | feature Monday April 30, 2007 19:35 by Red Wedge

A Deflated McCarry Gets An Escort Out .

Caleb McCarry is the senior U.S. official responsible for U.S. government planning to support a "transition to democracy" in Cuba through the President's Commission for Assistance to a "Free" Cuba.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chairs the Commission for Assistance to a "Free" Cuba and named Mr. McCarry as Transition Coordinator in July 2005. The Transition Coordinator reports to the Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs on a day-to-day basis and to the Secretary of State on important policy matters.

McCarry previously served on the majority professional staff of the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Related Links: The Friends of Cuba Protest Call | Cuban Ambassador Speaks To Labour Youth | Cuba Support Group Ireland | Maradonna Arrives in Cuba | Castro Alive and Kicking

Shortly after two o'clock today, Caleb McCarry visited the UCD arts block to give a talk on the invitation of the UCD Politics department. About 50 people-the great bulk of whom were protestors-turned out to see him.

The speaker from the UCD politics department welcomed those present to an "academic meeting". She introduced Celeb-now looking a bit concerned-on behalf of UCD and said that the university was delighted altogether to have him out.

Less keen on Caleb was a protestor in the front row who said "This man expects to find himself as governor general of Cuba”. The material being circulated by the Free the Miami Five campaign and the Cuban solidarity group reminded those present of what such a prospect might mean.

Some of the protestors held signs on the effects of the US blockade of Cuba. Other placards highlighted the acts of terrorism carries out by US government against the Cuban people. UCD students from a range of political groups were present. Eirigi, Labour Youth and Orga Sinn Fein were all well represented. There was alsoa a decent turnout of non aligned activists and some activists from the UCD SIPTU branch. The protestor’s numbers were swollen by friends of the Cuban people and members of the Communist party of Ireland.

The staff member introducing Caleb alluded to the "outsiders". The "outsiders" responded saying that they were taxpayers, graduates, concerned citizens and activists opposed to US aggression in Latin America. They asked the others in the room to remember that UCD did not exist in a bubble and that universities could not isolate themselves from society. One protestor insisted that the academics present remember the victims of US aggression in Latin American universities.

Things started to heat up when a CPI activist declared from the back "there will be no meeting here today". Another activist in the back row threw stink bombs. There was roaring and shouting as altercations broke out between some members of the UCD academic community and protestors. "We are here to develop or critical capacities" said one academic. There was discussion and debate amongst protestors as to the tactics that ought to be adapted, some insisting that they would like to question Caleb, others insisting he should never have been invited out to speak in the first place.

The staff member in charge then announced that the meeting would be postponed. With that in came the Gards to escort Caleb. There was much jeering as Caleb was led away under escort.

An eagle eyed activist reportedly witnessed the handing over of Caleb from the care of the Gardai to the care of the US marines.

One thing is for certain-Caleb got a warmer reception when he met officials from the Department of foreign affairs earlier today. One wonders whet they made of his plans for a “free” Cuba.

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