Fidel Castro blasts Obama's proposed foreign policy to Cuba

[hokies4ever]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/26/fidel-castro-bashes-obama-cuba-policy/

"Former President Fidel Castro says Sen. Barack Obama's plan to maintain Washington's trade embargo against Cuba will cause hunger and suffering on the island.

In a column published Monday by government-run newspapers, Castro said Obama was "the most-advanced candidate in the presidential race," but noted that he has not dared to call for altering U.S. policy toward Cuba.

"Obama's speech can be translated as a formula for hunger for the country," Castro wrote, referring to Obama's remarks last week to the influential Cuban American National Foundation in Miami.

Obama said he would maintain the nearly fifty-year-old trade sanctions against Cuba as leverage to push for democratic change on the island. But he also vowed to ease restrictions on Cuban Americans traveling to Cuba and sending money to relatives."

(more at the link above)

Sweet! A badge of honor to wear having Fidel's non-endorsement. :rofl:

[tokenlib]

1. Thanks Fidel, I was worried you'd endorse....

Personally, I think the trade embargo will be on the table if in talks the US and Cuba can come to some agreements( and a post-Castro Cuba is gong to be coming). Obama offers a new day in US-Cuba relations--and I am so glad that Fidel has refused to recognize it. Whew.....

[hokies4ever]

4. I agree

Maybe loosen the trade embargo just a tiny bit if they agree to a small change. Then the people will get a taste of what life could be like and might openly revolt against their government.

[PaulaFarrell]

21. or maybe just stop the pointless trade embrago entirely

and stop tryting to interfere in the gfovernment of foreign countries. just a thought...

[Lucky 13]

2. For too long we've been trying to secure endorsements.

What we need to focus on now is the non-endorsements! Hamas, Al Qaeda, Iran, N. Korea,...

[hokies4ever]

6. McCain will claim that he is the worst nightmare for each of these

as if that's going to make people vote for him. :rofl:

[Gore1FL]

3. That should sew up S. Florida...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Fidel also said that if he endorsed Obama as the better candidate it would be used against him.

Obama's promise to keep the embargo intact is shortsighted and inhumane.

But, at least, Obama doesn't rely on the standard demonization of Castro and all things Cuban.

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” H.L. Mencken

[hokies4ever]

7. Baby steps

He knows that he can only take baby steps right now with Cuba. If Cuba does change however, I think that he would be open to lifting more of the embargo. I doubt that the President can unilaterally do this though, so he would need Congressional support.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. Clinton's Cuba Policy is much closer to McCain's than it is to Obama's

All three of them that advocate the embargo are neolithic.

[AllentownJake]

12. Only congress can end the embargo

The President could be impeached if he did it without congressional approval.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. The President can legally issue executive orders that basically end the embargo

The only difference between that and an act of congress is that his successor can repeal those executive orders.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. The best thing about Obama is that he's not Clinton.

And, certainly not McCain. His policy (statements) toward Cuba is most decidedly the lesser of three evils.

[EFerrari]

23. And they're all pretty much George Bush's. n/t

[Benhurst]

10. Yeah, pandering with a difference.

Change comes slow here.

We still don't have 20th Century universal national health, and won't for many years to come.

[tokenlib]

17. Read between the lines on the embargo...

I think there will be a steady systematic improvement in relations under Obama---he has to get a rationalization to lift the embargo--and I think it will be his goal to do that.

It is time to knock the nearly 50 yr old chip off the shoulder in regard to Cuba. China is just as bad human rights wise and we kiss their asses. I trust Barack and the new congress will do the right thing.... It takes political maneuvering and skill.. I trust Barack to do the right thing when he has the ability to do so.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. I certainly hope you're right.

The "Land of the free, and the Home of the Brave", have been told long enough that the evil, godless, communists, in mighty Cuba have been revving the engines of their '52 Plymouths just waiting to invade Miami and force good Americans to eat black beans and rice and listen to great salsa music.

[Yotun]

9. Castro is correct. The embargo is useless and only produces negative results, both in the livelihood

of Cubans, and in their prospects for democratic change. However I agree that his non-endorsement actually helps in an America brainwashed into accepting its own foreign policy crimes.

