The knives are sharpening in Miami....and in Mafioso HQs...and any other place where gambling and prostitution interests are planned.

prostitution and misery like ther is now in Cuba? You moron.

I was pretty upset when I heard that Castro resigned. I was hoping he died. I hope that thug is suffering. Suffering like so many Cubans have since he took over.

rcarrace: Yeah suffering like the people did under US Imperial rule. The number one lie in this world is the lie that the US is the shining example of democracy. Before Castro and the revolution, the people were basically slaves of the US Empire, and nothing short of a return to the imperial days will satisfy the US. You just can't help but spread your rot and corruption around the globe. I just hope and pray that the Cuban people can resist the traitors that would sell out to the Americans for their little piece of the "american dream".

Black propaganda. Better to read this, http://www.counterpunch.org/eckardt02202008.html which reveals "Cuba just completed an immense and thorough-going Parliamentary election process where some 96% of the electorate (voting age begins at 16) cast secret ballots--and 92% of them chose the united slate put together by union, women's, youth, small farmers' and other popular organizations (the Communist Party cannot field candidates)."

It's wise to distrust English language sourced items related to Cuba. As my linked article shows, expect no change in Cuba policy as the goalposts are always being moved.

Why do Castro hating Cuban exiles in Miami and other parts, insist on controlling and dominating US foreign policy? Bunch of bullies! They are the real thugs!

yeah Cuba is so good that thousands of Cubans risk their lives everyday to come to this country. TELL IT TO A CUBAN MORONS! Idiots ... come and tell it to my family and friends ... All Cubans poor, middle class and rich. Cuba had it's problems before Castro but Castro put the nail on the coffin.

elmysterio,

I just hope and pray that the Cuban people can resist the traitors that would sell out to the Americans for their little piece of the "american dream".

If the Cuban people have any say in it ... They'll crap in Castro's mouth and execute all of his hench men trust me. You could pray all you want ... it won't help a bit ...
If it was up to the people, Castro would have been dead already.

Funny ... as I am writting this, just saw and heard on the news, of a coast guard boat coming from Cuba ... CUBANS defecting again ... everyday ... more Cubans ... coming hear. I tell you ... I can't explain it ... You know, with Cuba being such a great country and all. Go figure?

rcarrace, we always here from people like yourself, you hate Castro, you don't think that the benefits of the Revolution are worth the costs. Forget the fact that countries in a similar economic situation are living in absolute misery, without healthcare, education, a functioning agricultural system and (unlike Cuba, who is the best in Latin America) starving on a mass scale. The Revolution has given Cubans social and economic rights that no one, anywhere in the region, has had. It has come at a cost obviously. However, can you claim with a straight face that Cuba's human rights record is worse than Washington's capitalist allies in the region, especially over the last few decades? Everyone knows what people like you are AGAINST, what are you for? Are you ok with people like yourself helping hide away terrorists who kill innocent people, like your buddies in South Florida, some of whom have bombed airliners, hotels, and killed countless people in your home country? What do you have to say about the horrific terrorist attacks by this country against the country your family comes from? What alternative policies do you want to see enacted in Cuba? Also, who are you aligning yourself with, while opposing Castro? The same people who've been behind the wonderland known as Haiti? El Salvador? Colombia? What REALISTIC alternatives do you want to see implemented and who is going to be involved with seeing those policies through? Also, what IF, it is a possibility, the people actually living in Cuba don't agree with you and other American Cubanos? What then?

Last couple of questions: what connection do you and your community have to Batista, or the forces that ran Cuba in his name? What connection do you see with Castro's actions when the US tried to kill him (starting almost two years before his turn to the USSR) on average once a month for 50 years, and tried to take his government out between one to two times a year over the same span? If another country was doing that to the US, what do you think the US' reaction would be, when we've already seen authoritarian measures since the attack in 2001 as is?

rcarrace, have any comment on the amount of Haitians that, at least attempt, to flee to the US? They're fleeing a capitalist situation you know. Have any idea how many Latinos not from Cuba, but from Mexico thanks to NAFTA, flee to the country? You logic would work if the capitalist countries aren't seeing a huge influx of émigrés from the poorer countries of the world. The same situation is happening in places like South Africa from the neighboring countries.

