Castro noble; American government ugly. Great theme. Plays well in Cuba as has been presented. Still, reminds me of a hooker who says "No!" to a $10 proposition. She has her pride, yes...but she's still a hooker.
Castro should drop dead. Until he does there's only absurdity in discussing Cuban politics because there isn't any Cuban politics. (Are you better off now than you were 44 years ago?) There is of course American politics and reasonable debate on how we handle him. But this late in the game, who cares? We don't need any grand last-minute change in policy so he can croak with grace. Let him whither and die leaving HIS poverty legacy to the Cuban people.
I’m sure there are contingency plans on how to make inroads towards a positive post-Castro relationship--and also to nip any would-be neo-Castro in the bud. Start a new initiative with the new regime. Demonstrate the stark differences through a free press(without a free press it's all moot). And a free economy. Only then will the Cuban people be better off. Like in any other country in the world once they've shed their Communist dictator.
"A little song...a little dance...a little seltzer down your pants!" --Chuckles the Clown
Posts: 1703 | Location: A hill in the Poconos | Registered: July 19, 2002
Cigoz, I don't think it's about painting the American government as bad. I simply think its policies concerning Cuba are misguided and have been for 44 years. When you look at how Miami works and how Cuba works and the gov't works, all you can say is it's a big, mutual screw up.
Why can we export freedom and democracy to Iraq and not to Cuba? Why can we intervene and violate the sovereignty of dictators in Africa but not in Cuba? It's pure ineptitude and hypocrisy.
But the rancor behind many of these discussions is based on the idea that Castro and the Cuban people are inseparable. Why is that assumption made? Does Bush reflect on all Americans? Does a nation of individuals deserve to be looked down upon because of their leader? It's not as if they chose Castro. Sure, some people in Cuba think he's great. The ones who don't share his views are either quiet or in jail.
I get the feeling many people who come around here would love it if guys like Grau or Batista were still in power. As long as you can get your cigars and rum, who gives a **** about the Cuban people, right?
______________________________ #2 Most Friendly Guy
Corio, my point is that we could argue whether or not the embargo was right or wrong, but at this late point it doesn't much matter because Castro's death or disability is the most likely next chapter. I happened to believe that the embargo was right during the Cold War. Every President since Kennedy maintained it with various degrees of enthusiasm. Communism just can't compete economically. Reagan proved it with the Soviet Union. And Castro's Cuba was always a weak sister to the Soviets. How quickly we forget the Communist threat to the world (and how slowly acknowledge the terrorist threat). Post Cold War, I think most people didn't anticipate the dictator's relentless grasp on power. But now, we might as well wait him out till he's dead or ousted.
I do believe, if Bush is in, democracy will be imposed one way or another. Any Castro relative or protege with like aspirations will simply be squashed. Outside of Cuba the Castro/Batista dilemma is as far gone as '50s Chevies. It's freedom or BS now. With a free press, most people see the difference.
"A little song...a little dance...a little seltzer down your pants!" --Chuckles the Clown
Posts: 1703 | Location: A hill in the Poconos | Registered: July 19, 2002
follow the money and you find power. the so-called 'exile' community needs the embargo because that is what feeds it...the monsterous ogre that it is. Castro needs it, too...without it, he has no one to blame. motive. opportunity.
and look at how our politics were shaped by the de facto coup d'etat that was the 2000 election, a fire stoked and fanned by what? a so-called 'exile' community rabid following the elian gonzalez case, vowing NEVER to allow anyone remotely associated with the Clinton Administration to get near the white house. and voila! bush wins. by a curly one. so...there you have it...POWER. a power over US foreign policy, however ill founded and misdirected.
on the flip side, castro pockets whatever he can glean from the scraps rotting in the field. no one earns any money to speak of, yet all this money in florida makes its way into the pockets of the cubans who must spend outrageous sums for necessary products. it all trickles up. that translates to power.
so you have two sides, each needs the embargo to survive and thrive...without it, what 'cause' does the so-called 'exile' community have? none. and similarly, who would have the blame for the conditions in cuba except for castro? nobody...and he'd be out!
money. power. politics.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER! VIVE CPD!
Posts: 10299 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
This cold war stuff is just an excuse. During the cold war the average American could get a visa & Travel to the USSR (I did). We lost 50,000 men in Vietnam, but I can buy a six pack of Vietnamese beer in my neighborhood. This is a personal vendetta against Fidel. Do you think the average Cuban was rich or free under Batista?
I order to understand Castro's refusal you have to understand the domestic political mileage that Fidel gets out of berating the U.S. to rally his people. Knowing that there would not be any U.S. aid he gets great mileage out of saying he would not acccept anyways. If $200 million was offered he would take.
Danstuffed: What makes it right for you to critize Fidel yet take offense when your leader is critized?
Hamlet, Its called a discussion Hamlet. I like my elected leader President Bush. You want to critize him go ahead, it is my right to take offense, & dispute your opinion. Its your right to take offense when I critize the dictator castro. I just don't like the whole " blame the evil U.S. perspective ". Its insulting. Castro is to blame for Cuba's problems not the U.S. Its not that hard to understand.
Posts: 508 | Location: Dallas, TX, US | Registered: July 13, 2004
That is what the so-called 'exile' community would have us believe, as politicians, including your beloved W, pander to their interests feeding them, among other things, $17 million as part of a package to lead to the democratization of Cuba following Castro's demise.
But across the channel, Castro is the one who has stood steadfast against all comers, and he gets to blame the US for all the problems in Cuba...which stands to reason! The thing designed to undermine his regime (the embargo...) is what sustains him, empowers him, keeps his stranglehold on the people. DAMNED RIGHT it's our fault people are suffering there. BECAUSE OUR POLICY KEEPS CASTRO IN POWER! He IS the problem, but the embargo is NOT THE SOLUTION.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER! VIVE CPD!
Posts: 10299 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Sorry, but a offer of $50.000 "aid" to cuba is a bad joke. It's the same, if you will give a homeless 10 bucks and tell him to start a new life with this capital. I knew some private people in europe, who sended that to cuba to help buying medicaments for a children hospital.
This offer shows, that Bush's brain is down the dump and he hasn't any human intentions. No, he even is LAUGHING in the face of the cuban peoples! Such a guy I wouldn't let lead a amateur soccer club, and he leads a country...
dagobert, Again bash President Bush, & leave helpless & loveable castro alone. Its Castro's fault the U.S. only offered 50K. If he wasn't in power in Cuba the U.S. would probably rebuild the whole country for the people. Shame on Castro
TORVIG, had a nice 2 month old NC-Fuente Hemmingway, I needed it after this forum last night.
Posts: 508 | Location: Dallas, TX, US | Registered: July 13, 2004
quote: no WONDER you elected that guy governer and blindly followed him to DC.
People do not become elected President of the United States by chance. To say we blindly followed George W. Bush to the Presidency is a slap in the face and you need to re-consider your arguement because right now you lose some credibility.
