Socialist Cuba’s AIDS Rate Lowest in the Americas

[Mika]

Source: Ahora

Despite AIDS currently affecting more than 33 million people —and the fact that every minute and 11 youths become infected worldwide— Cuba is among the countries with lowest prevalence of the disease.
Currently the 17th International AIDS Conference is being held in Mexico City. Running through August 8, it is being attended by some 20,000 experts from around the globe seeking to tackle the HIV/AIDS issue.
Since the first case was detected in Cuba in 1986, a series of measures have been implemented to curb the spread of the epidemic. A sufficient amount of antiretroviral drugs have been produced and applied, which has led to a decline in mortality rates.

One of the great achievements is that there is no recorded case on the island of transmissions of the virus through intravenous drug use, blood transfusions or mother-to-infant transfer during childbirth. Cuba’s adult prevalence rate stands at .03 percent, the lowest in the Americas and one of the lowest in the world. Its HIV infection rate – 0.05 percent– is also one of the world’s lowest and exceptional in a region with some of the highest infection rates on the planet.
According to data reported at the AIDS conference, people between the ages of 15 and 24 accounted for 45 percent of those infected globally in 2007. In Latin America, about 55,000 children under 15 years suffer from the ailment, with the vast majority having contracted the disease from their mother.
Moreover, only 36 percent of pregnant women in this region receive medication to prevent transmission, and barely one third of the continent’s children are able to receive anti-retroviral drugs.

While this conference of scientists takes place in Mexico, as they search of an answer to this pandemic that poses such a serious danger to life, Cuba continues its march in the quest to find ways to prolong the existence of its ill and prevent further spread of the contagion.

Read more: http://www.ahora.cu/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=348&Itemid=57

---

Here's a long but very good look at Cuba's fight against an unknown (at the time) epidemic...

Cuba's AIDS patient #1 dies
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/011.html


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[jwirr]

1. A little health care and a little education go a long ways.

[Mika]

2. I've been there, and both are excellent in this fight.

Cuba has first class prevention programs, both in school and a wide range public education promotions.


-

[slackmaster]

24. Fidel Castro allegedly said that the prostitutes have university educations

:D

[Mika]

33. Like much of the US congress.

:o

[wvbygod]

3. they left out a few details

How does cuba treat those that may engage in the riskiest sex that is known to transmit the disease?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. cuba has improved VASTLY in its approach to gay rights (if that is what you are talking about)

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/02/post_72.html

[snooper2]

17. Those are some good signs..

But I would say that the Cuban culture still has a long way to go...

I would compare to the attitudes in say Mexico

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. i woudl compare them to america in terms of public homophobia

but say that there government is doing a far better job of sex ed.

[Mika]

22. Cuba has approved sex change surgery as part of its universal health care system.

The President's daughter, Mariela Castro, is director of Cuba’s National Center for Sex Education (CENESEX) in Cuba.

http://www.workers.org/2007/world/lavender-red-109/


Cuba now is much more progressive than Mexico in this social arena.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. exactly. nt

[Mika]

6. Info on that in the second link in OP. n/t

[roody]

9. The government makes sure they have condoms.

Cuba has made a 180 degree turn regarding same gender love.

[WriteDown]

11. Ever since Fidels been dead...

there have been some big changes.

[Mika]

14. Got any proof or any documentation to back that up?

Or is this just more ignorant anti Cuba bullshit from you?

[WriteDown]

62. Got any info that says....

he's currently not at room temperature?

[Judi Lynn]

65. If you stirred yourself to do any reading you'd be aware world leaders have been going to Cuba since

he started recuperating, and meeting with him. It hasn't been a secret, and it's discussed not only in the Cuban papers, but in their OWN papers in their OWN countries and it gets carried even by our own corporate media.

How you'd not have noticed is mysterious.

[WriteDown]

67. No, I have.....

I just haven't seen any video of him recently. Not has he appeared on any balconies. Who did he meet with last and when? If Bushler was out of plain sight for this long, I would start fortifying my bunker.

