A missed opportunity to kill the Cuban regime with kindness
Comment: By the way, i recently signed up on S e n i o r Woo.com in hope to meet friends or more on Internet. Is it easy? I am 40+ mature woman. There are some hot pictures under the name KeightyKat there.
Comment: If we treated China the way we treat Cuba, the US wouldn't have the financing that China has giving us to keep the National Treasury out of bankruptcy.
Mickey Grant
Dallas
Comment: NO,YOU ARE WRONG!***!
Comment: Out of the three presidential nominee contenders, Clinton, Obama and McCain, whose campaign language suggests a willingness to embrace Cuba and begin a dialog?
Answer: Barrack Obama.
Cupidity? Mere personality? Emptiness on policy? People believe the politiicians and pundits attacks without truly investigating the candidates. There's more merit there in that suit than the status quo wants you to believe. Objective analysis will tell you otherwise.
Comment: Though I am not an expert in these matters, I can see where this argument is justified. All embargos and other forms of punnishment like invasions do is punnish an innocent populous. The only way for a government to truely change is to change from within. This is part of the problem in Iraq. If the people don't want to change, nothing we do from the outside is going to help. Instead of penalizing people who can't move out of the country, we should be helping them to see that now is a good time to start changing it.
Comment: Sailing to Cuba sounds wonderful. I'm making arangements with USCubanTravel.com I want to enjoy the nightlife and walk on the sandy beaches, and my husband want to smoke hand rolled cigar.
Comment: Wouldn't it be ironic that the US lifts the embargo and the Cuba rejects it?....After all, the US is the enemy...and according to Cuban politics, the US should not be dealt with.....After all these years, who would thay have to blame for their deplorable conditions then?
Comment: For those of us who bemoan the competitive failure (like watching a loved one die of consumption) of print journalism and the rise of biased, incomplete, and misleading cable television and unvetted internet sources, Christopher Dickey is a breath of fresh air. His reason and experience combine to produce some of the most cogent analysis available -- without political bias. Newsweek is the Patrician class of our society, paying the intelligentsia to simply sit and consider before they speak. You don't have to agree with Dickey but when he speaks you should pause and listen carefully. Support Newsweek through a paid subscription -- because you will long mourn the loss if enough of us don't. Write letters to your local editors supporting excellence when you see it. The print media is the last bastion of truth and the anchor of our democracy.
Comment: Cuba looks to be a great place to visit when I start sailing in the years to come....Hopefully Dictator #2 will have the sense enough to see the economic advantages they have in the tourism industry and make good with the U.S. and other rational nations. Its a shame that beautiful island is going to waste because of ignorant politians on both sides.
Comment: Enter Your Comment ENOUGH IS ENOUGH 50+YEARS THE CUBAN PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENJOY LIVING THE UNITED STATES MUST ALLOW CUBA TO BE. IT'S TIME TO LIFT THE EMBARGOS---- TIME TO CHANGE. WE CAN NOT RULE THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. LESS IS MORE.................................
Comment: Enter Your Comment
Comment: I keep reading about how the U.S is overlooking how We the U.S are using chinese labor as a source of our economics...And Bush is at fault for it...Ummm I dont really remember NAFTA being signed in the Bush admin...That was Clintons Admins. great idea to send jobs overseas....So that would indicate to a rational person that CLINTON was at the root of allowing jobs to go to the hard working chinese, and mexican laborers. I definately dont remember Clinton wanting to do anything positive with the Cubas dictator while in office. So theres no need to praise Clinton for his bright ideas while his pants was around his ankles in the ORAL office...I mean while he was Impeached....I mean while he was President.
Comment: NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement. Nothing to do with China's Most Favored Nation trade status . Both bad ideas, one implemented by Clinton, the other by Bush.
Comment: CNN, Wednesday, June 3, 1998:
House Speaker Newt Gingrich welcomed Clinton's recommendation for renewing MFN status for China, and vowed to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that China receives it from Congress.
Gingrich, joined by Reps. Bill Archer (R-Texas) and Philip Crane (R-Ill.), made his comments in a letter to Clinton.
The lawmakers told Clinton, "We welcome the determination you made today to recommend the renewal of MFN trade status for China, and we pledge to work with you in a bipartisan manner to preserve our longstanding policy of commercial and diplomatic engagement with the Chinese. Seeking to keep China open to the West has proven to be the most effective way to advance our democratic values in this turbulent region of the world -- a policy we are committed to maintaining."
