Cuba Next?

mike65

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2925985.stm

Cuba jails top dissidents

Families disclosed the sentences

A court in Cuba has jailed opposition leader Hector Palacios for 25 years for treason and subversion in a crackdown described by one dissident's wife as a "wave of repression". The wife of Mr Palacios, Gisela Delgado, disclosed the verdict on Monday as other sentences were handed down in the summary trials of 78 dissidents.

An independent journalist, Raul Rivero, was sentenced to 20 years, his family revealed as the trials, which began only on Thursday, continued behind closed doors.
The government has said little in public about the trials apart from that the defendants, all arrested inside three weeks in March, are charged with plotting against Cuba with the top US representative in Havana, James Cason.

More in the article.

While talk of regime change is in the air, the above is a reminder that Bushs next target could be much closer to home and well, Havanas never-ending Castro government is'nt exactly a fan of "freedom loving ppls"
is it...

Whadyathink?

Mike.

The Corinthian

I don't think the US is in a mood to try out another regime change this side of the presedential election. Even if it were, or in a new term, the situation in Cuba is vastly different to that in Iraq, as well as Cuba having fairly good relations with the EU. Russia also still maintains good relations with Cuba, post-Communism.

Things are frosty enough at present between Europe and the US without another adventure. Any such move could trigger a full blown cold war between us, and I can't believe that the US would seek or risk that.

Afaik, it's sometimes on and sometimes off Bush's list of Axis of evil countries.
mm

The Corinthian

Originally posted by Man
Afaik, it's sometimes on and sometimes off Bush's list of Axis of evil countries.

Depends on the election schedule in Florida

SkepticOne

Originally posted by mike65
Havanas never-ending Castro government is'nt exactly a fan of "freedom loving ppls"

I'm just wondering what you think the reasons for the current war are from the Bush administration point of view.

SkepticOne

My own opinion is no. Although it would be popular from an election point of view and would be convenient given it's proximity to the US and the fact that there's already a US base on the island, I don't believe there's sufficient economic payoff to justify an invasion.

mike65

Originally posted by SkepticOne
I'm just wondering what you think the reasons for the current war are from the Bush administration point of view.

A mix of reasons, unfinished business, security of oil
supply, a possibly foolish idea that the US can re-shape
the arabian gulf region (ie put manners on Saudis etc).


On the thread my icon should have been a small givaway to my being not too serious about Cuba being invaded.

That said I do find it slightly objectionable that Castros "Junta" is fated around the world and on good terms with so many countries that would be very tut-tuty if it were right-wing and not left.

Mike.

shotamoose

Dunno that Cuba is really feted around the world, and personally I've got a lot of problems with how it's run, but I suppose like a lot of people I admire it's achievements, especially in the face of such paranoid hostility from the world's only superpower.

And if anyone's going to invade Cuba, it's Bush and co. Come to think of it, I'm surprised it's not been brought up:) . Maybe they feel they've got bigger fish to fry before getting kicked out of office.

mike65

I suppose like a lot of people I admire it's achievements, especially in the face of such paranoid hostility from the world's only superpower.

Good point, if the US were not on its back the regime would be much less popular, except with the usual suspects.

Mike.

Amnesiac_ie

post Iraq?
Iran, Saudi Arabia... maybe do something about those Koreans... don't see Cuba as a priority for Donald, Dick and Dubya

Executive Steve

but isnt the cure all to totalitarian socialism supposed to be the free market? the years of sanctions seem to be inexplicable when viewed in that light...

i suspect that the reason that cuba is still there is so that aspiring presidents have something to dangle at the huge cuban communities in florida... a rather more volatile electoral district then one might imagine...

Éomer of Rohan

The Cubans love Castro -the fact is inescapable. And what is more, Cubans, despite what the obviously biased exiles and media termed 'dissidents' say, they do have a lot of freedom - sure didn't the Manics say they thought Cuba was the greatest country on earth?! As to free market economics being the answer to 'totalitarian socialism' I think that Cuba is the one example of Stalinism which is not quite so totalitarian.