The Fall of Castro

[mardigrasbob 0]

www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6576118

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a close friend and ally, wished Castro a quick recovery.
Chavez, a former paratrooper, told supporters in southwest Venezuela he had phoned Castro early on Thursday and the Cuban leader had joked about his fall by saying: "'Chavez, I think I would have made a good parachutist."'

Hours after President Fidel Castro stumbled and fell on stage during a graduation ceremony, a brief government statement Thursday confirmed his self-diagnosis: the 78-year-old leader broke his left knee and suffered a hairline fracture to his right arm.
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[PhillyKev 0]

Good thing we have 3 times the resources devoted to keeping him contained as we terrorism in the rest of the world!!!

[rickjump1 0]

It's still not too late for Fidel to move to Miami and do American Express commercials with a couple of babes on the beach.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[ahegeman 0]

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Good thing we have 3 times the resources devoted to keeping him contained as we terrorism in the rest of the world!!!

Interesting statistic. Where'd you get that from?

Too bad he didn't break his neck, too.

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There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'.
--Dave Barry

[bch7773 0]

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Too bad he didn't break his neck, too.

yeah but then his brother would just take over. I have no clue what his brother is like, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[crwtom 0]

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Good thing we have 3 times the resources devoted to keeping him contained as we terrorism in the rest of the world!!!

of course - it's all about the Florida vote.
Keeping the special interest (anit Castro) groups happy.

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Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true

[PhillyKev 0]

Well, apparently the number have changed recently. There are now 16 full-time Foreign Assets Control employees dedicated to tracking down terrorist funding. So the ratio to the 21 that are dedicated to enforcing the Cuba embargo isn't 3-1 anymore, but it's still disgusting.

[happythoughts 0]

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of course - it's all about the Florida vote.
Keeping the special interest (anit Castro) groups happy.

It has been 40 years. In the 60's, he ousted the current govt. His mistake was not recognizing the private interests of groups who invested in the country. The transition could have been worked out. The hotel and casino owners wanted compensation.

I saw a debate on tv between a anti-Castro type and a person doing business with Cuba.

The statement was made that 25% of the food bought by Cuba comes from the US mid-west.

It has no impact on tourism because there are other Carib destinations. Bahamas, PR, etc that are just as easy to get to.

Journalists and people with relatives can travel to Cuba. Also, Canadians can go there as easy as Florida. Other countries have hotel chains there.

After 40 years, I don't think the sanctions are accomplishing anything other than keeping anti-Castro group leaders employed.

[miked10270 0]

"Too bad he didn't break his neck, too."

A churlish remark worthy of the US State Department.

Strangely I admire Castro. His revolution deposed a completely corrupt government where Cuba was largely owned by the American Mafia. After more than 40 years of socialism (damned commie piracy) he still seems to enjoy the support of the people. Despite 40 years of US antipathy towards him he's still there in power and if Cuba isn't an economic powerhouse, then it's certainly survived 40 years longer than the US wanted it to. It's also survived the demise of Russian & European Communism by 15 years. He must be doing something right.

Plus... When Jimmy Carter was granting full US citizenship to ANY cuban who landed on US soil Castro took the opportunity to empty his prisons... ... Now that's not only clever, it's funny and subtle as well.

Of course, his style of government wouldn't be overly popular in the US ( or Britain for that matter). I mean... Imagine firing senior government members for incompetence!!! We can be certain that sort of thing won't happen here. And there's absolutely no way that we're going to stand for "important" people being actually jailed for things like corruption. I bet Enron & Halliburton wouldn't dream of having a "Cuban" division.

So... Here we have a Honest Socialist and a state reminiscent of The Soviet Union before Stalin gained primacy. Long may he and the state he made continue.

Oh yeah... Personally I wish Fidel Castro a speedy return to full health and a long life.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[happythoughts 0]

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His revolution deposed a completely corrupt government where Cuba was largely owned by the American Mafia.

Organized crime created wealth, jobs, and opportunity by building casinos and hotels in Havana. Despite the source, that is better than what they have now.

Right now, Radisson (and others) have building sites identified with agreements. They are basically waiting for normalized relations to pump dollars into the Cuban economy.

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He must be doing something right.

