Talk:United States Interests Section in Havana

(from Havana page)

Untitled

 * The U.S. Interest Section billboard controversy  has been making national news in the U.S.  Can anyone familiary with Havana put it in context?  -- Beland 01:58, 16 June 2006 (UTC)


 * Difficult to make NPOV ! If I have time over the weekend, I'll try to make a start. -- Beardo 14:08, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Photo
Anyone have a non-copyright photo ? -- Beardo 20:09, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

I have one, although it's not the best as it was taken from a moving cab. I'll upload it and post a link here in the talk page. --Miguelalmeidatorres 14:15, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

[[Media:USINT_Havana.JPG|Here]] it is. I also uploaded a [[Media:USINT_cartoon_billboard.JPG|photo]] of the first billboard mentioned in the article, if it's not relevant feel free to delete it. --Miguelalmeidatorres 14:39, 2 August 2006 (UTC)


 * When were those photos taken ? -- Beardo 22:38, 2 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Sorry for taking so long to answer. As stated in the summary of both images, they were taken in 29 June 2005. Miguelalmeidatorres 20:02, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

I just posted a couple of photos I took last Feb.- one of the interests section taken from the main square, another of the "Bush as Vampire" billboard. I've also got a good one of the cartoon billboard, but wasn't sure where a good place might be to put it. Any ideas? Stevenbedrick (talk) 23:54, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Still a stub ?
I think that we are close to being able to remove that tag.

A little more on the electronic billboard and the black flags. Also something about the number of staff, perhaps. -- Beardo 21:18, 19 June 2006 (UTC)


 * There's that business about the power being switched off as well, Beardo. I guess that's worth a write up?--Zleitzen 11:58, 20 June 2006 (UTC)

Payá
Beardo, the article states that "the leader of that project, Oswaldo Payá, was careful to avoid association with USINT". Although Payá wasn't accused directly by Castro for good reason, and did make efforts to distance himself from the the USINT when it became apparent that Cason's approach was counterproductive to the cause, there's actually a pic of Paya at James Cason's house, which does seem to contradict our article somewhat. A better wording might be "was careful to stress his distance from the Americans".--Zleitzen 14:20, 21 June 2006 (UTC)

Z - fine with your wording. (Though I suspect Paya was careful in not accepting cash and gifts otherwise he'd have been arrested, too. Unless he's really a secret government agent ?) -- Beardo 03:59, 22 June 2006 (UTC)


 * I imagine it would have blown up in Castro's face faster than an exploding cigar if they'd arrested Paya, who'd been courting all the right people in Europe. It seems as though it was Paya who cottoned on fast to the failure of Cason's daft schemes and pulled a sharp "he's not with me, Gov" move. Frankly, I'm amazed the USINT is pulling these stunts, they're only strengthening the bearded old goat and, in my view, undermining legitimate resistance groups. But, as I've said elsewhere, US parties have elections and key marginal states to win over. Such is politics. Will replace the quote. --Zleitzen 05:00, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

The Voice of People of the Sun
The censure is vandalism! if, of which type of freedom speaks United States?

I want only add important information for the Universal Human Rights:

Also in Cuba, United States have a ILEGAL NAVAL BASE named Guantanamo, constructed out the U.S. territory for TORTURES a political prisioners without a previous constitutional judgment.

New material
A lot of this new material is really good and interesting, though some of the Mariel Boatlift material is perhaps a touch off-topic for this page. I'm also a little concerned about the lack of sources. Could the editor please come back and provide sources for the new information please?--Zleitzen 04:40, 10 August 2006 (UTC)


 * I don't think we need a list of all staff members in 1977 - unless we are going to list all their staff.


 * Although the Lunt article in NYT does not mention USINT, I think we can include the reference where he is mentioned.


 * I will also incorporate the Vanderbilt TV article.

-- Beardo 12:44, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

I am the author of the part about the early years. I was there as the Consular Chief 77-79 and personally experienced the pre Mariel developments. The early history may not be germane to this article but should be documented somewhere. The original 10 US Foreign Service staff that opened the Section after many years of no contact were named on the front page of the New York Times when the Section opened. They were: Lyle Lane, Vita Palazzolo, John Glassman, Ana Maria Bustamante, Barbara Hutchinson, Doug Langan, Clarke Allard, Ivan Kern, Mike Kline and myself plus 10 Marine Security Guards. The Times piece is searchable on the times website but is a pay to view item. Tom Holladay

List of section chiefs
Should we try to have a list of section chiefs somewhere ? -- Beardo 13:02, 28 September 2006 (UTC)


 * I've created a list of United States Ambassadors to Cuba - perhaps a list of chiefs should become a section on that page. Also I think Wayne Smith needs a page of his own, a rather chipper character with some good lines on the situation.--Zleitzen 13:08, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

Lyle Lane was the first. Wayne Smith the second.

Wayne certainly deserves his own page. TH

Here is what I have found:
 * 1977-1979 Lyle Franklin Lane
 * 1979-1982 Wayne S. Smith
 * 1982-1985 John Ferch
 * 1985-1987 Curtis W. Kamman
 * 1987-1990 John J. Taylor
 * 1990-1993 Alan H. Flanigan
 * 1993-1996 Joseph Sullivan
 * 1996-1999 Michael Kozak
 * 1999-2002 Vicki J. Huddleston
 * 2002-2005 James Cason
 * 2005-2008 Michael E. Parmly
 * 2008-now Jonathan D. Farrar

Hopes this helps.Callelinea (talk) 06:13, 11 October 2009 (UTC)

Embassy
Why not calling it an embassy? Do we have to wait until secretary Kerry arrives and officially declares it next month? Archway (talk) 08:29, 23 July 2015 (UTC)
 * This article is about the former Interests Section. The embassy has it's own article: Embassy of the United States, Havana. AHeneen (talk) 09:29, 23 July 2015 (UTC)