When To and Not To Starve Innocent People: The U.S. versus Communist Soviet Union

Hi,

On 25 June 1948, the Soviet Union stopped supplying food to the civilian population in the non-Soviet sectors of Berlin with the hopes of starving the resident population so that the Allied powers would surrender their plans of strengthening the German state through a new German currency backed by the Marshall Plan. This event eventually lead to the famous Berlin Airlift.

So here we have a great example of a tyrannical dictator starving an innocent population so that he may move his chess pieces a bit further in the global game of power politics.

Let me repeat because I want it be crystal clear: Communist Soviet Union resorted to starving innocent men, women, and children for the sake of geo-politics.

The Soviet Union will forever be remembered for its brutality, not only to their own citizens, but specially to the citizens of the neighboring Soviet Blocs.

Think about how sinister it is to force innocent persons to go hungry to the point of starvation. Simply horrendous. Period.

Now, let’s talk about how the U.S. utilizes the same tactics to play their game of power politics.

Yes. The United States has starved many innocent men, women, children throughout the years. In fact, it’s official policy which goes on to this very day.

By March 1960, just barely over a year after the Cuban Revolution, the U.S. decided that it was time to punish the Cuban people for allowing Castro to take power in Cuba.

As explained in the Memorandum of Discussion at the 436th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, March 10, 1960:

Mr. Dillon [Under Secretary of State] reported that up to the present time he had felt we should be careful not to take actions which would have a serious effect on the Cuban people, but now he believed we need not be so careful about actions of this kind, since the Cuban people were responsible for the [Castro] regime. If Castro continued his present activities, the results would be catastrophic throughout the hemisphere, whereas a set-back to the Cuban economy as a result of Castro’s actions might be a desirable development, since it would show that Communist-type activity does not pay.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d474

It was now permissible to punish the innocent residents of Cuba.

In July of the same year, the Assistant Secretary of State, Roy Rubottom, was convinced that the people of Cuba are completely at fault for allowing the Castro regime to happen.

Memorandum for the Files by the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom), July 6, 1960

We have gone as far as we can in trying to distinguish between the Cuban people and their present government, much as we sympathize with the plight of what we believe to be the great majority of Cubans. The recent series of articles by Thomas Wolf in the Washington Post clearly shows the extent to which the Cuban “people” have allowed themselves to be hoodwinked and out-maneuvered, assuming that some of them have been alert, by the communists.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d543

The intent was to politicise hunger as a means of promoting popular disaffection, in the hope that driven by want and motivated by despair Cubans would rise up and oust Fidel Castro.

President Eisenhower approved economic sanctions in the hopes of starving the population.

Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, January 25, 1960, 11:15–11:55 a.m.

The President said that, if it comes to such conditions, we could quarantine Cuba. If they (the Cuban people) are hungry, they will throw Castro out.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d436

Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Mallory) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Rubottom):

The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship….it follows that every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba…to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d499

Eisenhower wrote the British Prime Minister and expressed his objectives.

Letter From President Eisenhower to British Prime Minister Macmillan, July 11, 1960

Our primary objective is to establish conditions which will bring home to the Cuban people the cost of Castro’s policies and of his Soviet orientation

I anticipate that, as the situation unfolds, we shall be obliged to take further economic measures which will have the effect of impressing on the Cuban people the cost of this Communist orientation.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d551

John F. Kennedy would continue the legacy of starving the Cuban people.
Yes, even the beloved Kennedy’s took part in this horrendous policy.

Theodore Sorensen, presidential adviser and speechwriter for Kennedy, wrote in Kennedy, (1965), Chapter 25:

Castro was hurt, though not mortally, by a lack of trade with the free world, a lack of spare parts and consumer goods, plummeting popularity throughout the hemisphere and rising discomfort among hungry Cubans.

https://books.google.com/books?id=QhyvAAAAIAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=hungry+cubans

In 1962, brother Robert Kennedy would wish for more than just a few hungry Cubans. Dissatisfied with the secret operation Mongoose to overthrow Castro, Arthur Schlesinger recounted in his biography Robert Kennedy and His Times:

The Attorney General was always dissatisfied with Mongoose. He wanted it to do more, the terrors of the earth, but what they were he know not.

https://books.google.com/books?id=5L-EeG9djO4C&q=terrors+of+the+earth#v=snippet&q=terrors%20of%20the%20earth&f=false

The residents of Berlin were fortunate to have the support of the U.S. and the allies. Unfortunately, the Cubans were not so lucky.

When the Communist Soviets starved innocent people, they were monsters. When the United States does the same: Crickets!

Let that be a lesson in power.

Thanks for reading,

Leave a Reply

%d