The US is 6% of the world's population and consumes 26% of its resources. Europe consumes a bit less per capita, but still about five times more than Cubans do. Austrialia, Japan and the rest of the developed world is the same. There is a finite amount of resources in the world, so when the US and similar countries consume as they do, they guarantee the poverty of countries like Cuba, Mexico, Haiti, etc. THAT is why countries like Cuba are poor, and that is why the Cuban Revolution is an inspiration to many. It is a resistance to the uneven access to resources, thanks in large parts to military and economic imperialism, that I'm sure you're ok with as long as your buddies in Cuba are getting paid off by the imperialists, just like before Castro.

People fleeing from countries like Cuba to countries like the US happens around the world, coming from economic systems across the board (including increasingly from Colombia to Venezuela need I remind you). You're either ignorant or lying if you're trying to claim this is a situation unique to the Cuban experience and is simply a result of the Cuban Revolution.

CD posters,
Uneducated and ignorant posters do not deserve our attention. Let them post their propaganda.

I believe most of us here should not even bother reading it, let alone respond to. And it's not like his/her train of worthless opinions is ever going to influence us.

Besides, what can we expect from a person who tries to defend his/her arguments by using the words "moron" or "idiots", instead of making a rational case?

Grant ,

Cubans have been fleeing for 40 years now.

" that I'm sure you're ok with as long as your buddies in Cuba are getting paid off by the imperialists, just like before Castro."

i am not in agreement with a lot of policies in the US. I and my family have never been for Batista of what he stood for. But don't fool yourself, Castro was a thug just like Batista or worse. Murdered innocent people, he may have taken from the mob but he also took from hard working honets people. all the while, he's lived like a KING! One of the richest men in the world ... I saw a smuggled video that shows how he lives while his people starve. He is a thug that can not be crossed. Cross him and you die.

ladybug,

Why don't you just move to Cuba and blow the almighty dictator then if you think he is so great?

Grant,

Also, what IF, it is a possibility, the people actually living in Cuba don't agree with you and other American Cubanos? What then?

THEY DO ... TRUST ME ... They do. One day, when Cuba is free again ... the people will speak.

I do give Cuba credit for having a much speedier political evolution than the US.

Rubén Zaldívar, aka Fulgencio Batista, became a Unitary President and operated a successful totalitarian plutocracy beginning in 1940.

The US government didn't devolve into that phase until 2000, when a compromised and perfidious judiciary installed King George as Amerika's capo di tutti capi and instituted Homeland gangster rule.

We could use a Fidel Castro, but I guess Obama is as good as it gets.

I would suspect that the Cubans that "flee" to the US are the one's who buy into the idea of the "American Dream"... they are also probably the descendants of the former ruling class who lost everything in the revolution, who grew up listening to the stories of the "glory days". I would also suspect that some of the "refugees" are people fleeing bad economic situations, BECAUSE of the US embargo on the country.

rcarrace: So you're saying it would be a GOOD thing if the Cuban people welcomed the US back into the country? Sort of a "Sorry we kicked you out. Here, come exploit us again" type situation?

Why is it that those with the most primitive, openly aggressive language call for "democracy" in Cuba and want to obtain that through undemocratic violence or pressure?

Cuba (and here I think of its people) will change, if you don't bully it. It wants to change, but it does not want to lose its pride in its achievements, even if they are extremely meagre, as a boycott makes you struggle for breath. Lift the boycott, be fair, not neocolonialist, don't try to recalim what you consider yours at once or forcefully - most of the people living there own less than you and need something to subsist on - and Cuba will become wealthier and more democratic step by step and open to the world in a more self-confident manner than today (here I'm thinking of prostitution, the convertible peso and the seaside tourist trap hotels).

