MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Castro and Obama make history: 'we have agreed we can disagree with respect and civility'
President Barack Obama and Cuba's Raul Castro sat down together on Saturday in the first formal meeting of the two country's leaders in over a half-century, pledging to reach for the kind of peaceful relationship that has eluded their nations for generations. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesWhat a lovely photo of Obumma the failed first black President of the USA and Odumber, the millionaire communist murdering bastard of Cuba.
Apr 12th, 2015 - 12:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I don't know that Castro and Obama have any major disagreements. Both are power-hungry Marxists; they should have a great deal in common. The only real difference is that Obama tries to hide his beliefs from the public; he could never have been elected to any public office, if people knew who he really is.
Apr 12th, 2015 - 04:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Bisley
Apr 12th, 2015 - 05:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are a fool if you think Obama is a Marxist.
If you know better, but are just trying to defame him by tarring him with that partisan brush, then you are also irresponsibly dishonest.
As an intelligent educated successful US American, I'm sure Obama wants a strong US Capitalist economy, that can afford to ensure basic healthcare does not bankrupt her citizens, or a lovable minimum wage.
It's been 56 years since the Revolution. The Marxists are dead. The new generation of Cuba knows Communism didn't work - they want the opportunities of the US.
The US wants allies and new markets.
You have the chance to change things at the next election.
In the meantime, you can criticise the wisdom of his policies, but he deserves the respect of his Office - a President elected by a clear majority of citizens.
Eventually and inextricably Cuba´s economy will be swallowed up by the US, just like Canada and Mexico. It´s only natural, it´s what happens when large bodies attract smaller ones around them.
Apr 12th, 2015 - 05:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0And once the embargo is over, once Cuba´s economy opens up, the regime´s political clout will fall into nothingness, because the country has almost nothing to offer other than propaganda about education and doctors, but education that does not translate into industrial and technological progress, it´s no education at all. End of the story.
Finally, under Barack Obama's leadership, the U.S. has acknowledged the failure of 50 years of plots to force a change in Cuba's government.
Apr 12th, 2015 - 06:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Invasion, political, psychological and military sabotage, assassination attempts on key political leaders (including over eight attempts to kill Fidel Castro). Attacks on mainland U.S. targets, hijackings and assaults on Cuban refugee boats to generate U.S. public support for military action against the Cuban government--these are just a sample of the violent and illegal actions supported or engaged by the U.S. to kill the Cuban Revolution.
The new reality, however, opens the possibility of a new relationship in which the U.S. respects the free determination of Latin American countries to choose their own destiny. Indeed, a step in the right direction to be celebrated.
If this is not insipid history, what is it?
Apr 12th, 2015 - 07:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Philippe
'we have agreed we can disagree with respect
Apr 12th, 2015 - 07:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Till the next time...lol
5 Enrique
Apr 12th, 2015 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Finally, under Barack Obama's leadership, the U.S. has acknowledged the failure of 50 years of plots to force a change in Cuba's government.”
“Attacks on mainland U.S. targets, hijackings and assaults on Cuban refugee boats to generate U.S. public support for military action against the Cuban government--these are just a sample of the violent and illegal actions supported or engaged by the U.S. to kill the Cuban Revolution”
LOL, Enrique!!
Failed?? Who said it failed?
It actually succeeded - what sort of shape is Cuba in now?
I would say it has outlived its usefulness.
Do you have anything to support that the U.S. Government, CIA, and US Military were attacking US mainland targets themselves, to discredit Cuba?
Sure... the U.S. blew up the Twin Towers, too!
U.S. attacking fleeing Cuban refugees??
...not only is it morally reprehensible, can you imagine US Coast Guard or Navy doing that? And keeping it secret?
That would be putting the U.S. Cuban Exile and Hispanic popular support in jeopardy - pretty far fetched.
It seems that it's far more likely your stories originated with Cuban propaganda.
-Scare your people the U.S. will attack them as refugees.
- Justify the tight totalitarian control at home.
- Give the people an enemy as a distraction.
- help your generous Soviet allies with their own Cold War propaganda.
The prolonged embargo was due not only to Soviet involvement in Cuba up to 1989, but also the strong Cuban Exile Lobby in Miami.
Nearly 3 generations have passed by now.
Families still have relatives living Cuba, but most of the Exile Community doesn't wasn't even alive when the revolution took place.
Many want to be reunited.
It's over Enrique.
-The issues you speak of were of little consequence to the U.S. for years.
- the provocations you speak of, if they were not outright propaganda fabrications, have not happened since the 60's.
Even today, Cuba tries to sell the myth in English language books.
@5
Apr 12th, 2015 - 09:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Do you really think that the average American thinks about or gives a flying fuck about Cuba or that the US government cares one way or the other whether they are friends or not?
Shall I tell you what the US foreign policy is where Latin America is concerned?
Lip service!
I ask myself a question: would even this malevolent stand off have come about if Fidel had his wits about him and was still President?
