Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(160,076 posts)
97. Good for Sra. Vidal. The US has been trying to control Cuba longer than she has lived.
Fri Apr 4, 2014, 05:26 PM
Apr 2014

I have to add this passage from the memorandum written Christmas Eve of 1897, by the U.S. Undersecretary of War, John Breckenridge:


~ snip ~

The island of Cuba, a larger territory, has a greater population density than Puerto Rico, although it is unevenly distributed. This population is made up of whites, blacks, Asians and people who are a mixture of these races. The inhabitants are generally indolent and apathetic. As for their learning, they range from the most refined to the most vulgar and abject. Its people are indifferent to religion, and the majority are therefore immoral and simultaneously they have strong passions and are very sensual. Since they only possess a vague notion of what is right and wrong, the people tend to seek pleasure not through work, but through violence. As a logical consequence of this lack of morality, there is a great disregard for life.

It is obvious that the immediate annexation of these disturbing elements into our own federation in such large numbers would be sheer madness, so before we do that we must clean up the country, even if this means using the methods Divine Providence used on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

We must destroy everything within our cannons’ range of fire. We must impose a harsh blockade so that hunger and its constant companion, disease, undermine the peaceful population and decimate the Cuban army.
The allied army must be constantly engaged in reconnaissance and vanguard actions so that the Cuban army is irreparably caught between two fronts and is forced to undertake dangerous and desperate measures.

More:
http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/bmemo.htm

Purely angelic sentiments, aren't they? Bless his heart.

Clearly he spoke for many, considering what they had already done to destroy the Native Americans by then, and next the African Americans they invited to do all their work for them, for nothing, all the time, until they died.

Amazing.

Had to go to find a photo of the new head of the Interests Section, found two:

[center]



