Just Back From Mexico. They Think We Are Coming For CUBA! Common Belief!

[DistressedAmerican]

I am an archaeologist by trade and a Bush hater by (hopefully, well informed) choice. I spend months every year working in Mexico every summer and just got back from a short trip. While I am there, politics and the war invariably come up. Last year I heard a rumor that we were getting ready to invade CUBA.

This rumor persists. I hear it from everyone, campesinos in the fields to university educated professionals. Not only is it widely held that we are getting ready to invade Cuba. We are apparently getting ready to do it through Mexico (I can only assume in addition to Florida).

I have tried to dissuade those that I have spoken to on this one. I assured them that we were focused on countries that impact our access to oil. They seem to find that reasonable. I figure they are just waiting for Fidel to kick like they did with Arafat.

While I found the story unlikely. I found it interesting that this is how we are viewed by our closest neighbors. I assume it can only be worse in areas more removed.

Sadly, these beliefs are a logical outgrowth of our own policies. We have had a well recognized hatred for Castro for decades. Bush has opened a new chapter in the use of American military force. The rest of the world sees Bush's new stance as a threat not only to Iran, Syria or the other flavor of the week. They think we are coming FOR THEM. If not today, eventually.

How much longer can we sustain this assault on out international reputation? How long until they come for US first?

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Very interesting.

I heard the rumor from an Argentinian economist.

[Darkhawk32]

2. Strangely enough, this is like the movie "Red Dawn"...

How the US's allies and alliances abandon us and then we get invaded.

[UTUSN]

3. It's a Coveted Feather for Shrub's Cap

And, while Cuba recently found oil, in this instance oil would just be the icing on the cake. Shrub has been bent on overturning the WIMP image of Poppy all along, besides the family tradition of raking in "reconstruction" loot for themselves and their cronies. Hence, his Saddam fixation. And after that dust somewhat settles, in the lull before other perpetual war, CASTRO is a bauble to be copped. Just think of the hoopla if Shrub were able to do what eight presidents were not able to do.

[shrike]

4. I found a lot of Bush hatred last year when I visited Mexico

No cuba rumors, but your experience doesn't surprise me.

The poorest, humblest Mexican appeared to be better informed than the average American, or so I found.

[shanti]

10. same in jamaica

when i was there last november, i had several deep discussions about u.s. politics with jamaicans. in fact, as i was talking to one man, several more came up to listen and state their opinions, chiefly, that * was the antichrist. they cannot STAND him.

[Frances]

5. Actually Venezuela has a lot of oil

and Chavez and Castro have been very friendly lately. Maybe the U.S. will invade Cuba. There would be backing for that invasion in the U.S. And after we take over Cuba, we could proceed to Venezuela.

But, of course, I hope the U.S. doesn't do that. Bush is already bankrupting the country with his wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. But the Venezuelan oil will pay for the war. Just like in Iraq. n/t

[DistressedAmerican]

12. And George Asks, "What's Wrong With That?"

[Jacobin]

6. They may be on to something

When smirk's approval numbers further plummet, he's going to have to find some quick, cheap, easy, popular war to start.

Invading Cuba could do it for him. And the Cuban Americans in Florida would nominate him for sainthood.

[ContraBass Black]

15. Hmmm

"Cuban Americans in Florida would nominate him for sainthood"

Which would be a great help to Jeb by extension, would it not?

[DistressedAmerican]

7. Watch me have to have to turn around and eat my words!

Frankly, I wouldn't put it past them. That is what makes it a widely accepted belief. Apparently in Argentina as well.

To quote another DUer whose name escapes me "If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck... It must be a fucking Nazi!"



He is proof enough for me that there is no God. At least not one like I've heard about. If there was, this guy would have been punished a long time ago for attaching HIS name to this whole mess.

[tsuki]

13. Apparently in Cuba also. They believe the US will invade them.

They are ready to resist.

[DistressedAmerican]

14. Can't really blame them for raising the terror threat level to red!

If I was the remaining cold war thorn in America's side and resided just off shore, I'd be a bit edgy too.

I actually assume what I'm hearing in the Yucatan Peninsula is probably coming out of Cuba. Goes to show who the world finds more trustworthy, Bush or Castro.

[tsuki]

16. Did you see Oliver Stone's interview of Castro? It was very

interesting.

[DistressedAmerican]

17. I haven't seen it yet. I just saw an ad the other day.

I'll definitely check it out!

[DistressedAmerican]

8. The two most common descriptions I have heard from my friends

down there are "Assasino" and "Antichristo".

The latter always makes me giggle like a little school girl. Such an overtly Catholic region and they think the Christian right in the US are nuts.

[tanyev]

9. Silly.

We don't have to go through Mexico to get Cuba. We've got Florida and Guantanamo.