Castro Attacks McCain, No Doubt to McCain's Delight

Jase:

Scarface? I don't understand the reference.

I don't think you really read my post, because you did not respond to any of it.

My point is only that regardless of what we do to change policy, Cuba's current government may not be interested in cooperating. I hope that clarifies my post.

Yes, Jake, yes.

ton

I don't think Americans have the fear of Cuba that was prevalent years ago in the 60's. The implication is that Castro's attacks on McCain somehow reflect well on him as a leader and protector, when in reality, Cuba is simply a small and isolated island. What is so threatening about co-existing with other countries of a different political ideology? No, I don't think it will lead to guerillas with grenades sneaking onshore in small boats to Florida . . .

Wade you have been watching too much Scarface. America demand Cuba releases political prisoners when they do you bash them still. Noone said America was terrible, America is great, now if we can show the rest of the world that instead of disrespecting them maybe we all can live in peace. Cuba has not done anything to attack America. Instead of fighting them and being petty why don't we fight those people who are destroying our economy and save our Army and whatever else for when someone actually poses a threat to us because policies ike this make us less safe because they crate more enemies.

Why does almost everyone writing a comment here seem to think it is America that has to change it´s ways?
We don´t have the dictatorship - Cuba does. (And Iran and North Korea.)
We aren´t creating a dictatorship - Chavez is.
I do not see any of these countries speaking out and saying "Yes, Obama, please come see us and we will stop our oppressive dictatorships and turn our countries into a democracy with the belief in the rule of law and quit oppressing our people."

We do not need their dictatorships, oppression or lack of free press and thought, but the people of their countries need the fruits of our great country and democracy.

If US trade is so horrible, why is the embargo harmful to Cuba?

Also, isn't it true that Cuba can trade with most other countries in the world?

How then, is the US embargo a problem for Cuba if they can trade with other nations?

I believe Obama's position really does only contemplate charming the dictators. What if he suggests removing the embargo, and Cuba refuses to trade or allow family visits? The last time, in 1979, was a disaster for the Cuban gov't, and they ended up expelling prisoners and mental patients to the US as revenge. Does Obama really believe that the Cuban government wants trade relations with the US? They would lose their greatest propaganda tool.

Obama does not have realistic, or "nuanced" goals. Just my opinion, you can cheer for him all you like.

Raul castro is simply throwing bones to keep his pack at bay. He (and most everyone)knows that economic forces will necessitate change so he has to get his ducks in a row first. No matter which approach is applied (Obama or McCain), come 2012 there will be a glut of waterfront condos for sale in Cuba and a lot of American Banks open for business in Havana.

Siv your comments sums it all...absoluletly right

mccain must have quite the ego to believe that not speaking to castro will somehow open his eyes to his own shortcomings. like castro is sitting there thinking to himself 'well i better change or else mccain and bush won't talk to me.' what are bush and mccain? 6 years old? ignoring people they do not agree with? an intelligent and civilized person would realize that it is through dialogue that you effectively communicate ideas, not a cold shoulder. how would not speaking to castro possibly change a thing? stupidest idea ive ever heard...obama is the only one who seems to realize that through communication you make changes, not this 2nd grader routine of ignoring those you don't agree with, that does absolutly nothing constructive in the least, which is exactly what you got from bush, and exactly what you will get from mccain if he becomes president. america will continue taking one step forward, and 65 steps backwards under another moronic person like that.

I think thaat Obama and the democrats haave a fixation with George Bush. Obama said that we have to change the last eight years of disastrous policies of George Bush. But what ever happened to the years of Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton? None of these President ever requested to change the embargo. Neither wanted to have a personal meeting with Castro to improve relations. On the contrary, Castro was openly public that he did not want any dialoge with the US. Now Obama is begging to Castro for talks. I want to know what the Castros' have to offer. Obama said that relatives living in the US should visit their relatives in Cuba. The US did not force any Cuban to move to the US or to any other foreign country. They did it on their, for their own benefits. Obama should study history before he open his mouth.