[Judi Lynn]

68. Here's a video clip from the BBC regarding Lula da Silva's last visit with him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7193600/7193626.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7193626&bbcws=1

Surprising you've remained so intensely in the dark about this.

[WriteDown]

71. Of course....

A video. Where time or date cannot be verified. That's not suspicious at all. He also seems quite lively. Odd that he will not make even one live appearance. He could even just step out on a balcony. On a side note, he must be one heck of an adidas fan.

[Judi Lynn]

69. Here's something from Fox you may find trustworthy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7193600/7193626.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&nol_storyid=7193626&bbcws=1

[Judi Lynn]

70. Reuters article on the same event:

Brazil's Lula says Fidel Castro lucid and healthy
Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:02am EST
By Anthony Boadle

HAVANA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Tuesday and said he was "incredibly lucid" and healthy enough to resume his political role in Cuba.

"I think Fidel is ready to assume his political role in Cuba and the role he has in history," Lula said at the end of a one-day visit. It was not clear he meant Castro would resume hands-on running of Cuba. In fact, Lula invited Fidel Castro's brother, acting President Raul Castro, to visit Brazil.

Lula met for two and a half hours with the 81-year-old revolutionary, who has not appeared in public since undergoing stomach surgery that forced him to hand over power temporarily to his brother Raul in July 2006.

"Fidel spoke for two hours and I for half an hour," Lula joked in remarks to reporters before heading home to Brasilia.

Two photographs of the meeting showed Castro looking much the same as in the last pictures released of him in October.

In one, Castro is shown in a track suit sitting in an armchair chatting with Lula. In the other, a relaxed and smiling Castro posed for Lula to take a photograph.

Lula, a former labor leader who said he belonged to a generation that admired Castro's 1959 leftist revolution, offered Cuba millions of dollars in credit and help in its search for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. It was his second visit to Cuba as president of Latin America's largest nation.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1553619220080116

These events have usually been discussed by DU'ers who have read about them.

[WriteDown]

73. When are they gong to have him waterskiing...

like Weekend at Bernie's?

[Judi Lynn]

78. So that's your representation of humor? You attempt to offer a "joke" up when you are shown

there has been evidence he's alive from the first?

Nice try at diverting the direction of the conversation, but he is still alive, which has been known to anyone ambitious enough to follow the story.

[WriteDown]

80. Yes, he is alive...

As proven from from all the "videos", "writings", and "sketches (j/k). You are too much Judi.

[Mika]

85. He's dead. Some people say.

He has to be dead. WD says so. Proof enough.
WD is the expert on such matters, and would fit right in with the crowd that hangs out at the cafe window at the Versailles on Calle Ocho.

[Judi Lynn]

86. Unbelievably awful photos! Horrible people! Thanks for the look! I'll be saving them, too.

Is that Lincoln's claw on McCain's face? Squoooshing up his chubby cheeks? Creepy! He got Mario, too, for the price of one!

[WriteDown]

88. At least we are in agreement.

:). He is more likely dead than alive. I fully expect for there to be an announcement in the near future where he passed away in his sleep or working through the night. Of course no one will have seen him live in some time. If he appears somewhere live such as a balcony or a podium or even in a car, I will be glad to eat crow.

[Judi Lynn]

72. DU'ers who follow Cuban events know Fidel Castro has been writing regular comments which are

published and read by anyone who's interested.

We have read his remarks which have been covered by papers around the world in depth concerning his apprehension of using food crops for fuel in a world with so many starving people.

His own country, which was headed in that direction made an adjustment and is rethinking their own goals, now. Here's an article discussing that:

Following Fidel's lead, Cuba cuts ethanol plans
Wed Aug 6, 2008 2:41pm EDT
By Marc Frank

HAVANA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Following denunciations of the use of food for fuel by former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a Cuban official said on Wednesday the Caribbean island is modernizing its sugar industry but that plans to increase ethanol production have been scaled back.