Give Cuba a break - it has stood in the shadow long enough! Just stop this ugly violence and bullying and profitting and accept the right of others to breathe and be human.

It has always puzzled me how Castro supporters decry Bush's authoritative rule all the while, if they wrote ill of Fidel while living in Cuba, they would be risking jail time. True, Bush is arguably the worst president the US has ever had, but come on, Castro is a dictator- nothing else. The Cuban revolution was a great thing with nearly all factions of Cubans working to oust Battista. But then Castro hijaked the whole revolution and made himself ruler.
Government should be ruled by the people and not just party members.

rcarrace, that may be the case. However, you've shown nothing here other than the fact that you are emotional and use no logic what so ever to back anything you say...oh, and you have relatives in Cuba. Who knows how much their opinions are shaped by objective rationalists like yourself, sniff. Every independent poll I've seen has shown that while Cubans might want more freedom from the government they're no where near as reactionary as you are. There is no way they'll move forward with anything you'd like if it means dismantling their healthcare, educational, biotech and other systems. I'm sorry but people like you are a dime a dozen and you never bother to come up with any convincing arguments. You shout people down and remind them of the reactionary right wingers they want out of THIS government, who are ruining THIS country. Here is a link to some terrorists who think like you. When reporters go to South Florida to do stories on these violent extremists they're attacked by reactionaries like you and threatened with their lives. So who to believe, someone who makes illogical arguments, shouts people down and calls them names or international polls and experts on the issues we're discussing here….hm….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRMf2eHfMhw

People who claim that countries will become wealthier by following China's "free market" (since the "free market" has really only existed for a few years, at least the nonsense they teach in economics departments, in human history we should properly call it a state directed profit based) path, answer this question for me: Are YOU, as an American, willing to have your standard of living decreased by consuming less? There, again, is a finite amount of resources in the world. If the US & countries like the US' consumption stays the same, forget any increase, and countries like Cuba increase their consumption there will be ecological collapse in the future. You can't consume away a forest and expect it to be there tomorrow for your use. So if you claim that Cuba is supposed to go through capitalist reformation and this is somehow supposed to increase their consumption what will it be? The environment or you lowering your consumption? Cuba, who collectively manages the resources they have, has the right idea, roughly. The US, where we consume as much as we can and expect that to continuously increase, doesn't. Their consumption and the ideology that underlies it is not sustainable. People who think that countries like China (who if they consumed on the same per capita level as the US would consume every resource in the world themselves) can increase their consumption, along with everyone else, and nothing will happen to the ecological system worldwide are ignorant about the environment in which they live in.

mnibbler, I can't speak for anyone else but I myself think that the accomplishments of the Cuban Revolution, considering what Cuba has been through, are remarkable and should serve as an example for other countries. I'm not talking about the state repression or lack of freedom of speech, if you're objective you have to take into account the 700 attempts against Castro's life and the approaching 100 attempted coups (think about what the situation here would be in the same circumstances and be honest). I'm talking about the healthcare, agricultural, educational system, etc. Those systems are not compatible with capitalism and if Cuba is forced, if they chose it themselves it's their problem to worry about, to radically transform their economic system those institutions will be wiped off the map. You cannot have a good "investment climate" when the state is spending that many resources towards non-capital accumulation. This isn't something to sneeze at because you think luxury goods are nice and dandy. Elites in Haiti can buy nice cars and poor people are dying of starvation and violence by reactionary government forces aligned with the US. If Cuba is forced to radically change their economic system the above institutions will be dismantled. If that happens, come back and talk about the newly won "freedoms". I, myself, think that freedom of speech and assembly, press, etc. is overdue. I also think that reforming the economic system should be the right of Cubans, not living in Florida for years, if they so choose. However, those are two completely separate issues. Neither has a direct connection to the other. There ARE more libertarian forms of socialism and Cuba is in the best position in the world for that to be a success, if they should chose THAT path and not the neo-liberal path. If they chose the latter because of capitalist propaganda that promises the impossible (citing my above post about finite resources), god help them.

rcarrace: I love your discomfort. You deserve to stew in your hatred. People like you fit perfectly in the US. Stay here. You just can't stand it when the people beat the rich huh? Cuando sali de Cuba deje enterrado medio millon. Do you speak Spanish you so called Cuban?