Mao once argued "Whatever our enemy is against, we must be for; whatever they are for, we must be against". Glad to see the republicans are on the same page as Mao. Such argument is now of course widely laughed at as being idiotic.

BEN...

let me guess.. you think obama is a leader??!! im just guessing...

ps "1.9 million tourists visited Cuba in 2003 predominantly from Canada and the European Union, generating revenue of $2.1 billion." Cuba was the world's most important sugar producer and exporter and holds 6.4% of the global market for nickel as well as recently discovered oil reserves in the North Cuba Basin. Still the U.S. government forbids its citizens to send more than $1,200 to Cuba to immediate family members, and then only once per year.~us state department 2005 report. Thats what they have to offer upfront in terms of resources so they next time you think to complain about $4 remember the Cubans conserve energy recycle and have oil reserves we can't touch because of the embargo.

mccain is not a leader. he just follows what everyonr tells him to do. that is wy he joined the military in the first place. bush is not a veteran and neither is cheney. they are pussies. if they had to go to war when they were of age, they would have run to canada, like all cowards. how can mcccain follow those two bozos?

heres my thought to those who say "shouldnt we try something different?"... why should it be OUR responsibility to change their system?? maybe the CUBAN PEOPLE should step up and have a revolution. every other great nation in history, at one point or another, has done this. why is it always americas responsibility? oh the poor cuban people at the mercy of big, bad america. stay the course. we dont have to rely on cuba for anything anyways.

The US has not just talked to repressive regimes - it has actively supported them, even installed some.

Note to tyrants worldwide: Make yourself useful to the US, so you get its support for your tyranny operations.

The US talked to the Taliban all right - it actually helped create them. The US had no problem with the Taliban's tyranny until they were no longer useful to the US.

The US talked to Saddam Hussein all right - they actually supplied him with weapons. The US had no problem with Saddam's tyranny until he was no longer useful to the US.

The US talked to China all right - China is a major trading partner. The US has no problem with China's tyranny right now, because it is useful to the US.

The US talked to Musharraf all right - It considers him an "ally" in its "war on terror". The US has no problem with Musharraf's tyranny because Musharraf knows how to pretend to be useful to the US (beyond making statements, he has never really been of any help - smart conman.)

The US has lots of problems with Castro's tyranny because he does not make himself useful to the US.

Cuban American can visit their families if they want to, they just have to reroute longer flights to get there.~Noon | May 23, 2008 4:49:11 PM

As a US citizen you can't travel to Cuba with a a US passport, its illegal and you can be arrested upon return unless you get permission from the state department. So for a 1st generation American say, your parents fled Cuba but your grandparents are still there, you can't legally visit your grandparents.

Cubans have no problem with Americans going there the US is the one that does not allow its citizens to travel to Cuba. They don't have an embargo against us we have an embargo against them. Look at CNN its on right now, Obama is talking about lifting restrictions on Cuban-Americans sending money home and traveling home to see family.

They didn't have microwaves and other stuff because they try to conserve power ...

If we treat them and other countries with respect they will do the same thing with us and people like Chavez maybe help with selling us more gas/oil. if we used more carrot than stick we wouldn't turn people against us so much thats not weakness thats common sense.

There is a difference between the world of diplomacy and a kindergarten playground.

"I won't talk to them" is bad policy even in a kindergarten playground, as many mature kids soon discover. Some, like McCain, haven't matured enough to know that yet - after all, he is only 71.

The US has talked to lots of repressive regimes that imprison political opponents.

The US talked to the Soviet Union. Talked to China. Talked to North Korea.
Does McCain think that was naiveté?

Why would McCain talk to some dictators but not to some others? The terms "Political Expediency" and "Hypocrisy" spring to most minds. "Naiveté" springs to mine ...

As a Cuban American, for you gringos, the embargo we have currently is a joke. Most of the economy in Cuba is made up of American money.
McCain should make multiple ads with that quote from Fidel as well as talking about his experience in Hanoi being tortured a a Cuban militants sent there by Fidel to help the communist militant Vietnamese.
Obama's speech in South Florida really put him at a loss with Cubans. He will lose that vote overwhelmingly with the likes one has never seen before.