Luis Galvez, director of the sugar ministry's Sugar Cane Derivatives Research Institute, said as sugar output increases, so will derivatives, but in no case at the expense of food.

"We are modernizing the sugar industry but in no moment are we going to compete with food," he said in a news conference.

Galvez, who announced plans for a derivatives conference in October, refused even to use the word ethanol, stating plans for "alcohol" were reduced due to the market, land use and the country's strategy.

"We are producing around 100 million liters and with modernization we are going to double production," he said of the derivative which is used in rum, medicines, cosmetics and as fuel additive.

Two years ago, Galvez, opening a conference on ethanol in Havana, was more upbeat about Cuba's ethanol future.

"Our country has begun an accelerated drive to increase alcohol production, modernizing existing distilleries and installing new ones to increase by five times installed capacity," Galvez said at the time.

But that was before Castro, who underwent intestinal surgery in July 2006 from which he has not fully recovered, denounced in the newspaper columns the use of food for fuel, charging it was a crime against humanity and billions might starve as a result.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN06461057

[WriteDown]

81. Starting to remind me a little of Equilibrium....

If you've ever seen that movie.

[Billy Burnett]

19. Hoo Boy!

Part of the Castro is dead crowd.

The pictures and vids of him are faked too. :crazy:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. go cuba!!!

[tuckessee]

7. I bet North Korea's is pretty low too.

Point is, the low rate may have something to do with Cuba's isolation from the rest of the world, particularily the AIDS-infested US.

[Mika]

8. Wrong. Cuba isn't isolated from the rest of the world. The US is isolated from Cuba.

Cuba has relations with the rest of the world and tourists, teachers, doctors, researchers etc etc from around the globe go there. Cuba has one of the world's best disaster response brigades called the Henry Reeves Brigade, named after an American doctor, PLUS Cuba is world renown for its training and export of doctors and educators around the planet.

Cuba's literacy program "Yes I Can" is a UNESCO award winning program taught around the world.

The UN annually votes overwhelmingly against the US sanctions on Cuba.

It is Americans who are isolated from Cuba, by the dictate of the US gov.

-

[WriteDown]

12. I am sure that we will soon be hearing...

from some of our DU members in Cuba then right? We must have scores of them lurking right now and just waiting to post.

:eyes:

[Mika]

13. Internet is VERY expensive in Cuba.

Because the US sanctions on Cuba prevent Cuba from connecting to the only Caribbean trunk line that is owned by a US company.

Cubans on average can't afford to use the internet for such thinks as refuting Cubanphobic BS posted on US blogs.

[Billy Burnett]

16. Don't bother, Mika. WD is one of DU's Cuba experts...

... you know, an expert that has never been there and spews RW US government and Miamicuban exile sputum.

[WriteDown]

61. Yeah, that's me....

Actually, I used to work for a Canadian/German company where most of the Canada staff had been to Cuba. Its not as bad as its portrayed, but nowhere as good as its lauded by some.

[Mika]

84. Its the Cubaphobes here who call Cuba a "workers paradise".

I've never seen the non-Cubaphobes regulars here post that. Never.

Maybe those of us who've actually been to Cuba (as I have) or have spent some time researching the island (as I have) laud Cuba(ns) for the good works seen in person or examined by NGOs, but never laud Cuba as a "workers paradise".

I've always found it interesting that the anti Cuba crowd often make the hyperbolic claim that Cuba is lauded as such.

Coincidently, Canada isn't as bad as it is portrayed (by some), but nowhere as good as its lauded by some. Its no workers paradise either. Some people say. :P




-

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. also why woudl they want to. this is an american website discussing american govt

why would cubans even care?

[WriteDown]

60. Not a problem....

I'm sure that there are some Cubans who are on vacation somewhere in South America or Europe and they'll be logging on soon. Or maybe there is a Cuban baseball team visiting the U.S. right now. I'm sure they are allowed internet access in their hotel.

:eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

64. You have a grandiose view of the importance of one U.S. political board

written in English, and its place in a world of other languages, and other countries.

It's reminiscent of the view the sun revolved around the earth.

As for Cuban baseball teams visiting the U.S., you'd better check with the _Bush administration on its policy on allowing Cubans into the country. They don't have a good history on that. They tend to deny visas as a practise.

Baseball scouts, like the now banned-from-baseball Joe Cubas have to chase the Cuban players around the world and seduce them there in order to get them to come to the U.S.

They tend to speak Spanish, too. That's why pieces of filth like Cubas, who reamed them royally once they got here, ripped them off wildly, and got himself banned from the game, had to speak Spanish to get their attention.

[WriteDown]

66. I just thought....

that there would be a single poster from Cuba who could provide some on the ground details. We've had posters from all over the world, including England, Norway, The Netherlands, even one from Venezuela. Seems like every time a Cuban sports star comes to the U.S. there is a defection. I imagine there are some at the Olympics now though. Chances of getting internet access there is slim though.

[Judi Lynn]

74. Do you think all Cubans, raised speaking Spanish, would be interested in discovering one political

message board in another country written in another language?

How many message boards do you read in other countries written in your OWN language?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. freedom of speech and physical isolation are not the same thing. nt

[tuckessee]

15. Never did I say it was Cuba's fault. n/t

[Billy Burnett]

18. And he never accused you of that. Just your wrong assumption of Cuba's isolation.

:hi:


I've been to Cuba also. Believe me, Cuba is not isolated.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. no. just because americans aren't allowed to go to cuba

doesnt mean other people can't.


there rates are low because of excellent sex ed and good healthcare

[Mika]

28. (On Cuba's "isolation") Africa: Cuba - Key to Continent's Aids Pandemic

Africa: Cuba - Key to Continent's Aids Pandemic
http://allafrica.com/stories/200808040612.html

The commitment that the Cuban medical brigades have demonstrated is truly inspiring whether or not one supports Cuba's political and social ideology.

The poorest people in the world have benefited from free treatment that has been extended by the government of the largest island in the Caribbean.

This level of commitment and exemplary service has put Cuba at the forefront of intervention in containing the spread and impact of HIV and Aids on both the African continent and in the Diaspora.

While medical advocacy groups when revealing tragic statistics in relation to this deadly disease might have created a climate of panic that many of those with HIV or Aids never psychologically overcome, several top medical experts estimate there will be 18 million Aids orphans on the African continent by 2010.

Already close to a decade into the second millennium, it is time for Africa to fully appreciate a standing offer that Cuba has made to the continent to assist in dealing with the pandemic.

While the United Nations and various organisations such as the Global Fund were still busy setting up the Millennium Fund, Cde Castro communicated to the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Cuba would like to lend its assistance to the cause.

He told Annan that because Cuba was under a decades-old blockade, the country could not give monetary aid but there was still a way in which he could give help.

Cde Castro said Cuba was willing to send 4 000 -- that's right, 4 000, of Cuba's best HIV and Aids doctors and specialists directly to Africa and that they would remain on the continent until the pandemic was defeated.

That offer, unfortunately was not taken up because the UN apparently feared the reaction from the United States -- Cuba's age-old enemy -- if it emerged that the Communist country was doing far more than anyone else in combating HIV and Aids.

So, sadly, nothing came out of the most generous offer.

It is fortunate that the region on the continent worst affected by HIV and Aids is also the same region that has the closest ties with Cuba on the continent: Southern Africa.

There are numerous Cuba Friendship Associations across the Sadc region and it is time these bodies jointly approached the African Union and made it clear that the continent should accept Cuba's offer.

People are always saying that Africa should be left to come up with solutions to its own problems and in Cuba's magnanimous offer, the continent has an opportunity to cast aside the conditional aid that comes from the West and effectively do something about HIV and Aids.

The time is more than ripe to submit a joint proposal to the AU, through the proper channels and established protocol, using the various Cuba Friendship Associations and through the offices of Sadc health ministers.

