$74,000,000 spent wisely?

For the past ten years we have given $74,000,000 to dissidents in Cuba. Has the money been well spent? That's the question a new GAO report asks.

We shipped food, medicine, clothing, office equipment and supplies, shortwave radios, books, and newsletters to Cuba. In return, the recipients conducted international advocacy for human and workers' rights in Cuba and planned for a future democratic transition. Laudable goals perhaps.

But the GAO did not find that the internal controls used ensured that the grant funds are being used properly and that grantees are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Nor were there any measures to determine whether the funds were being spent wisely.