It's not often you see public infighting between an administration and a Senate chairman of the same party. But last week, an impasse over USAID's Cuba program between USAID and Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry heated up on the pages of The Miami Herald.  According to the Herald, somebody called somebody a "Communist dupe" and the word "backstabbing" was thrown around. 

What's the ruckus about?  Last spring, the Democratic chairmen of the House and Senate Committees charged with foreign affairs put holds on FY09 USAID funds for its Cuba program.  The two chairmen questioned the efficacy of a program which (do we have to remind anyone at this point?) has had its fair share of problems.  After successive investigations uncovered embarassing misuse of funds, fraud and embezzlement, and a lack of demonstrable or significant results, the arrest of an American USAID subcontractor in Cuba forced Congress to finally examine how practicable USAID's democracy mission in Cuba really is.  

The Chairmen seemed to come to an understanding with USAID after numerous consultations together last spring, and released their holds.  The result was a $5 million cut to the program and a shift in the program's strategy and implementation.  This spring, when USAID gave notice to Congress that it was ready to spend FY2010 funds, Kerry again held the funds (which were back to $20 million), and submitted more than a dozen detailed questions to USAID.  (The notification is here.  The questions and answers are here.)

It's pretty in-the-weeds stuff, but the upshot I get from reading it is that team Kerry thinks that USAID hasn't lived up to whatever deals were agreed to last spring.  But team USAID thinks not only has it done enough, but that it can "take" Kerry in this rematch.  How else to explain administration officials leaking an email from a Democratic chairman's office to the media?

You won't find many Cuba observers who consider the program a success, and yet, as Lilia Lopez wrote here at THN two months ago, it's always hard to cut something labeled as "democracy promotion" - even when its a demonstrable failure.  So when Kerry and Berman struck that deal last year, it seemed they were practically doing State and USAID a favor. 

But it seems that whatever the administration's view of the program, the officials charged with running it either want to wind it down more subtly, or perhaps they really believe that they can run this "improved" program.  I don't know which are its true intentions, as the regime-change oriented program that grew during the Bush administration is now shifting its focus to "broaden" its work, to marginalized groups such as the disabled, gay Cubans and the sexually exploited (while maintaining support to families of political prisoners and to independent bloggers and other activists). 

The "broader" focus may mean a less overtly regime-change program in deed, if not in word.  But given that the aid is still authorized under Section 109, I'm not convinced it can get very far past the Cuban government, or that very many Cubans would accept it if they know from where it originates.  And, I'm not convinced USAID can find many Cuban youth interested enough in advocating political rights as per USAID's revamped plans, when what the youth are really looking for is anything but political. (It's the economy, stupid.)  But as for these marginalized groups, it's not like they are persecuted in Cuba, and in fact, if circumstances were different, the Cuban government might even accept official aid from us to further improve conditions for them.  (As British embassy staff have told me on prior trips, for instance, they have teamed up with the Cubans in funding assistance to victims of sexual abuse).  So if we were serious about helping these groups, why do it this way?

And if USAID is able to find a few willing partners?  How can we be sure they won't end up testifying on Razones de Cuba, the Cuban television program recently featuring USAID contacts in Cuba who turned out to be Cuban intelligence agents?  And, will we ever get a more specific, rather than hortatory response on what results the program truly has to show?  Can USAID really take credit for success in Cuba's independent blogger community, given the star power, outreach, training and assistance that blogging sensation Yoani Sanchez has provided to fellow blogueros on the island.)

Kerry's laser-like oversight of the USAID Cuba program might seem a bit close for comfort, especially if you're the one who has to keep the lights on over at USAID.  But with so many perenially unanswered questions, it inspires confidence to see a Member of Congress willing to so doggedly pursue real answers.