The proposal should call for the AU to create a joint fund from each member of the continent body to finance the 4 000-strong brigade that Cuba would like to send.

This money would be used for their upkeep.

The AU should agree to let Cuba develop a training programme that helps African countries deal with droughts, floods and other natural calamities and disasters as these have a huge impact on HIV and Aids.

We know that the immediate reaction from some in Africa will be that making such a decision will place the continent on a collision course with the United States, which does not want the rest of the world to develop strong ties with Cuba.

-

[Billy Burnett]

32. The US gov tries everything to isolate Cuba, then Americans cry "Cuba is isolated".

Too bad that more Americans won't pull their head outta their asses regarding this activity by their government.

[roody]

10. Cuba has excellent sex education.

One reason young women are not burdened with 2 or 3 little ones like most Latin American poor women.

[JonQ]

26. Alot of factors at play here

According to the CIA world factbook the Saudis have a rate of .01%, lower than cubas. But I'd hardly consider their approach to sex to be enlightened and wise.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. yes but that isn't cuba's deal. cuba has a very extensive sex ed program

and a really solid health care program.

you are comparing apples and beef jerky.

[JonQ]

29. Canada has an extensive sex ed program

and a solid health care program. And a higher rate of AIDS. So do Britain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Denmark, etc. All with higher AIDS rates than Cuba.

Perhaps something else is at play here.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

30. yes but its not sinister. a smaller population is easier to dispense

information too etc.

i know everybody wants things about cuba to be sinister, but a lot of it is not

[JonQ]

34. And diseases are far easier to control

when the people don't have rights.

You could wipe out AIDS in the US in a few months. Shut down the border, don't let anyone in even to visit, mandate blood tests for all citizens, and round all affected in to quarantine centers. Simple enough, AIDS is gone.

Like I said, it's easy if the people don't have rights. That doesn't make it desirable.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

35. but your working on the assumption that is what is occuring.

without much proof

a blind hatred for cuba, because dare defy america, is pretty stupid.

[JonQ]

36. I tend to not be very fond of despots

whatever their opinion on America. Right now Pakistan is our ally, doesn't mean I trust Musharraf.

Also when they make claims that all is well, and everything is much better than in those evil democracies, and support that only with their governments numbers, I tend to be skeptical.

[Mika]

38. So UNESCO and the WHO are despotic also.

They are the groups praising Cuba for their work (as observed by their own researchers).

As Billy said ... keep grasping. Maybe you'll hit something in that vacuous knowledge base on Cuba of yours.

-

[JonQ]

41. Yep

and I'm sure they're given unfettered access to every part of cuba, and not just what the government wants them to see.

I trust unelected strongmen when they tell me they're nice guys.

I hear everything is dandy in North Korea too. They said so, and they would know best. :eyes:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

really? what about north korea do you hear that is dandy?

i hear about terrible poverty and lack of basic rights like food and healthcare

[JonQ]

47. Go to their website

http://www.korea-dpr.com/

everything sounds peachy to me. Do you not trust them? Why, because they oppose the US?

[Billy Burnett]

37. Keep grasping.

Maybe that's straw in the haystack. :eyes:


Lat I checked, Cubans have rights. Rights to health care, education, housing, security, vote, etc.


One would only deny that Cubans have rights by someone who has never been there nor done any realistic research on the place.

[JonQ]

39. They've been condemned by the UN

And the European Union many times. I guess they just hate Cuba too.

[Mika]

40. On their AIDS programs? Link please.

Let's stick to apples. For this discussion on AIDS treatment, let's leave out the oranges for now.

[JonQ]

42. On human rights

which is what I was responding to.

[Billy Burnett]

46. Notice that the Cubaphobes keep shifting the topic at hand?

Its been a pattern here on DU by the Cubaphobes to shift the topic to another heated insult debate.

Its a strategy to get the LBN Cuba threads locked away or moved so DUers can't read the ongoing LBN discussion topic.

They don't know shit about Cuba so they flame away in all directions, seemingly afraid to let other DUers learn from the posts relating to the OP topic.

