Imperatives for a New Cuba Policy

Polls indicate the great majority of Americans now see our 47-year old Cuba policy for the utter failure it is. Even the Cuban-American community, heretofore solidly behind the policy, is moving rapidly in the other direction. Polls taken in the congressional districts of Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart, two of the policy's most iron-clad advocates, show even the majority of their constituents to disagree -- 66% expressing disagreement in Lincoln Diaz-Balart's district and 69% in Mario Diaz-Balart's. Truly a dramatic change.

This conference is co-sponsored by the New America Foundation, the Center for International Policy, USA*Engage and the U.S. Council for International Business. See map: Google Maps

Agenda

Conference Schedule

8:30 – 9:00am	COFFEE AND REGISTRATION
9:00 – 9:05am	WELCOME Steve Clemons Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation Publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com and www.TheHavanaNote.com
9:05 – 10:00am	PANEL 1 – POLITICAL OVERVIEW Wayne S. Smith Senior Fellow, Cuba Program, Center for International Policy Former Chief, U.S. Interests Section in Havana Col. Lawrence Wilkerson (Ret.) Professor of Government, College of William and Mary Former Chief of Staff in the Department of State under Colin Powell Phil Peters Vice President, Lexington Institute Former State Department appointee of Presidents Reagan and Bush
10:00 - 11:30am	PANEL 2 - CHANGING VIEWS IN THE CUBAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY Alfredo Duran President, Cuban Committee for Democracy Joe Garcia Chairman, Miami Dade Democratic Party Tony Zamora President, U.S.-Cuba Legal Forum Alvaro F. Fernandez President, Cuban-American Commission for Family Rights
11:30 – 11:45am	BREAK
11:45 – 1:15pm	PANEL 3 – POTENTIAL OPENINGS FOR BUSINESS Robert Muse Attorney, Muse and Associates Timothy Deal Senior Vice President, U.S. Council for International Business Jake Colvin Director, USA*Engage Daniel O’Flaherty Vice President, National Foreign Trade Council
1:15 – 2:45pm Introduced by	LUNCHEON ADDRESS The Honorable George McGovern Former U.S. Senator 1972 Democratic Presidential Nominee Cynthia McClintock Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University Board Chairman, Center for International Policy
2:45 – 3:00pm	CLOSING REMARKS