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Babygael

Fidel Castro's 80th birthday celebrations was held this morning.Cuba's military rolled out its olive green Soviet hardware and some 3000,000 troops and citizen soldiers went on parade for a show of strength in a parade in Havana's Plaza of the Revoution. A wee bit of sabre rattling in light of Castro's prolonged illness and the uncertainity that that brings.

The red letters of an eight story high banner which proclaimed from the side of the National libary facing the plaza," These arms will never bow down before the Empire".

Bolivias president Evo Morales, touched down at jose marti international airport in Havana yesterday to take part in todays celebrations.

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Avatar · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:41 am Post subject:

I have a lot of time for old bit Fidel - he seems like a good guy, its shamefull what the US government has done to Cuba.
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Aventinian · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject:

Shame they couldn't have spent some of the cash lifting their people out of the sorry state that they find themselves in. Oh, who am I kidding, if they had spare cash they'd probably use it to go and force homosexuals, priests and other undesirables to work the fields at gunpoint.
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sandmountainslim

sandmountainslim · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

RFM · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:05 am Post subject:

You are absolutely right Avatar; and the disgraceful thing of the matter is that it is all gratuitous meaness, which the rest of the world pretends to be no concern of theirs.
I suppose if the oil fields should develop in Cuban terrirtorial waters as expected, the rest of the world will suddenly find as much to interest them as Dafur.

sandmountainslim · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 3:16 am Post subject:

SLG · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject:

RFM · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:49 pm Post subject:

The "sugar barons" are located in the Great State of Florida and no they neither want nor need Cuban sugar, they do quite well keeping the price of domestic sugar nearly 10 times the price of world sugar.

sandmountainslim · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:34 am Post subject:

RFM · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:21 am Post subject:

Where is Black Adder when you really need him? Maybe he has the facility to explain in terms likely to be understood.

Niqaryt · Finding Ma' Way Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 17

An unelected dictator is an unelected dictator, regardless of whether they are left-wing, right-wing or centrist. They all end up executing dissidents and opressing their population (whilst proclaiming loudly that it's 'for the good of all').

People should have the freedom to choose, even if they choose badly, at least they get to learn from their mistakes and then choose a different leader in four or five years time. No-one, however intelligent or well meaning should have that much power over their compatriots.

RFM · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

So pray tell why do we profess this so-called right to choose in the west, as long as the choice agrees with us? Consider the Palestinians who elected a government that the US and EU now punishes them for. Korea lest it be forgotten was to hold elections back in 1947, but the west refused to allow them because the Korean people were likely to elect a communist; the same for Viet Nam. This so-called right to choose seems to be only a sort of window dressing without substance when put to the test.
But since we are discussing Cuba, who exactly has Castro executed in the name of oppression and suppressing dissent? Where were the champions of free choice and democracy when Fulgencio Batista was running the country?

Babygael · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:04 am Post subject:

Cuba's Operacion milagro ( Operation miracle) A programme which gives free eye care to thousands of people throughout Latin Americia and the Caribbean.

Operacion Milagro was started in 2005 as a joint venture between the Cuban and Venezuelan Governments.The programme is funded by the Venezuelan government,with medical care offered by cuba.Thus far 500.000 people,24.000 hailing from the Caribbean have so far recieved treatment.
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Niqaryt · Finding Ma' Way Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 17

RFM · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject:

I think there is a danger in looking to the western propaganda version of history for your facts. After the overthrow of Batista 1959, Castro came to New York City and the UN to ask the west for assistance in structuring a new government; that was refused point blank. He then sought assistance from the USSR, which promptly earned him the label communist. In the period 1959-1961, the US was planning an invasion to the extent of landing paramilitary armed civilians in Cuba by covert methods, armed unmarked aircraft making strafing raids; several of whom were captured. I assume that these are the "political opponents" you refer to as executed without trial. They were indeed, as international law specifically allows; ask George W. Bush if you doubt that. It was not until 1976 that Castro became President of Cuba, prior to that holding the position of Prime Minister, an office accountable to the president. There is no mention at all in the western press of his elections to office and any discussion about it is shouted down with rants about dictatorship. However the constitution of 1976 (Cuban) was adopted by a national referendum that year, while the country was operating under the 1940 constitution which Batista had suspended. So where you get the idea that Cubans are denied the right to choose their own government appears to be nothing more than parroting the propaganda of the West.
Since 1961, there have been numerous armed incursions by armed gangs in Cuba, some of which have been able to cause significant loss of life and property to the Cubans. All of them appear to embark from the American coast and are allowed to return unmolested by the American armed forces and Coast Guard. Those that have been captured by the Cubans are tried by military courtsmartial, but the West insists that these too are "political offenses". Luis Posada and Orlando Bosch, who were granted political asylum in America for their role in the bombing of a Cuban Airliner with loss of life to all on board, is another stench in the nostrils of decent people. I don't see that Castro's behavior requires any justification. If a majority of the Cuban people did not want him, there have been God only knows how many opportunities to get rid of him

agentmancuso · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject:

RFM · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:12 pm Post subject:

January 19, 2003. The Cuban constitution requires that all persons holding government office must do so by general election, to be held once very five years.

Babygael · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:49 am Post subject:

The cubana airliner which blew up off the west coast of Barbados has a monument errected there in memory of the people who were killed in that explosion,committed by terrorists. Fidel comes over to Barbados to lay a wreath in memory of that day, but he fly's in surrounded by guards and fly's out the same day.

I guess the thing I admire him for is his survival rate, (literally!) and his committment. That Russian guy in London gets his in no time at all but this hombre? Survives it all and for years, I mean there's no question about it he is dangerous! No one can question him and any who dares is either exiled like his own sister,imprisioned or vanishes.

I hear lately that El Presindente is asserting his role as Dictator more of late,probaly worried about his Brother Raul who is due to take the reins after the old pitbull passes away.
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Ath-bheothachadh

Drink beer,don't drive...its cheeper!

agentmancuso · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: