PRESS and TV coverage of the flight of thousands of Cuban "boat people" trying to reach the US has been monstrously quite true, as all the media have been keen to point out, that they are economic refugees, fleeing hardship Thousands of disaffected Cubans have been taking to the boats - but most have got no further than the dismal camp in the Guantanamo base (below) spare parts.
Meanwhile the United States has stepped up its radio and TV broadcasts to Cuba and tightened its blockade, hoping for the regime to collapse.
Two weeks ago the UN general assembly voted 87 votes to 3 to condemn the blockade of Cuba, and even French president Mitterrand has spoken out against it, saying that 'Cuba presents no threat to world peace'.
The response of the Cuban regime to the crisis has been to permit a considerable "marketisation' of the economy, with the reappearance of small and medium-size businesses for the first time since the 1960s. It has also considerably expanded the tourist trade to bring in foreign currency.
These moves have had many negative effects. Starting withe the tourist industry, but now becoming generalised, has been the creation of a 'dual economy', with every citizen able to buy more food and other goods if they have dollars to do it.
This has undoubtedly increased inequality and deepened social tensions. Who has dollars? Those in the tourist industry, those with families in Florida, and some in higher party or state positions who are able to purchase dollars.
This trend will be partially stemmed by the US decision to stop dollar remittances from relatives in the US, but this move could be temporary, and in any case this is just one aspect of the dollar economy.
For poorer, non-skilled workers with no access to the tourist industry and no connections in the local or national party and state apparatus, access to dollars is difficult.
The dual economy therefore strengthens bureaucracy and the trend towards the emergence of a privileged middle class.
The Castro leadership has not however combined marketisation with a democratic opening. And while Cuba is much more free than China, or the old Soviet Union, any significant movement of opposition is likely to be repressed.
Most serious observers agree that the majority of Cubans remain loyal to the revolution, even if they are critical of the regime. However there is a significant age differential in this loyalty. No one under the age of about 40 remembers the revolution, and almost no one under 50 will have participated in it.
The memory of Batista's old corrupt capitalist regime, when Cuba was a playground for American millionaires and the vast majority lived in abject poverty, is now very remote. The longterm loyalty of those who don't remember the revolution, in a situation of growing poverty and little democracy, must be in question.
For the moment the boat people crisis has put the US on the defensive. However there are big dangers in the situation.
The huge invasion force aimed at Haiti, which includes british snips. could easily be turned into a force for enforcing a total blockade of Cuba - or worse.
Whatever our criticisms of the regime, now is the time for socialists to demand an end to the imperialist blockade and step up our defence of the Cuban revolution. INTERNATIONAL Workers Aid has been running constant convoys to the beleaguered people of Bosnia, and especially to the multi-ethnic town of Tuzla. The convoys have concentrated on food, and have built a programme for providing bread to thousands of people.
This year, 11 convoys with more than 170 tons of food have made it through the blockade to Tuzla, where the miners trade union has distributed it to families in need.
Now the Government District of Tuzla has awarded a silver diploma to International Workers Aid to say "thanks" for all the aid which has been provided: