Obama Rewards Brutal Cuban Dictators

[miles]

Why the fuck are you quoting me?

And it's not racist pointing out racism. Try that trick on someone else. If I was that person of color walking around with a common-sense blindfold on, you'd love me.

Looks like you can dish it out but can't take it.

 

[Wrong Element]

As I said before. Obama views himself as an international revolutionary born to save the Third World from the evils of America. Is he asking Cuba to change? Is he asking them to renounce communism? Is he demanding civil rights for the Cuban people? Fuck no. He's enabling the communist dictatorship in Cuba and helping them to maintain control.

We don't have a blanket policy of "no diplomatic relations with Communist/authoritarian countries," so why Cuba should be any different?

And how is re-establishing diplomatic relations "sav[ing] the Third World from the evils of America?" By definition, it's exactly the opposite.


Fact:
The old policy didn't work as a means of changing Cuba.

Prediction:
Change is now going to happen, either with the acquiescence of the current regime or without it.

 

[phrodeau]

Miami doesn't have long to live before it slides into the Atlantic, anyway.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/u...e-of-the-storm-on-climate-change.html?hp&_r=1

 

[miles]

You support totalitarianism and you know it.

Throb goes along with the Jimmy Carter Doctrine - he loves dictators.

 

[Adre]

You support the people of Cuba and you know it.

There ya go.

 

[RobDownSouth]

They can't stop

You support totalitarianism and you know it.

Throb goes along with the Jimmy Carter Doctrine - he loves dictators.

#AscriptionAgain

 

[unregistered]

 

[miles]

Obama is even getting flak from a Democrat.

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Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over his prisoner swap to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama's actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government," Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.
"There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation."

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday in exchange for the release of three Cuban agents convicted of spying in the U.S.

Menendez said the swap "sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

"It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms."

Obama's move to begin normalizing relations with Cuba is reverberating across the political world, with members of both parties expected to blast the decision.

“This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba's opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people," Menendez continued. "Let us all remind ourselves that an untold number of ordinary people yearning for democracy remain imprisoned by the exact same tormentors that have punished Alan Gross and they, along with all Cubans, deserve a free and liberated Cuba."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/227400-top-senate-dem-slams-obama-on-cuba

 

[RobDownSouth]

Looks like you can dish it out but can't take it.

#YCSDIAF

 

[miles]

From the 2011 State Dept. Report on Cuba:

The government denied citizens the right to change their government. In addition, the following human rights abuses were reported: harassment, beatings, and threats against political opponents by government-organized mobs and state security officials acting with impunity; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, including selective denial of medical care; arbitrary detention of human rights advocates and members of independent organizations; and selective prosecution and denial of fair trial. Authorities interfered with privacy and engaged in pervasive monitoring of private communications. The government also placed severe limitations on freedom of speech and press, constrained the right of peaceful assembly and association, restricted freedom of movement, and limited freedom of religion. The government refused to recognize independent human rights groups or permit them to function legally. In addition, the government continued to place severe restrictions on worker rights, including the right to form independent unions.

 

[RjThoughts]

From the 2011 State Dept. Report on Cuba:

The government denied citizens the right to change their government. In addition, the following human rights abuses were reported: harassment, beatings, and threats against political opponents by government-organized mobs and state security officials acting with impunity; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, including selective denial of medical care; arbitrary detention of human rights advocates and members of independent organizations; and selective prosecution and denial of fair trial. Authorities interfered with privacy and engaged in pervasive monitoring of private communications. The government also placed severe limitations on freedom of speech and press, constrained the right of peaceful assembly and association, restricted freedom of movement, and limited freedom of religion. The government refused to recognize independent human rights groups or permit them to function legally. In addition, the government continued to place severe restrictions on worker rights, including the right to form independent unions.

And that's China
And that's Saudi Arabia
And that's Qatar
And that's Dubai

Need I go on?

 

[RobDownSouth]

The American Conservative: Obama’s Cuba Opportunity
After 50 years of perfect policy failure, the U.S. has a political opening to help a reforming Cuba prosper.

...Barack Obama is the 11th U.S. president to face socialist Cuba. But he is the first who can see the next generation of Cuban leadership on the horizon, with Raul Castro committed to end his presidency in 2018. And he is the first to see a Cuba embarked on a wrenching process of internal change that is opening the economy, expanding personal autonomy, and even increasing some civil and economic liberties. Obama has a strategic opportunity afforded to none of his predecessors: to change U.S. policy in ways that complement positive changes in Cuba, enhancing the impact of Cuba’s reforms and encouraging further change ahead.

Ten years ago, Cuban citizens could not travel abroad without a government exit permit. Cell phones were available to officials, foreign businessmen, and tourists, but not average Cubans. Hotels and resorts were reserved for foreigners only. Computers were not for sale, only components. Cubans could only sell cars of 1959 or earlier vintage. Home sales were illegal even though 85 percent of Cuban families hold title to their homes. And an unannounced policy capped the number of licenses to engage in private business at about 150,000.

All those prohibitions are gone today.

LINK

Positive change is coming.

Naturally, Vetteman and Miles have a problem with that.

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[RobDownSouth]

Just as the Cuban economy is ready to tank, their savior in Washington comes to their rescue.

We helped China prosper didn't we? Did it help the Chinese people escape communism? Big American companies like Google for instance went in there and agreed to comply with communist demands that Internet access and information be restricted to its people. Google helps the Chinese government repress it's citizens. Did the Chinese keep their treaty promises they made with the British in Hong Kong?

I don't know if "we" helped China prosper, but I do know your bro the Chief gave 10 grand in hard currency to the Chicom regime when he purchased his "daughter" there.

 

[Disgustipated]

Obama is even getting flak from a Democrat.

---------------------------

Vettebirther already posted this, dumb dumb.

 

[KingOrfeo]

There is no downside to normalizing relations. We've tried isolating Cuba for 50 years and the regime is as strong as ever. We should end the embargo, too. After all, we trade with Russia, China, Vietnam -- why should Cuba be treated differently? The Cuban government is no threat, any more, to anyone or anything beyond Cuba's shores. The Cold War is over. Communism is spent as a dynamic revolutionary force in the world, the name of Marx has lost its power to conjure -- the Zapatista rebels in Mexico did not even call themselves "Marxists," which they surely would have if their rebellion had started 20 or even 10 years sooner. Let's trade with Cuba and let Cubans get a taste for American products -- that will erode support for the regime more reliably than another 50 years of embargo.

 

[Wrong Element]

The American Conservative: Obama’s Cuba Opportunity
After 50 years of perfect policy failure, the U.S. has a political opening to help a reforming Cuba prosper.



LINK

Positive change is coming.

Naturally, Vetteman and Miles have a problem with that.

In addition, Cuban baseball players used to have to literally defect to sign contracts with major league teams. Now they can go wherever they want.

You don't think the biggest sports heroes in Cuba making a living in the United States will have an impact on that society, even if the trade embargo remains in force? Look what happened not long after Eastern Europeans began heading to the NHL.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Vettebirther already posted this, dumb dumb.

The hive mind seems a bit confused in Wingnut Nation this morning.

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[Kitty]

Would communism be so bad for this country? It'll certainly serve the US the humble pie it needs.

What? Less time to fucking bicker on a computer under communism? Oohhhh noooo.

 

[KingOrfeo]

I expect Obama to do what every other President since 1961 has done.

But, that never helped.

 

[Killswitch]

Uh oh, the Pope was in on the fix with Obama and Castro.

Throw him under the bus too.

 

[NYC_Man]

someone tell rubio to suck it