Que quieres, ser rey? Te gusta ser rico em medio de la pobreza? Ese es tu paraiso? E.U. , donde los ricos viven en medio de la pobreza. Y tu vives en la pobreza de tu mente atrofica de antano. Sufre pendejo.

When Cuba has a hurricane, nobody dies. Everybody, and their ANIMALS get moved to high ground in timely fashion. Cuba has one of the best emergency rescue services in the world. Ask Pakistan who said Cuba was the greatest help to them during the earthquake. CUBA! With a GNP per capita of less than 4000!! And here? Think KATRINA. GNP per capita? Over 25,000.

mnibbler: Castro is a dictator, nothing else.

The first part is half-correct, the last part shows you are a light weight. You need to learn more about the world. If you think Castro is nothing else, you are simply uninformed. That is anything but unusual in the U S A., the land of the not so free and the hardly brave. History is already leaving you behind along with the rest of the country. Bye.

Que quieres, ser rey? Te gusta ser rico em medio de la pobreza? Ese es tu paraiso? E.U. , donde los ricos viven en medio de la pobreza. Y tu vives en la pobreza de tu mente atrofica de antano. Sufre pendejo.

Yo no soy rico. Ni mis padres eran ricos tampoco. Pero eran libre en Cuba. Eso que tu dices es el quento del aragan. Yo conosco a muchos Cubanos ... que tenian, se lo robaron (Castro) ... y llegaron aqui y se hicieron de dinero otra ves. Porque el trabjador y el que es inelligente lo hace otra ves endonde quiera.

El quento de el que no queire pinchar ... eso es lo que hablas tu.

Excuse my Spanish writting skills ... I normally do not write in Spanish.

As I said ... what you are saying is BS. There are rich and poor in every country. Whether it be through inheritance, work, luck ... whatever it may be ... It is envious people like you that think it is an injustice. All I say to people that complain about it is ... find your way. Work ... study, take chances. Don't blame those who have. My grandfather fled Spain becuase of Franco, got to Cuba when he was 14 and worked in coal mines .... WORKED HARD and Saved his money ... Used his brain and started a business. Was upper middle class because he worked for it and this prick comes and takes it from him? If you think that is justice then you are an envious person, a pig, ... Don't assume that all people who have or are rich got there on the backs of poor people. That is a fairy tale.

rcarrace: You just totally proved what I suspected and posted a few posts ago. I said: "they are also probably the descendants of the former ruling class who lost everything in the revolution, who grew up listening to the stories of the "glory days"." And there you are... Grandpa was a business guy.

Grant,

It is not about logic. Don't try to find a logical explanation to something that does not warant one. It is that simple. He's a prick. A prick that took advantage of the conditions of Cuba at that time. Batista was a thug also ... my family did not like Batista either. Most Cubans however, even those who were fooled by Castro would tell you that in retrospect Batista was better than Castro hands down.

elmysterio ,

That's right. Granpa was a business guy and what is wrong with that? He worked for it ... nobody gave it to him. He didn't steal, cheat for it. Why? That's a problem, why? Cause you can't do it? What are you envious, jealous? Work! Plain and simple ... or don't. But don't don't criticize those who've earned it.

And Obama plans to keep the criminal economic sanctions on Cuba. His comments evidence he has no real understanding of Cuba or its people.

So, much for the change agent.

If we agree with rcarrace he may just fade away . Wheeew , what a relief.

"It is not about logic."

And with that I say good night. To the above poster, who said we should ignore this...whatever the hell, you were right and I wasted my time. Score one for you.

I'm going to step back here and control my emotions before I make my final statement.

There is corruption everywhere in the world. There are rich and poor everywhere in the world. The Mafia, corrupt officials, prostitution ... all of it, everwhere. Those that work hard, those who get by, those who are lazy, smart, stupid, etc. All these things are true and will always be true.

