Castro Steps Down (Obama, speech, dictators, terrorism)

[tinman01]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

The people of the US deserve democracy, as well.
Hopefully, someday, US citizenry will have it, too.

Many of the problems in Cuba were a direct result of US actions.

Really? Which actions specificly?
They are poor because the US will not trade with them? Its our right to choose whom we trade with.
Remember Castro allowed the USSR to bring in Nukes and aim them at us?
Nah not someone I want to trade with.
Bay of pigs? LOL we only screwed the Cubans who liked us.
Glad to see the old fart finally thought of his people and stepped down.

[BigHouse9]

Actually the majority of problems in Cuba today were a result of the dictatorial rule of Castro. His communism impoverished his entire country and he would never admit it. He and the butcher Guevara murdered thousands of people. Speak out in Cuba that you want free speech and the right to vote and you were systematically imprisoned or worse. Read the horror stories of Guevara's legacy of blood and brains splattered against walls or mentally breaking people by pretending to execute them via firing squad.

Castro's legacy will be one of terror, repression of freedoms, and economic disaster.

[tinman01]

Once again how did these actions lead to Cuba's present day woes?
Try this.
When the USSR went belly up they could no longer afford to be Castro's sugar daddy.
When Castro lost the financial support of the USSR his lousy governing brought with it hardships born on the shoulders of the people.
How many meals has Castro gone without while his people struggled?
The island paradise so wonderful that the people were willing to risk their lives on home made rafts to escape.
No Cuba's woes are a result of Castro and company.

[Frank_Carbonni]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

Frank, why would you wish someone dead?

The thousands of executed opponents and tens of thousands of political prisoners speak for themselves.

Originally Posted by KevK

Castro was a decent leader for the Cuban people. He never made himself or his family rich off the backs of the Cuban people and he did his best for his people with limited means. Was he perfect? No- far from it. He did violate human rights but probably not as bad as most of the dictators in that part of the world.

Forbes (among other media outlets) estimate Castro's wealth at over $500 million, some say over a billion.

As for human rights violations, if Bush (who I don't like in the slightest) did HALF of the things that Castro did, in size or scale, you would have a stroke.

Castro and Che also killed more people in the first three years than Pinochet did in his 17. Castro is a piece of s--t through and through.

[tinman01]

Frank pretty much sums it up... Good post ^

[Think (Freedom)]

I agree with Frank as well.

Viva Cuba Libre.

[backfist]

Perhaps Raul Castro is as progressive as many believe. If so, he should invite all those Cubans who settled in Florida over the last 20 years, to come back home -- no questions asked.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by KevK

Castro was a decent leader for the Cuban people. He never made himself or his family rich off the backs of the Cuban people and he did his best for his people with limited means. Was he perfect? No- far from it. He did violate human rights but probably not as bad as most of the dictators in that part of the world.

I really wanted to keep quiet here but YOU have got to be kidding ME!
My goodness gracious!!

[GregW]

I can only hope that cuba, and it's leaders, are mature enough to adopt an open socialist economy combined with a truly democratic populist republic with a constitution and political freeedom and basic human rights for all. I also hope they have the ability to keep foreign investors from corrupting the government and returning Cuba to colonial status. This is the greatest threat to the Cuban people.

[vpcats]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

From the same Wikipedia link:

However some U. S. companies reported to us during this time that they were making some progress in negotiations, a factor that caused us to slow the implementation of our programme. The hope expressed by these companies did not materialise. October was a period of clarification ….On October 31., in agreement with CIA, the Department had recommended to the President approval of a programme along the lines referred to by Mr. Merchant. The approved programme authorised us to support elements in Cuba opposed to the Castro government while making Castro’s downfall seem to be the result of his own mistakes." [47] “It was probably as part of this programme that Cuban exiles mounted sea borne raids against Cuba from U. S. territory and that unidentified planes attacked economic targets on the island, leading the U. S. to warn Washington that the population was “becoming aroused” against the United States”. [48] [49] In January 1960 CIA Chief Allen Dulles proposed to sabotage sugar refineries on Cuba. Eisenhower considered such undertakings timely and felt that more ambitious programmes should be implemented. In his view “it was probably now the time to move against Castro in a positive and aggressive way which went beyond pure harassment”. He asked the CIA to develop an enlarged programme which was presented in March 1960. [50] This programme led to the invasion in the Bay of Pigs.[51] [52] [53] [54]

I might suggest that you read the short history supplied on Wikipedia. Or, a textbook that will provide even more detail; preferably not a US textbook if you want an accurate accounting.

Castro will be doing his best deed for Cuba when he finally drops dead and is 10 feet under!

BTW, he's probably already dead.