I've seen it here for years.

[JonQ]

49. Hmm . .

you said "
Lat I checked, Cubans have rights. Rights to health care, education, housing, security, vote, etc.


One would only deny that Cubans have rights by someone who has never been there nor done any realistic research on the place"

In response I pointed out that their vaunted rights aren't exactly stellar.

So I keep moving the goalposts, by responding directly to what you have to say.

Interesting . . .

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. on what though? you can condemn countries for a variety of reason

theirs aids program is not the reason they have been condemned

lack of political expression: sure there has been condemnation

sex ed and health care: deserve praise not condemnation

life isnt black and white. its not all evil or all good.

[JonQ]

52. I'm disputing their claim

that their low AIDS rate is due to any particular action on their parts. Correlation not proving causation and all that.

To this end I pointed out countries with terrible sex ed and health care with a lower rate of AIDS, and countries with far better care and a higher rate. As I said, clearly many factors are at work and yet the Cubans, and their proponents here, are claiming that it was all the brilliance of their government. I disagree.

[Mika]

87. Where did you point out those stats?

To this end I pointed out countries with terrible sex ed and health care with a lower rate of AIDS,

Where? I scanned this thread and saw no such postings from you. Can you show us some examples of this?

[Mika]

90. Still waiting for some stats to back up your 'point'.

To this end I pointed out countries with terrible sex ed and health care with a lower rate of AIDS,

Where did you point this out? Not in this thread, so far.

How about some sources validating your point, otherwise I find your point very hard to believe.


-

[Judi Lynn]

91. I didn't see anything like that, either, Mika. Terrible sex ed and health care, lower AIDS rate.

I don't see it anywhere, either. Very suspicious, I'll tell ya!

http://www.defensetech.org.nyud.net:8090/archives/images/detective-magnifying-glass.jpg

[Mika]

92. Still waiting for those stats on terrible sex ed but lower AIDS rates than (or as low as) Cuba.

Not going to hold my breath for those stats, but, for now, I call your 'point' bullshit, as you'll try to peddle most any lie in order to feign debate. Your hatred of a fantasized Cuba seems to outweigh your ability to reason on the subject with people who have research experience on Cuba or have been there who voice their well considered opinions on the place and its infrastructures.


-

[Mika]

93. Still waiting for those stats to back up your ridiculous 'point'.

To this end I pointed out countries with terrible sex ed and health care with a lower rate of AIDS

And I am accusing you of slinging pure bullshit to make some fantasized point, unless you can cough up some facts to back up your claim.

As it now stands ... Socialist Cuba’s AIDS Rate Lowest in the Americas!


-

[JonQ]

44. Surprising how many apologists there are for this regime

Castro, and his ilk are not liberals, they aren't progressive. They're dictators. Not the worst in the world, but hardly something to look up to.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

45. being able to think in a complex fashion and not in a simplistic good vs evil way

is not being an apologist

[JonQ]

48. Who said good vs. evil?

I'm not saying we should invade or that their problems negate ours.

I'm just pointing out their flaws.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

50. the entire regime isnt evil. there are evil aspects to castro

this sort of reductionist thinking is what got us into the iraq war

[JonQ]

53. Right,

because I specifically said we should invade and liberate the Cuban people. Just like the Iraq war. :eyes:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

54. thats not what i said. nt

[JonQ]

55. You compared my argument

to those used to support the Iraq war.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

57. i compared reductionist thinking. the argument of good vs evil

and the idea that one is all bad or all good

[JonQ]

82. Please find where I said

cuba was all bad, and we were all good. If you're going to make the claim that I am engaging in such logic you must back it up with proof.

I don't put words in your mouth, please do me the same courtesy.