Comment: Great now put up excerpts from Hillary praising it then how she is knocking it now. If I remember right Clinton was president and nothing REALLY was getting done by his party so the Repubs had to agree to something to look like they were getting along before election campaigns started...Polititians are like that.
Comment: It is absolutely true that his revolution overthrew a regime that was power hungry and vastly corrupt and it is also true that the USA helped (and we did help) Fidel overthrow that regime, it is also true to say that Fidel then chose to appropriate some of the worst excesses of power of the old regime to himself. The dream was good -- great even, the execution was not.
Comment: to b56 sigma -- while it is true that Fidel sustained his power in Cuba (largely thru our boycott & USSR - remember them?-- support, it is not true that he "unilaterally created" the mess in Cuba. Those of us who are old enough remember that the USA helped Fidel Castro overthrow what we thought at the time was a worse dictator.
The Cuban people will need to create their own destiny as do the rest of us -- it is time for the USA to stop trying to control the uncontrolable, lift the embargos and see what happens.
Comment: I disagree that he is not responsible for the situation in Cuba, especially the abject poverty in some cases and the horrific abuse of his own citizens and the bad utilization of his military. I do agree that lifting the embargo will produce very measurable results now that he might not be in a position to benefit from it. It's time to bring the island into the mainstream. I think the travel of Americans to Cuba, particularly the exiles, could have an exponential positive effect over time.
Comment: I am not absolving him from responsibility -- nor would I absolve the Cuban people themselves (there must be some level of acceptance of dictatorship for a country to be as vulnerable as Cuba is), I am simply pointing out that our interference in both directions - helping him in & boycotting him to get him out - have had less than positive results and it is time we bowed out and let Cuba be Cuban.
Comment: History will label this bastard as a jungle hoodlem, not a president of benevolant dictator, stealing the physical and intellectual cuban resources to support a few other piss poor cubans, canadians and russians. Just leave your home with just the shirt on you back.
Comment: I've always dreamed of watching the girls roll cigars on there laps and travelling and exploring cuba. With Castro resigning I think my dream will come true. I've booked with USCubanTravel.com
They have great programs for Non US citizens too!
Comment: Castro unilaterally created and sustained the mess in Cuba with no help from the U.S. I vividly remember the Cubans coming to the U.S. to escape his aggressive social policies that "redistributed" all of the island's wealth to him and his cronies. There was also the "Peter Pan" episode where desperate parents sent their young children to the states to live in orphanages until they could escape to be with them. And let's not forget the tens of thousands of troops he sent to Angola to provide support to the MPLA for the slaughter in West Africa and the his ready contribution to the destabilization of Central America, notably Nicaragua and El Salvador. The Russians paid him millions of dollars a day to keep his failed economy upright and now that they're gone - he has finally succumbed to alowing tourism, but the money never makes it to the poorest segments of the population. A Colombian doctor who attended a conference in Cuba said that married women were engaging in prostitution to support the families - sometimes with the husband's knowledge. And the writer of the above article reflects the contemporary point of view that somehow all the problems in Cuba is the fault of the American people. He has also failed to mention the horrible human rights record that the Cuban Regime has maintained for the past 50 years. Based on his record, and the fact that he has used the U.S. as the evil image to rally his supporters, it is an absolute stretch to leap to the conclusion that lifting the embargo will provide any significant channels of assistance to the Cubans who really need it. We can only hope that Castro lapses into a physical or mental state where he won't have any significant control and that a new government relaxes controls, encourages international investment and trade from the U.S., and throttles back on the state security apparatus. I am sure that there are legions of exiles in Miami who could provide substantive assistance, proposals and drafts for workable Constitution, and wise counsel to a cooperative new government when the dictatorship finally crashes into the dust.
Comment: Shoot first and as questions later? Pinkpanther, read up on some history of Cuba before you open your mouth. Raul has been known to be even more tryannical and bloodier than Fidel. When the political executions were held after Castro's taking of power, Raul Castro presided over those. He had many killed for the sole purpose of attaining and maintaining power for him and his brother Fidel. It is said that Raul was so heinous that Fidel even challenged him asking how much longer he planned to continue executing political opponents. Read about Camilo Cienfuegos who mysteriously disappeared in a
supposed small aircraft accident. Word is his aircraft was sabotaged due to his vocal dissention regarding the Castro Brother's political views, never to be seen or heard of again. Others who stood side to side with them also ended up in jail for opposition. Some were able to exile to the US and have told their stories. They (Raul and Fidel) have been terrorists of their own country. Making underground jail cells in the streets that can hold several hundreds in each if a revolt were ever to happen where they would be celled and forgotten of. They have been terrorizing that island and its inhabitants for almost 50 years. Trust me, if ever anything were to disrupt the present regine, they will shoot first....no questions required.
