James Cason

James Cason
James Cason
Mayor of Coral Gables
	In office; January 20, 2011 – April 15, 2017
Preceded by	Don Slesnick
Succeeded by	Raul Valdes-Fauli
United States Ambassador to Paraguay
	In office; February 1, 2006 – August 2, 2008
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John F. Keane
Succeeded by	Liliana Ayalde
Chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba
	In office; September 10, 2002 – September 10, 2005
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Vicki J. Huddleston
Succeeded by	Michael E. Parmly
Personal details
Born	James Caldwell Cason; November 14, 1944; Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Carmen Cason
Profession	U.S. Foreign Service officer ; Diplomat

James Caldwell Cason (born November 14, 1944) is a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer, most recently serving as Ambassador to Paraguay, a post he held from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that post, he was the Principal Officer of the US Interests Section in Havana (2002–2005). On January 20, 2011, he became the new mayor of Coral Gables, Florida.

Background

Cason graduated from Dartmouth College in 1966 and has an M.A. from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Career

Prior to assuming his post as United States Ambassador to Paraguay, he served as the chief of the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, from September 10, 2002 to September 10, 2005. He was succeeded by Michael E. Parmly. Cuban media broadcast a series of satirical animations poking fun at Cason known as Cabo Cason.

Cason also served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and Kingston, Jamaica. Previously he served as Political Advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Atlantic Command (USACOM) and to NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). Cason also served at U.S. missions in Milan, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; San Salvador, El Salvador; Panama City, Panama; Maracaibo, Venezuela; Montevideo, Uruguay; and La Paz, Bolivia.

Cuban dissidents

A group of 735 Cuban dissidents (some connected with the Varela Project) were arrested by the Cuban government and accused of accepting gifts (including cash as well as office machines and office space) from Cason and the US Interests Section. Their arrests coincided with the onset of the 2003 invasion of Iraq in March 2003. An exhibit (billboard) was erected by the United States Interests Section in Havana on September 8, 2005, in protest of the incarcerations.[1] A number of the dissidents were subsequently released, but most of the individuals remained imprisoned until 2010.

Guarani music

While posted in Paraguay, Cason learned the Guaraní language, a language spoken by 94% of the people of that country and in 2008, recorded an album, "Campo Jurado" ("The Field of Promises"), in which he sings folk songs in Guaraní.[2]

References

CUBA SOCIALISTA. "THE "DIPLOMACY" OF JAMES CASON Manual for manufacturing dissidents". Archived from the original on January 8, 2004. Retrieved 2003–09. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
A U.S. Ambassador's Parting Gift To Paraguay

The Miami Herald,Former Diplomat, Local Attorney Latest Candidates in Mayor's Race by Tania Valdemoro; September 4, 2010; Page 3B.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John F. Keane	United States Ambassador to Paraguay 2006–2008	Succeeded by Liliana Ayalde

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[1] CUBA SOCIALISTA. "THE "DIPLOMACY" OF JAMES CASON Manual for manufacturing dissidents". Archived from the original on January 8, 2004. Retrieved 2003–09. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[NPR-2] A U.S. Ambassador's Parting Gift To Paraguay