Batista took Cuba by force. He was corrupt, in bed with the Mafia. In Cuba there was racism (which existed even stronger here in the US at the time), expoilation of workers, prostitution, the list goes on.

At the same time, Cuba had good teachers, good an honest employers, technology, business was booming in all areas, opportunity was there for the taking if you worked hard and used your head (like anywhere).

I can't say this is true during all of Batista's rule but there was also the most important human right anyone has. Freedom.

Shortly after Castro took power he announced that there wouldn't be any elections in Cuba. He said, "the people chose, there is no need for an election.".

That alone blows any notion or propaganda that you can spew of how great Cuba or Castro are away. If you do not have freedom you do not have anything. NOTHING.

I know we have a lot of issues in our country. Especially with the current administartion. This country is still free however and I would not defend or praise any other country that denies that fundamental human right. Castro did not only steal from the rich. He stole the very soul of his own people by denying them freedom.

Some Canadian business guy writes of how much he knows of Cuba because does business there. Others go on vacation and they have the whole story. Remember this ... In Cuba, the next door neighbor can be an informant to officials as much as the baker, the mail man, etc. Everybody watches what they say. I know. I talk to family and people that go there often.

Sorry to ruin your utopia. I know it is hard to accept that there aren't many other places better than the US. I guess it all really depends on how you look at it and what your personal goals are. A guy posted here that he knew of a guy who wanted to return becuase he did not like the US. I have to admit I met someone who did the same. The guy I knew though was a bum and I am not just saying that. He lived here for 3 years ... collected welfare ... all he thought about was partying, dancing ... drinking. A loser. Something quite frankly that is frowned upon in Cuban culture.

Common Dreams seems to have its share of black propaganda lately. And Amy Goodman seems to become more mainstream every day. For real Cuban news, buy a good short wave radio and listen to 6000 kHz, Radio Havana Cuba. And it's not exactly the "U.S." meddling in Cuba, it's the former Meyer Lansky Jewish Crime Syndicate, still based in Miami.

rcarrace makes two points worthy of note:

First, Fidel as a head of government has been a disaster. Fidel is an ideologue and always has been. Even his retirement will be devoted to writing about his "ideas' not "formulating plans" for the establlshment of some institutional permanency of the social welfare state in Cuba.

Second, Fidel has been a brutal totalitarian tyrant whose idea of engaging political dissent is to crush it without second thought. This has been his record for the past 49 years and cannot be denied.

The above having been said, the chief architect of Cubanos misery has been the US and not Fidel. The US has been the one necessitating the existence of a militaristic state ready to go to war at a moments notice.

As Ike noted in his famous "Cross of Iron" speech to American newspaper editors at the begining of his first term, every bit of money spent on armaments steals food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and hope from those in need.

It also steals the genius and energies of a people who must devote themselves to developing greater and more efficient means of destruction and death instead of more constructive pursuits.

Cuban militarism and the ineptitude of its governmental administration as well as the longevity of Fidel as a cult figure among all of Latin America and not just most Cubanos is largly due to the hatred and mistrust of the United States by Latin America and Cuba and far less becasue of anything Fidel's doing.

Had we left Cuba alone we would have given Fidel enough rope to hang himself and he would have been retired or ousted decades ago. As things now stand, we have like some EMT admisinstering CPR to a faltering state, breathed new life and kept alive Cuban militantcy and revolutionary intransigence against all odds that it would evolve into a more benign form of government.