Comment: I was not refering to any Cuban with the term "shoot first" that is a place reserved for Bush! Cuba or a free Cubans worst nightmare. i wish the Cuban population good luck for the furture and get jumped. i do not wish to see Cuba return to is prior place in freedom, it must be free now, so why the jumping? if i know anything i do know Castro and family are true tyrants and am glad to see them retire, and hope the people can live the lives they wish to lead. All i'm concerned about is Gitmo, an American base where we sent thousands of the worst of the worst, 90 from our coast, this is a Bush move, send them back, close Gitmo and allow the Cuban people to raise a socity THEY want! After the elections [ours] they will have a more sensable person in the WH to deal with, was the point! i do not believe Bush would help the Cuban cause a bit, and would turn it upside down, and this is not the kind of help they need, or will ask for. I wish the best to the Cuban people now Castro is old and retired! I do not wish to get jumped for it either as you are yelling at me for saying what you stated?
Comment: Dickhead, if you are so damned erudite, why are you not ruling the universe?
Comment: As long as the worst terrorist that were 6000 miles from our shores, till Bush had them ALL transported 90 miles off our coast, real bright? Take care of American Buisn and allow Cuba to grow as fast or slow as THEY see fit. If all else at least there new government will not have "shoot first ask questions later" Bush to deal with. Lets just hope they ask for the help THEY NEED, and get what they ask for, and nothing to any extrem, from us! Send the terrorist back, 6000 miles from our coast ,and deal with Gitmo when it's empty and ALL terrorist, have been returned to there own shores, for questioning! 90 miles is to darn close coupled with our lack of security. I hope they build what we should be doing, ourselves, TODAY! Good luck,[no insult or sarcasm]
Comment: I am an Amercian born daughter of Cuban parents who migrated to the United States in the 1950's prior to Castro's Revolution. At that time very few Cubans actually lived here. Batista was in power and most Cuban's goals were to see him overthrown. Many of those Cuban who resided here during that time supported Castro's revolution in hopes a new change only to find out that they had been fooled not knowing his communist intent. My mother has always believed that the embargo was not the solution, but only a great assistance to keep him in power since his revolution at that time was supported by many Cubans living in the US sending weapons smuggled into Mexico at the time. Much of this weaponry was put into gutted washing machines and refrigerators and shipped to Cuban military bases where they eventually made their way into the Sierra Maestra Mountains and were used by them to take possession of Cuba. Castro purposely has not wanted this embargo to end nor promote free trade in Cuba knowing that how he attined his power could once again be utilized to his demise and he could be overthrown in the future. Therefore, if the embargo had been lifted many years ago, this probably would have occured and we would be seeing a possibly free and democratic Cuba since many years ago. Cuba's mentaility under Castro's regime has been very primal and people do not have the sense of what we consider every day life. Their daily main focus is to get up and find whatever is needed to sustain themselves. They live day to day foragin, not planning for a personal future. This mentality has been burned into the society firmly and are kept mostly drunk all day to quell any thoughts that may endanger the current government. If Cuba is ever to be free, just the challenge of turning this wasted society into a prodcutive one will take generations. The issues are just too many to say this country will change into a free democratic society very soon. The future of this island nation remains to be seen.
Comment: This is this country's opportunity to end the embargo that should have been lifted a long time ago.
Although there are hardships in Cuba, having universal health care and education for everyone through college, as well as ending racism, are accomplishments that we as an advanced nation haven't achieved.
There's only one reason this embargo has lasted this long - politics. I think the day where all of the Cuban/Hispanic vote is dependent on maintaining the embargo are over - that generation no longer has the clout it once had and people would like to assist their relatives and friends in Cuba and visit them.
Comment: So the ferocious lion of Cuba can no longer roar. Great! Old age and sickness seems to have done what we could not do. I think Cuba has a chance now to revert decades of lies, half truths and false pride they lived under. He brainwashed his people with the slogan that they were standing up to the United States, that they were creating a better society and if the price was perpetual suffering, so be it, it would be worth it in the long run. But it wasn't, was it, Fidel? All you succeeded in doing was creating a society deeply oppressed by your iron hand and poverty. You sold Cuba a bill of goods but you were a force to reckon with. And I think you will go to your grave believing your own fantasy - thumbing your nose at us and showing us "the best way to live." Yet your women sell themselves to tourists for the filthy dollar you so repudiated, your people seek drowning and death to reach our shores. I think we had the last laugh Fidel and some day your dormant people will wake up and tear down your statues feeling at last the rage of having been had by you for decades.