[hokies4ever]

11. It's about turning the country in the right direction

That's more important than making huge progress on every issue. No President can get elected if they advocate completely lifting embargos of nations like Cuba.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Is there a poll showing most Americans are against trade with Cuba? NT

NT

[hokies4ever]

16. Don't need a poll

because it plays right into the hand that the Republicans want to play in the fall. Obama represents too much change and advocates for us to be best friends with tyrants. Smart people see this for the fear-mongering that it is. The American people aren't as smart as you think. :rofl:

Just look at the MSM coverage of Castro's illness.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Honestly though, Americans aren't afraid of Castro, it's all about Florida

I don't know if you watched Recount last night but one of the characters made the comment that any number of things could have tipped the election to Gore. One of those things was if Clinton hadn't returned Elian Gonzales to Cuba. The Cuban-American population in Miami are the only block that really cares that current American policy toward Cuba continues but unfortunately they live in a swing state with 27 electoral votes and so the politicians all pander to them.

Obama has to take a moderate approach to Cuba in order to keep Florida competitive this time around. But honestly I think McGramps will carry Florida and Obama will win the election. That will give him the political cover he needs to get the ball rolling on turning back those ridiculouos sanctions.

[dana_b]

14. but it is still the people who always suffer for the decisions of the politicians

isn't it? At least Obama is willing to let people communicate with loved ones, but I am always against letting people suffer. They've had to do it for well over 40 years now and it is unfair. Of course Castro(s) are a**holes, but the people pay the price. I have a friend who went to Cuba (legally) and he said the people are wonderful, warm and make do with what they have, but it is so poor. One of the things that he noticed and really liked about their country was the complete lack of advertising and media rammed-down-your-throat 24 hrs. a day that we have here. He said it promotes more interaction between the people which was very nice.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Obama is our best chance to move towards ending the embargo

And Castro knows that praising him would only hurt him.

Obama is likely going to win this election without Florida's electoral votes, giving him political cover to go ahead and end the embargo.

[hokies4ever]

22. Great point

I do think that Castro realizes this as well. :patriot:

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. Cuba can't feed itself without the help of the evil capitalists?

:shrug:

[Hippo_Tron]

26. It's a tiny island that is dependant on trade just like most other nations are

And if it were just the United States refusing to trade with them it would be one thing. But the United States passes extra-territorial measures like the Helms-Burton Act that clearly violate WTO rules and intimidate businesses in other countries to not trade with Cuba.

Cuba is not a national security threat and our sanctions haven't done jack to weaken the current regime. I can't imagine why any rational person would continue to support this absurd policy.

[hokies4ever]

29. Answer: If it hasn't work in 50 years, perhaps the 51st year is the charm?

:rofl:

[Hippo_Tron]

30. It's also hypocrisy from the free trade Republicans

The Helms-Burton Act was practically written by lobbyists from the Bacardi Corporation. Their rum tastes like piss and if Havana Club could be sold in the United States their sales would plummet overnight.

[hokies4ever]

31. Vodka is better than rum anyway

has fewer chemical impurities, yielding to lesser hangovers

[dkf]

25. Castro's revenge: The Cuban oil rush

Seventy miles from Florida, a Cuban oil rush is underway - and U.S. companies can't join in, says Fortune's Carolyn Whelan.
FORTUNE Magazine
By Carolyn Whelan, Fortune
March 7 2007: 9:57 AM EST

(Fortune Magazine) -- Sometime later this year, less than 70 miles from Florida, a consortium of Spanish, Indian and Norwegian companies will likely start drilling for oil. It could mark the beginning of a Cuban oil rush - one that American oil companies won't be able to join, despite their proximity to the action.

And that has some U.S. oil industry executives and lobbyists seething, especially since the American Association of Petroleum Geologists calls the offshore Cuban oil deposits a "significant find."

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402339/index.htm

Just wait til they start pumping oil. I bet the embargo will be over in a second.

[Swamp Rat]

28. Now it's ok for rw fucktards to vote for Obama 'cuz he ain't no commie.