Given Tampa’s historical roots and geography, it’s no surprise that Cuba is an ongoing subject of interest around here. And given the politics and some personal back stories, it’s no surprise that Cuba is also the source of subplots around here.
Should, for example, we make the civic effort to recruit a Cuban consulate? The Greater Tampa and Ybor City chambers of commerce think it’s a great idea. So do the Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission. Hell, if José Martí had a vote, he’d be in favor.
Now we find that among the naysayers are those fearing it could become a “spy hotbed.” Heads up CENTCOM and SOCOM.
And heads up Cold War paranoia. Cuba is not an enemy. Jihadists are. Russia is problematic. So is cyber-combative China. But what’s left of what the Castros wrought is not a threat to anybody but agenda-driven Cold Warriors.
And this just in. Tampa is a leading candidate to host the Cuban National Conference, a gathering of anti-Castro, Cuban dissidents, in April. If comparable paranoia were to prevail, then we should be wary of Batistianos planning cabals in our midst.