Comment: Lets clean up the discussion a little. The issue we are faced with is not Canada, nor is it Bush or any view of America???s current place in the world. The issue concerns what is good for Cuba and the Cuban people. It would not be helpful to discuss whether or not the embargo policy of the past half century has been justified or not. But it would be helpful to discuss whether or not it should be continued under the conditions and the opportunities presented by current conditions. I suggest that 1) the United States in concert with the Organization of American States move quickly to normalize all relations with Cuba and 2) that within a relatively short period of time not to exceed five years Cuba should be considered for membership in CAFTA by all its current members and 3) congress appropriate modest USAID funds to demonstrate that a new day has arrived. Taking these three steps would serve the interests of the American people and all the people of the Americas for years to come. Furthermore it would respect the traditional friendship between the two countries and the sacrifices of those Americans who gave their lives to secure the freedom of Cuba from Spain.
Or we could take a petulant view (and petulant views and those based on hatred and half-truths are always popular) and see if that approach contributes more to human welfare in the next half century.
Comment: FLets clean up the discussion a little. The issue we are faced with is not Canada, nor is it Bush or any view of America???s current place in the world. The issue concerns what is good for Cuba and the Cuban people. It would not be helpful to discuss whether or not the embargo policy of the past half century has been justified or not. But it would be helpful to discuss whether or not it should be continued under the conditions and the opportunities presented by current conditions. I suggest that 1) the United States in concert with the Organization of American States move quickly to normalize all relations with Cuba and 2) that within a relatively short period of time not to exceed five years Cuba should be considered for membership in CAFTA by all its current members and 3) congress appropriate modest USAID funds to demonstrate that a new day has arrived. Taking these three steps would serve the interests of the American people and all the people of the Americas for years to come. Furthermore it would respect the traditional friendship between the two countries and the sacrifices of those Americans who gave their lives to secure the freedom of Cuba from Spain.
Or we could take a petulant view (and petulant views and those based on hatred and half-truths are always popular) and see if that approach contributes more to human welfare in the next half century.
Comment: Too bad we Amerucans can.t accept diversity in the world. We measure the importance of every country by how man Wal-Marts we can build there.
Comment: the embargo hasn't worked for over 40 years, time for plan B. Open trade and relations and it's just a matter of time before democracy and capitalism take over.
Comment: If you knew anything at all about the hisory of Cuba, you would know that it was trade and capitalism that created the atrocities of the Batista regime. This led to Castro's revolution. I don't claim that Fidel is any kind of saint, bit it is sad, sad, SAD how ignorant people are about Cuba. It is true that he was corrupted by power, but he did do a lot of good especially for the poor and working class of this beautiful island nation.
Comment: Too bad it all has to come down to how American business can profit. We see lots of opportunity to exploit the cheap labor in China so we will over look their dismal human rights record. But we see no such opportunities in Cuba. Maybe we can start fresh with new leadership in both countries.
Comment: Liberate the CUBAN PEOPLE! What do the presidential candidates have to say about this?
Comment: Posted By: Yubano1948 @ 02/19/2008 9:59:13 AM - you forgot to add George Bush
Comment: The USA is today's aggressor, tyrant, adultress, the unforgiver of sins against past history. If we were able to forgive the USSR and so many other tyranical entities it's long overdue to forgive our closest neighbors - especially Cuba's children. Clinton and/or Obama have a formidable task in the coming years - I wonder if anything will change - if this campaign is only words in the wind or will the next President become a real hero and protetor of the most vulnerable - the children of the future of the poorest of the poor
Comment: The USA is today's tyrant , the occupier, the adultress, the unforgiver of sins. I hope whomever wins the elections of President of the United States - has some real sympathy towards the peoples of Cuba - it's long overdue.
Comment: Hopefully, this represents the end of the beginning of the end: that Fidelismo doesn't just become Raulismo...
that half a century of a totalitarian nightmare, romanticized by the most "democratic" of the Democrats, who wouldn't tolerate the slighest abridgement of their yuppy lifestyle, yet lionize grotesquely repressive and egotistical dictators, whether the name is Castro, Mugabe, Arafat, Chavez or Saddam, will end in PEACE.
Of course, it's no surprise that some OBAMA worshippers have displayed Che Guevara icons in their campaign headquarters-- a reflection of their ideology? (Do they want Obama to emulate "El Comandante?")