I don't know if living at subsistence level can be considered success. If he was a successful leader, he would have figured out how to normalize relations and bring trade back to his country.

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When Jimmy Carter was granting full US citizenship to ANY cuban who landed on US soil Castro took the opportunity to empty his prisons...

Another "JC was a well-intentioned, but ultimately naive and misguided man" story. The underlying them of his presidency. Panama, Iran, anywhere.

[mardigrasbob 0]

When the Castro regime really falls, I want to go there with a car-carrier ship and bring back all those vintage cars.





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[miked10270 0]

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Organized crime created wealth, jobs, and opportunity...

Am I (and perhaps the FBI) alone in thinking that's fundamentally insane and flawed? Should federal law enforcement have stayed the hell out of Las Vegas? Chicago? New York? Atlantic City?

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Right now, Radisson (and others) have building sites identified with agreements. They are basically waiting for normalized relations to pump dollars into the Cuban economy.

"Normalised relations"? What are normalised relations? perhaps it's a lifting of a 40 year embargo (that hasn't worked)?

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He must be doing something right.

I don't know if living at subsistence level can be considered success. If he was a successful leader, he would have figured out how to normalize relations and bring trade back to his country.

Do you REALLY think the problem is at the Cuban end?

The Cuban people are indisputably better off than under Batista (or "big Moe" from the South Side). The Socialist Cuban state may not have thrived, but given the attitude of her nearest and obvious trading partner, I'd say Cuba's done pretty well.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[happythoughts 0]

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"Normalised relations"? What are normalised relations? perhaps it's a lifting of a 40 year embargo (that hasn't worked)?

That would be the solution. I've thought the embargo should have been abandoned 20 years ago. It is pointless. If some kind of agreement could have been reached in the mid '80s, it would have been better for everyone.

[happythoughts 0]

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Do you REALLY think the problem is at the Cuban end?

Part of it. Remember, Castro nationalized private property without compensation. What did he expect the reaction to be? Did he expect companies to do business with him ?

Castro needs to come to a compensation agreement and move on. The tourism business would more than make up for it. That would be a smart move for the Cuban economy.

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The Cuban people are indisputably better off than under Batista (or "big Moe" from the South Side). The Socialist Cuban state may not have thrived, but given the attitude of her nearest and obvious trading partner, I'd say Cuba's done pretty well.

Indisputably? I will dispute that. When they had casinos/hotels/tourism, there was the opportunity to make money and live a better life. Their lifestyle has definitely degraded. Everything has stagnated.

I don't necessarily regard Castros regime as "better" or somehow as the "will of the people". It was the will of the military winner.

[miked10270 0]

Perhaps the problem is that Fidel Castro was never a "politician". He went in and "did the revolution" with a simple purpose... To improve the lot of the Cuban People... And in this he was singularly successful.

Let's face it. His nationalisation of industry in Cuba wasn't unreasonable. Even Hershey (Cuba) had some "interesting" shareholders, and he set out to eradicate the Mafia hold on Cuba. Yes, there was some collateral damage. Call it "friendly fire".

"The Cuban people are indisputably better off than under Batista (or "big Moe" from the South Side)."

"Indisputably? I will dispute that. When they had casinos/hotels/tourism, there was the opportunity to make money and live a better life."

Dispute away... Surely this a sideways return to your "organised Crime was good for Cuba" argument.

Where was the opportunity for a "better life?... When the profit from industry was leaving Cuba fast headed for Atlantic City / Las Vegas / Care of Don Miguele's offshore bank accounts?

Cuba has had a solid tourist industry for many years (even if it was unavailable to US Citizens)?

What Cuba does have is a socialist state - socialist education, medicine, etc... I'm not sure how best to put it... While I'd love to live in the US (and may yet do so), if I fell ill, or was worried about my children fulfilling their educational potential, then I'd rather be living in Cuba!... WHere how many dollars I had didn't matter as much as how ill I was or how clever my children were!

I'd like to cite a few personal examples from bitter experience:

A "bruised bum" in the US costs $2,903 to diagnose and treat. Without adequate insurance that would have been 2 complete AFF courses! Very little treatment was forthcoming prior to the production of a credit card and a valid insurance!!! The overall attitude was "WE don't care... Oh. You have money... We care deeply".