Apr 12th, 2015 - 10:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Ha, ha, ha, in your dreams.
#8 Agreed it failed completely and thoroughly. The “real” marxist endorsers tend to forget exactly who supported the economyin CUba. First....the USSR and when they collapsed.....Cuba went through a shit storm until Chubby Chavo came into power. He in turn bailed Cuba out. Now Cuba is in another shit storm. I mean, if Cuba's philosophy was such a success, why do they need the USA to drop the embargo? Venezuela is now turning their backs on the Caribbean region and where does that leave Cuba? Why can't Cuba support itself? Why does Cuba need to trade with the USA? And more importantly, not just the USA....any country in this world can pick and choose with whom to trade and have relations with and if the USA says it wants nothing or something to trade with Cuba......it's both Cuba and the USA's choice, not all the OAS and ALBA countries who say it's illegal to embargo Cuba.
Apr 13th, 2015 - 12:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0Yes I agree Troy, the embargo was fairly successful in the sense it showed that communism does not work. The only ones to get rich are the leaders.
Cuba needs oil and energy. Cuba needs food. For over 20 years, they had a hard time feeding their island of 11m people, and when the USSR left, they were only producing 15% of the oil they needed.
Apr 13th, 2015 - 02:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0Most of their trade was behind the Iron Curtain and they were heavily subsidised.
Now with Canadian and Chinese expertise, they produce 50% of their energy needs.
With Venzla oil, and increasing tourism, things have been looking better for them, until now.Faced with a great deal of uncertainty, they need a source of revenue.
Right now, there is investment from Spain and Italy - and China.
Enter the USA...
When Mrs Kirchner leaves Office, Argentina might elect a more reasonable President who Britain and the Falkland Islanders might hold talks.
Apr 13th, 2015 - 07:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0@ 13 Englander
Apr 13th, 2015 - 10:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Are you pissed while you are typing this bollocks?
What exactly were you taking objection to :-
Apr 13th, 2015 - 12:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A Mrs Kirchner leaving Office. - she will very shortly.
B That Argentina might elect a more reasonable President - highly likely given that he or she has to be an improvement on Mrs Kirchner.
or
C That Britain and Falkland Islanders might hold talks with said reasonable President - already proposed by HM Government.
@1, 2. Let's try something called 'evidence'. Or even 'proof'. What we see on here, time and again, is bigoted, uneducated vitriol from latams. How funny it will be when all the forged documents and lies are exposed and they have to accept that WE've been telling the truth all along. And now you two do the same thing.
Apr 13th, 2015 - 04:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@5. Failure? Who wanted to be allowed back into the world's community. Let's remember that Cuba is on probation. Much like Germany and Japan were after WW2. I wouldn't go to Cuba looking for the rule of honest law or human rights. But then you're a pretty stupid bigot.
@15. You seem to be missing some salient points. What sort of 'talks' are you referring to? Argie reparations for 33 years of argie attacks? Payment for clearance of argie mines? Removal of argie buried slop? Permanent change to the argie 'constitution'. Public admissions and apologies at the UN for all the lies that argieland has told. Public permanent withdrawal of all argie 'claims' in the South Atlantic and Antarctica, announced at the UN. End of all continental bars on Falklands-flagged vessels. End of all interceptions without just cause during 'innocent passage' of argie waters. End of all attempts against chosen air traffic. Argie recognition of the Falkland Islands and its people. Repeal of innumerable argie 'laws' and decrees. I'm sure that others will be able to think of other things.
@ 15 Englander
Apr 13th, 2015 - 05:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0To stop wasting my time I refer you to the comment by Conqueror which has most ably answered you.
Perhaps in 25 years the Islanders could bring themselves to think about talks with TDC.
In your dreams as to having a more reasonable president.
To stop wasting anymore of your time I'll cut this short for you.
Apr 13th, 2015 - 05:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The UK and Falkland Islanders previously demonstrated a willingness to meet in London when Mr Timmerman was visiting and Conqueror has suggested a range of subjects, some of which I'm sure would be worthy of discussion.
We all have our dreams.
Is it a possibility that Obama could well be replaced with Hillary Clinton,
Apr 13th, 2015 - 07:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0god help us..
You know, she's been to Chile three times and made a very good impression. I don't trust her, but at the same time think don't she can't be worse than Obama who actually has been more open to South America than his Republican predecessor. At least, she recognizes that CFK is insane and has ignored her completely. That alone deserves some merit.
Apr 14th, 2015 - 07:22 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why not a single word about Fidel Castro's track record of causing untold misery, violence and mayhem in Central and South Americas and Africa in its role of errand boy to the Soviets? The suffering has not been limited to Cubans.
Apr 14th, 2015 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Long-standing US policy regarding Cuba has proved unwise, but that does not mean that the Cuban government has not been monstruous, under both Fidel and his brother.
I wonder if Cuba's and its victims' woes would have been as dire had the Bay of Pigs invasion been successful?
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