Having not learned from this long-standing stupidity, we are doing the same favor for Hugo Chavez Frias, Evo Morales, Daniel Ortega, and Rafael Correa. Some dunces just never seem to learn anything.

lizard, you did nothing to refute my claim except for making some snide insult of the U.S. If you feel that Castro is just some glorious man of the people than I feel sorry for you. The fact of the matter is that he ruled with no (real) elections for 49 years with his say as final. He destroyed a golden opportunity in 1959 for the Cuban people with lust for power and ego.

rcarrace, My first husband is Cuban, what you say is true re; What Castro did to families. He was so angry that as a pre-teen Castro seized their home, their accounts and all they knew. They had to leave, two sisters left behind. His outrage, your outrage is understandable. Many people have never worked their asses off and have someone come in and proclaim, "This is not yours any longer, it belongs to the people!", it is easy to tell people that have never watched their children suffer, or have children at all, speak of Leaders of certain South American countries and other Countries as if they are what is true and right, not so for the people that live under them. I do know one thing, if Castro died they would go back in a New York minute because they miss the place of their birth and people that were left behind. But they hate Castro, and Cubanos have let that hate fester through generations, with each it grows stronger. My Mother-in Law, Carmen, she would speak of Havana de Cuba, the beauty, the life she once had, so homesick so sad she was here, she was one of the strongest, sweetest women I've yet to meet.
I saw when you tried to calm yourself you were of a better mind to explain why you felt that way, I saw it affect many Cubanos, I lived among them for quite awhile. My first husband was a psychopath but I have a daughter who is 30 now and a Beauty, I would do it again if I knew I would have her.
Try and understand our anger at our government, yours too, remember that, because the 'leaders' of our country are pure evil and they must be stopped NOW. Sorry about you loss by way of Fidel, now is what we have to take care of before we are no longer able to speak via internet again.
My Cuban Spanish is crappy now, been speaking Turkish for a couple decades now, I usually spoke in Cuban slang anyway, only Cubans understood me. Cuban Chinese, now there is great food.
Anger sucks you dry, leaves you without anything and we need everyone to fight this fight, please turn it towards solving the F$$KED UP jerkoffs running OUR country, we need all the help we can get.

I have read the article above but what i've really enjoyed is the comments.
i think i heard both sides of the story on the matter of cuba/american
relationships. And i'm happy that some empathy was shown for rccarace.
Nobody can know like you do buddy. Yes, i can empathize with your feelings
about your grandfather. Thank you for getting past your rage to clearly explain
your contribution here.

O roe,

Thanks for your words. That is the truth. We all see the injustice sometimes in our own country ... the unfair treatment of workers, the pandering to multi-national corporations, the hypcrisy and try to look elsewhere to find a utopia that does not exist and unfortunatley will never exist because it is just not human nature.

Competition is healthy ... Commerce has existed inherently even as old as the oldest known profession (prostitution, services & goods for a price). There is nothing else. Everyone is different. Some work harder than others, some are smarter than others ... you reap what you sow... "Plain and simple". Are there people that are less fortunate than others? Yes. Will there be people who are exploited? Yes. Unfortunately, this is life. It has been like this forever.

In this country, with all its faults ... we help those in need. A single mother who can not work ... will get help from the state until she can move ahead. I agree to paying taxes for social programs (granted hoping they won't be abused), I agree in finding some way where everyone can have health care, I agree in helping our own but I also believe that Capitalism is the closest form of government that resembles freedom.

I do not like the current administration. I do not consider myself left or right of the equation. I am an American first ... I do not pick parties. I like some of what Obama says ... I like Ron Paul also ... But I am also well aware that all politicians have some level of hypcrisy. It's like the South Park episode ... "A turd or douche" who do you pick.

With all of it's faults however, this is the best and most free country in the world.

I am very proud of being an American.

The simple solution is to add Cuba to Canadian Confederacy... making Cuba the 14th province and declaring Spanish as an official language (along with French and English) across the new country. Cubans could then keep their socialist benefits like universal healthcare and pensions. Cuba could then dismantle its military and sleep well at night worrying less about U.S. interference. Several million Cubans would naturally head 'North' to enjoy some of the new benefits of being a Canadian, but the exodus would be equally off-set by the warmth-starved Canadians heading south who have been yearning for a place in the sun since Canada's inception.