Compare that to Cuba - a broken leg and infected (tropical disease from coral) cut. The Cuban attitude was "You are injured? We'll treat it. You are unwell? We'll treat it. You're going home? WE'll give you copies of your notes and we'll be available for any phone calls from your hospital at home. Here's our phone #. Money for the treatment? Someone will worry about that later. First we fix you... We'll worry about the bill later".

Now that's service AND correct priorities.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[ypelchat 0]

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Perhaps the problem is that Fidel Castro was never a "politician". He went in and "did the revolution" with a simple purpose... To improve the lot of the Cuban People... And in this he was singularly successful.

Let's face it. His nationalisation of industry in Cuba wasn't unreasonable. Even Hershey (Cuba) had some "interesting" shareholders, and he set out to eradicate the Mafia hold on Cuba. Yes, there was some collateral damage. Call it "friendly fire".

"The Cuban people are indisputably better off than under Batista (or "big Moe" from the South Side)."

"Indisputably? I will dispute that. When they had casinos/hotels/tourism, there was the opportunity to make money and live a better life."

Dispute away... Surely this a sideways return to your "organised Crime was good for Cuba" argument.

Where was the opportunity for a "better life?... When the profit from industry was leaving Cuba fast headed for Atlantic City / Las Vegas / Care of Don Miguele's offshore bank accounts?

Cuba has had a solid tourist industry for many years (even if it was unavailable to US Citizens)?

What Cuba does have is a socialist state - socialist education, medicine, etc... I'm not sure how best to put it... While I'd love to live in the US (and may yet do so), if I fell ill, or was worried about my children fulfilling their educational potential, then I'd rather be living in Cuba!... WHere how many dollars I had didn't matter as much as how ill I was or how clever my children were!

I'd like to cite a few personal examples from bitter experience:

A "bruised bum" in the US costs $2,903 to diagnose and treat. Without adequate insurance that would have been 2 complete AFF courses! Very little treatment was forthcoming prior to the production of a credit card and a valid insurance!!! The overall attitude was "WE don't care... Oh. You have money... We care deeply".

Compare that to Cuba - a broken leg and infected (tropical disease from coral) cut. The Cuban attitude was "You are injured? We'll treat it. You are unwell? We'll treat it. You're going home? WE'll give you copies of your notes and we'll be available for any phone calls from your hospital at home. Here's our phone #. Money for the treatment? Someone will worry about that later. First we fix you... We'll worry about the bill later".

Now that's service AND correct priorities.

Mike.

Have you ever been to Cuba miked10270? I have.. If you've never experienced the Cuban medical system, then I think you should keep your mouth shut, and not spreading the Cuban regime lies.

Most of their advertised medical achievements, is just political propaganda........ But the reality is totally different.

I know of a Canadian skydiver who got seriously injured there recently. The guy was transported to a hospital that has no nurse, no doctors, nobody........... No personnel at all....

He was left lying on a stretcher, for 8 hours, in pain. Nobody there to help him.... No pain relievers offered. Nothing........Basically, you're on your own......

His friends had to call to Canada, to have him evacuated by air Ambulance, so that he can receive proper treatment for his injuries............

He won't be jumping anymore......

Cuba............... Never again....

Castro is a dictator..... Just like many others......

Modern dictators exploit fears. They use fear against the people, to make them believe in their lies......

Castro may seem to have most Cubans behind him....... just like any other dictators. But in the reality, most Cubans are afraid to speak their mind against him. And if they do, they go to jail.

Castro should go IMHO. He used Cubans to achieve his personal goals. The people there don't have any other choice, but to back him.... or they end up in jail. I have no sympathy for dictators, wherever they are.

Yves.

[Casurf1978 0]

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When the Castro regime really falls, I want to go there with a car-carrier ship and bring back all those vintage cars.

Hey that was my idea . I wanna swoop down there any buy some beach front property.

Very few of his comrades that participated in his revolution are with him in Cuba now. Castro imprisoned a few of them when they questioned the way the 'revolution' was heading once Batista was overthrown. One in particular, Umberto Gomez I think is his name. He now resides in Miami heading one of the biggest anti-castro movements. Too bad what happened to Che didn't happen to Castro.