Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba

For other uses, see Free Cuba.
Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba
United States Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba
History
StatusInactive
Established byGeorge W. Bush on October 10, 2003 (2003-10-10)
Membership
Chairperson

The United States Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba (CAFC) was created by United States President George W. Bush on October 10, 2003,[1] to, according to him, explore ways the U.S. can help hasten and ease a democratic transition in Cuba.[2]

Members

At it's inception in 2003, the comission was chaired by then-Secretary of State, Colin Powell.[1] Since 2005, the commission has been co-chaired by Condoleezza Rice and Carlos M. Gutierrez.[3][4]

Commission members include all Cabinet-level agencies. The core agencies responsible for day-to-day operations of the Commission include, the Secretary of State (chairman); Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Secretary of the Treasury; Secretary of Commerce; Secretary of Homeland Security; the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, or their designees. The core group undertakes the day-to-day work of the commission. Any US government agencies may be called upon to provide support to the commission's work by the authority granted it by National Security Presidential Directive 29 to create and task working groups.[5]

First report

The commission's first report was released to the public on May 6, 2004. It set out a plan for bringing about change on the island and outlined numerous perceived problem areas and solutions to solve them.[6][7]

Second report

The commission released a second report in July 2006, which built on the findings of the first report. It also issued the "Compact with the Cuban People," which pledged that the US government would assist a transition government.[8]

Response of Cuban government

Fidel Castro referred to Rice as a "mad" woman and to the US Chief of Mission in Havana, Michael E. Parmly, as a "little gangster" and a "bully."[9][10] He insisted that in spite of the formation of the commission, Cuba is itself "in transition: to socialism [and] to communism" and that it is "ridiculous for the U.S. to threaten Cuba now."[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba Welcomes Public Input for Working Groups" (Press release). Washington, DC: Office of the Spokesman. February 9, 2004. Retrieved February 18, 2026 – via United States Department of State.
  2. ^ Rice, Condoleezza (December 19, 2005). "Meeting of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba" (Press release). Washington, DC: United States Department of State. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  3. ^ Lemoine, Maurice (September 2006). "Cuba after Fidel". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved February 18, 2026. On 10 July this year, the commission for assistance to a free Cuba, co-chaired by the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the secretary of commerce, Carlos Gutierrez...
  4. ^ Sullivan, Mark P. (June 26, 2008). Cuba: Issues for the 110th Congress (PDF). Congressional Research Service. pp. 15 (19 in PDF). Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  5. ^ "Mission and Members of Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba". United States Department of State. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  6. ^ "Fact Sheet: Report of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba" (Press release). Office of the Press Secretary. May 6, 2004. Retrieved February 18, 2026 – via Presidency of George W. Bush.
  7. ^ LeoGrande, William M. (May 22, 2024). "Cuba's Role in U.S. Presidential Elections" (PDF). Quincy Papers (14). Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft: 27.
  8. ^ Rice, Condoleezza; Gutierrez, Carlos; McCarry, Caleb (July 10, 2006). "Second Report of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba and the Compact With the Cuban People" (Press release). Washington, DC. Retrieved February 18, 2026 – via United States Department of State.
  9. ^ "Castro slams 'mad' US change plan". BBC News. December 23, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  10. ^ "Castro weighs up Rice". Al Jazeera. Reuters. December 24, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  11. ^ Diaz, Rigoberto (December 24, 2005). "Castro calls Rice 'mad'". News24. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
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