Canada, unlike the U.S. or Cuba, still has some democratic institutions in place as well as an economy not based on weapons of war, healthcare and drug industries and Big Oil. It is important now to poll Cubans (in Cuba!) to see what their expectations are while preventing corporate America from devouring them at the first opportunity. What most Americans fail to see is that the broken American system of government is not admired abroad. The U.S. Constitution is a fine piece of enlightened work, but foreigners typically ask..."if the Constitution is so wonderful, why then don't Americans adhere to it?" Cuban academia in particular are horrified by the atrocities committed by Bush et al with the 1.2 million dead Iraqis as just one egregious example.

Americans can help reverse the horrors of both Batista and Castro by supporting the unification of Cuba and Canada while demanding non-interference from the U.S. government.

alexnosal,

sounds good to me.

alexnosal,

sounds good to me.

Yeah, "worked my butt off to achieve something in Cuba" sounds like "Hey, I treated my slaves well, sir! Who are YOU to chastise me for owning them?"

This rcarrace person is full of shit. I've been to Cuba and the people, while not wearing the latest $175 Nikes, are doing just fine, thanks.

rcarrace Said: "In this country, with all its faults … we help those in need."

BULLSHIT. The US has the WORST social safety net in the entire industrialized world. You don't take care of your poor, or your sick. You believe the lie of the greatness of the US.

Now on to WHY Castro suppressed all dissent... When you have the US trying to undermine everything you're doing at every turn, trying to turn your people against you, trying to assassinate you, trying to return your country back to it's places as an exploitable 3rd world country... damn right you're gonna keep those capitalist bastards at bay.

alexnosal: AS a Canadian, I welcome your suggestion to bring Cuba under the Canadian umbrella, as an independent province. It's not the first time it's been discussed to bring in a Caribean nation into the confederation. There was talk a couple of years ago about bringing in the Turks and Caicos islands. Not sure what happened with that.

Rcarrace: you hate Castro, that's your problem not mine. Those that have an axe to grind with Castro have no right to dictate American foreign policy. Handle your own business and stop trying to manipulate American foreign policy for your ends.

Rcarrace, you claim America helps those in need. You should tell that to the Katrina victims like myself. Bush let us drown, while he was partying in San Diego during the time of the catastrophe. Castro, offered to send doctors, and the US denied the request to appease thugs like you. Castro was a true brother in our hour of need and I salute him for offering his help. Live with it!

miftin ,

A lot of the people who were stripped of what was theirs in Cuba worked for it. No slaves. That is BS! WORKED HARD FOR IT. My grandfather, came from Spain and worked in coal mines my friend. He worked for it ... All you lazy people, LOSERS can't accept that. He wasn't rich either and treated the few emplyees he had well. Not every business owner is rich you moron. He was middle class at best. Of course, you wouldn't know because you probably spend have of your life sitting on your fat ass.

My father was a carpenter. Little by little he saved and bought his parents a house and one for himself. It was also stripped from him. A working man not a rich man.

In Cuba you had what you have here. Super rich, rich, upper middle class, middle class, lower middle class, poor, etc. Classify it, break it down as you wish ... Plain and Simple you reap what you sow ... you play with the cards you are dealt. Se la vi!

Castro took from everybody, took their belongings, their lives, their freedom.

forextrader,

I agree with you on Bush. In my opinion, he is the worse president that we have had.

This country however does help people in need. I know and have met a lot of people on welfare and food stamps and medic-aid. It's not great but it is help. What do you want ... things handed to you? Get up off your butt and work.

No where ... No where in the world will you live off of nothing. You have to work and use your head.

Castro offered to help to undermind the US. Castro doesn't care about anybody but himself. Castro is the thug. I am a working adult with a family and bills to pay. I am not rich nor I belong to any political party or reap any benefits for insulting Castro. Other than self satisfaction ... it is actually theraputic.

This all reminds me of Chile and Columbia with regards to the US' "influence". Basically saying if you feel like revolting against the government, we will support your extra-military endeavor to the point of armament and funding.

Is this not exactly why the US suggests we destroy "terrorist" organizations? They encourage and may even fund efforts to subvert the US system.

But they are the terrorists… not the US.

Thanks for pointing out the difference.