Comment: speaking of egotistical dictators - how about the one with the WMD vision ?
Comment: Your comment on Canada. Well first I am originally from Canada and the one thing I learned was that it is never too late to reach out for peace. My father was and my brothers serve in the Canadian military and the UN peacekeeping by Canadian is the best. You can't compare the two nations in exactly the same light. Why are you so angry about the thought of reaching out to them if you really are from Canada. Nobody is talking about them making it the 51st state. Just opening relations and stopping the embargo. Cuba could just say no. That it their option. So your comments speak in forked tongue. You say American needs to get their head of their ass. But then chastise them for thinking about embarcing them. What is it?
Comment: Bravo ! but you see, we Canadians have this philosophy nuturing our conscience from the day we are born - we have always been very proud of who we are and historically we are a mild mannered country, we have never invaded anyone country ( except our own ) for any reason, we send our military to act as freedom fighters for those that cannot do it on their own ( not sure why we are in Afghanistan - the Russians were there for 10 years and left hopelessly defeated - we ought to leave -no side will win this war but in the mean time our soldiers are dying) When I was young and lived in Montreal, would travel to Plattsburg NY - I sensed a type of euphoria when crossing the borders - but not anymore - I have no sympathy for the USA - you deserve what history will dish out on your plate - if you could just mind your business
Comment: The arrogance of the American mind set just kills me!!! your going to lead Cuba to democracy "with the warm embrace of America?????" how dare you! while America has been busy pissing off every nation on earth Canada has friendly trade relations with China ,Russia, the middle east and Cuba in fact i challange you to name one enemy of Canada...whats that? resounding silence? ya... America needs to pull there head out of there collective ***ses! you really think your going to assimilate Cuba and the word will stand by? why dont you ask Hawaii how they feel about it? get real! You treated Castro like crap for 49 years! America has a bad case of the emperors new clothes ....arrogance is the worst human trait
Comment: Canada never stands up for anything that would put themselves or economy in danger. They have ALWAYS stood on the sidelines and waited for the positive outcome of the winning side to step in and help. Canada has always been a coattail riding nation. Acting self righteous isnt impressive or anything to brag about. Im proud in the fact the U.S. has stood for whats right and dealt with what needed to be done and not waited as Canada has ALWAYS done through out history.
Comment: And what has Canada achieved by being friendly with Cuba? Give an oppresive dictator the financial means to continue oppressing his people.
You talk about America having a case of "Emperor's New Clothes", but having lived for years in both Canada and the US, I'd say it is Canada who suffers from this condition by believing that it is really a world power and that its decisions are important.
Yes, Canada is the 7th largest economy in the world, but that is only because of its proximity to the US and its huge commodities reserves.
Yes, Canada does not have any "enemies" except when Brazilians was burning Canadian flags in the street because of the beef embargo.
But Canada was just as violent towards the natives as the US was; and all the black slaves who fled to Canada during the underground railroad encountered the same type of discrimination and violence they encountered in the American South.
The problem is that for 200 years, Canada has based its identity in NOT being America and has consciously done thing differently in order to justify its existence; while at the same time achieving a high standard of living on the back of the American economy and under American military protection.
So, please spare us the self-rightiousness
Comment: the arrogance of the american mind set just kills me! your going to step in and save Cuba "with the warm embrace of america????) PLEASE!!! while America has done nothing but piss off every nation on earth ? pull your head out of your ***! does it occur to anyone that all along Canada has had nothing but friendly trade relations with every country on the planet? Canada is friendly with China Russia Cuba the middle east in fact, i challange you to name any enemy of Canada...hmmm...resounding silence...dont take the future of Cuba for granted and dont be so quick t carve it up as another "american state" lets ask Hawaii how they feel about it! arrogance is the Worst human trait
Comment: It is time to open up trade. Step up to the plate congress. Need we remind you that China who we do billions in trade with is communist. This is embargo is the most childish foreign policy.
Comment: It is time to join the rest of the world and embrace Cuba. This is the most stupid embargo of all time. We do billions of dollars of trade with China. Do I need to remind everyone that China is still a communist nation and has missles that can reach the US. Step up to the plate congress and Mr. President. Reach out now.
Enter comments if any for reporting abuse
SPORTS Luxury stadiums are on the rise. A top seat can cost $150,000. Beer costs extra.
Sponsored by
|
VIEWPOINT The vast majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. So who are the 10 percent who think everything is A-OK?
Sponsored by
|
Loading Menu