[IggyReed]

83. "Liberate" the Cuban people

Who the hell are you to make that decision for them? According to every non-partisan, international poll taken the majority of Cubans want the Revolution's gains and polices to stay in place. They do want some changes, but they're relatively superficial. They know the countries who've followed our advice (more accurately had the polices forced on them) are in miserable poverty and have little to no access to healthcare, education, etc. The countries, which are too numerous to name, are just as poor or poorer than Cuba and don't have the educational, healthcare or agricultural system that Cuba has. There is no evidence what so ever that they'd be in favor of a freaking US invasion, since anyone who follows these events knows that if the US were to come in they'd impose what THEY (their investors and right wing Cubans, including the terrorists people like the Bush family protect like Posada Carriles) want for the country they're "liberating" and could care less about what Cubans want.

We "liberated" Iraq and have instituted economic & oil polices in direct opposition to the wishes of Iraqis and international law, across the board. Our investors are happy though, so we “liberated” them. I can honestly not think of a single country that we "liberated" where we did what was in THEIR and not OUR interests.

If you disagree, provide an example.

It’s amazing how these anti-leftist posters could care less about history, facts, objectivity or opposing arguments. They’re right and nothing will change their mind.

[JonQ]

89. Seems that someone

doesn't understand sarcasm.

[Mika]

51. Proof of post #46's point.

How about sticking to the topic - Cuba has the lowest AIDS rate in the hemisphere.

If you want to discuss Cuba's political system, or condemnations from the EU, or somesuch other topic, please post another thread.

This thread is about AIDS in Cuba.

[Mika]

56. JQ's mission accomplished. Thread locked and moved.

The mods are out to lunch for dealing with thread spammers in this way.

[Billy Burnett]

59. That's why I don't waste a lot of time here anymore.

Any and all Cuba threads turn into red baiting insult threads by persons unwilling/unable to stick to the topic at hand.

Uninformed and unsubstantiated claims comparing Cuba to Saudi Arabia's treatment of GLBT and AIDS is unconscionable.

Seeya.

:hi:

[Mika]

63. But Cubans should be posting here to refute such ignorance.

That's putting precious resources towards a good cause. Educating DU hard core & ignorant Cubaphobes. :sarcasm:

[JonQ]

77. Yeah, I wonder why we don't see more posters

from workers paradises like cuba, north korea, and china?

[Judi Lynn]

79. Maybe you'd like to share what message boards you attend in other countries.

Of course you would undoubtedly participate in English speaking message boards everywhere, right?

The challenge would be in your being proficient enough in other languages to drop in there and give them the benefit of your views. I'm sure they're waiting.

[JonQ]

76. Posting a comment

and then responding to those who ask me questions is "thread spamming"? Sounds more like a conversation.

[JonQ]

58. If you claim correlation = causation

then the burden of proof is on you.

And I have stuck to the topic. Aids in cuba, pretty simple. I'm just not willing to believe their edicts as gospel without outside proof.

[Judi Lynn]

75. You can expect the General Assembly at the U.N. to condemn the U.S. embargo on Cuba this year again,

the 16th or longer year in a row, with all the countries either voting against with a few abstentions, and only Israel, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, (always succumbing to rigourous arm-twisting from the U.S. U.N. ambassador) supporting the U.S. internationally illegal economic warfare on this small country (even in the midst of heavy commerce with China and Viet Nam).

Our Cuban-American political block has ALWAYS used the U.N. as a battle ground to try to punish Cuba in ways not available to them otherwise, and they've always made a spectacle of themselves, arm-twisting, coercing, cajoling, and apparently BRIBING occassional tools like selected Czechs into supporting their position. You've probably noticed that Frank Calzon, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen have found a way to start directing a lot of U.S.A.I.D. and N.E.D. money, etc. their way, and it's even starting to get taken, in these hard financial times, from the ENORMOUS pork slated to go to the Miami reactionary "exile" hardliners. (I can't think they're that crazy about having to share any of their fat bounty with the others, since they used to get it all to themselves!)

[Mika]

94. Interesting that the anti Cuba factions routinely use lies, innuendo, and rumor as facts.

Just who are 'Castro's ilk'?

Cuba has a world class universal health care and world class universal education. That's not progressive?


You just make shit up.



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