Here she is, meeting former Jimmy Carter on his last trip to Cuba.[/center]
U.S. Agency for International Development is known for its dark side. dixiegrrrrl Apr 2014 #1
What a fucking waste. progressoid Apr 2014 #2
No country should allow unfettered access to social media hack89 Apr 2014 #5
It's a shame the countries like the US allow things like twitter and facebook penultimate Apr 2014 #37
Yes, that's not what I said. progressoid Apr 2014 #39
Yes, how dare people communicate freely using 140 characters or less--it could lead to MADem Apr 2014 #81
I'm stunned AP actually ran this story! They have been covering UP information like this for years. Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #3
Is that McSpedon playing golf in Cuba? flamingdem Apr 2014 #69
Why can't Cubans use the real Twitter? hack89 Apr 2014 #4
Nor should it, that's not the purpose of the story. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #6
But if Cubans had access to social media like every other free society hack89 Apr 2014 #9
No, its not. But again, thats not the point. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #10
How can Twitter violate anyone's privacy? treestar Apr 2014 #85
I dunno. Why can't I head down to the airport and fly to Cuba for cheap medical care? Zorra Apr 2014 #43
So it is US policy that restricts Cuban access to Twitter? hack89 Apr 2014 #44
It is US policy that does not allow me to fly to Cuba for cheap medical care. Zorra Apr 2014 #47
So Cuba has to protect its people from the free exchange of information? hack89 Apr 2014 #49
No, Cuba is no more a real democracy than the US is. Zorra Apr 2014 #75
So only dictatorships can protect people from the 1%? hack89 Apr 2014 #89
I don't know, effective protection from the 1% predators has not been Zorra Apr 2014 #94
Castro's big crime: Fidel has a 25 inch TV. Most Cubans have 19 inch TVs... Mika Apr 2014 #96
Cuba has universal healthcare but no one suggests they are the best. former9thward Apr 2014 #62
A condition of entry is that you have health insurance for the duration of stay. dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #98
If USgov was so benevolent, they wouldn't have pulled the plug Ash_F Apr 2014 #54
I agree with you that the program was a bad idea hack89 Apr 2014 #55
I think opening up travel/trade restrictions would go a long way towards building trust. Ash_F Apr 2014 #56
The embargo should have been dropped years ago hack89 Apr 2014 #59
Or until most of our baby boomers are. /nt Ash_F Apr 2014 #70
It was essentially a free texting service. joshcryer Apr 2014 #90
But of course, its crazy to think we may have stirred anything up in Ukraine. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #7
I didnt know we brought twitter to the Ukaraine nt Progressive dog Apr 2014 #12
Right, because Twitter is the only way to undermine a foreign govt. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #13
If only Alexander the Great had Twitter, think of what he could have accomplished! FSogol Apr 2014 #31
If only he had the IMF. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #32
k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t Laelth Apr 2014 #8
Sounds like a waste to me. CFLDem Apr 2014 #11
I really can't find a problem with attempting to open communications in a society. DebJ Apr 2014 #14
Open communications? Daniel537 Apr 2014 #15
People were allowed to communicate with each other. DebJ Apr 2014 #16
I'm sure you don't. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #18
Foreign governments can monitor my communications all they want. DebJ Apr 2014 #19
Good for you. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #20
They were not forced into anything. They enjoyed the service. DebJ Apr 2014 #21
Yes, and the CIA enjoyed collecting all their private info and communication. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #24
As if Cuba isn't doing that to them. joshcryer Apr 2014 #88
Our own Twitter stuff is observed, no doubt. Evil thing. We should immediately stop DebJ Apr 2014 #22
Twitter is run by the Cuban govt.??? Daniel537 Apr 2014 #25
Why would it matter if it was? DebJ Apr 2014 #27
Private messages are public as well? Daniel537 Apr 2014 #29
Actually no, I would not feel any differently. DebJ Apr 2014 #33
Yeah, of course there are private twitter messages. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #34
Thank you for that politely delivered piece of information. DebJ Apr 2014 #35
Do you travel or do business overseas? progressoid Apr 2014 #38
So you don't think the constitution is important? n/t cui bono Apr 2014 #78
Anyone can monitor what we put on Twitter treestar Apr 2014 #86
Uh, I don't think this would have worked... MADem Apr 2014 #83
If the US govt. really wanted to open up Cuba Daniel537 Apr 2014 #17
+1 Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #40
It is unclear whether the scheme was legal under U.S. law...... dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #23
O course you left out the part where it said congressional investigators reviewed the program: okaawhatever Apr 2014 #42
The program was ended in September 2012 dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #46
Interesting, I didn't know about the Paya, Carromero, Modig USAID connect flamingdem Apr 2014 #71
our taxes @ work!!!! lunasun Apr 2014 #26
Very cool! Cubans needed something like that. Pterodactyl Apr 2014 #28
Apparently our govt. disagrees. Daniel537 Apr 2014 #30
Still a good try. Pterodactyl Apr 2014 #73
They ended it because it paid for the texts. joshcryer Apr 2014 #87
More on Creative Associates International starroute Apr 2014 #36
Creative Associates International has been busy. Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #48
Sometimes I think they deliberately choose forgettable names starroute Apr 2014 #50
Good point! Recalls changing SOA (school of assassins, er, the Americas) to WHISC Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #58
Oh, this is fun starroute Apr 2014 #53
OMG. Argh. I was thinking, after seeing your earlier excerpt that the books to Afghanistan Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #60
I've just been checking them out at fedspending.org starroute Apr 2014 #63
Here's another long article that sheds light on things starroute Apr 2014 #64
So this was a USAID project? Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #41
USAID is used as a CIA cover so frequently I'm amazed anybody allows them inside their borders. LeftyMom Apr 2014 #72
Their actions get so blatant, so rancid, sometimes they get thrown out, Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #76
The Exploding Cigar Didn't Work so they tried a New Approach warrant46 Apr 2014 #45
How about we just leave others alone. olddad56 Apr 2014 #51
Been trying to own Cuba for over 100 years. No respect for the people who live there. n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #61
It's neocon/lib (ie. post-Nazi) Imperialism. n/t Ghost Dog Apr 2014 #65
Yeah, they keep electing a Castro as their leader. Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #93
I'm holding my breath for the next Republican to tell me Obama's a communist. apnu Apr 2014 #52
Cuba is absolutely terrified, TERRIFIED, of social media. joshcryer Apr 2014 #57
Original AP source has comments. First comment reads: Ghost Dog Apr 2014 #66
The USA considers communication subversive. joshcryer Apr 2014 #68
White House defends 'Cuban Twitter' to stir unrest Ghost Dog Apr 2014 #67
Interesting seeing this in your article: Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #77
Why don't the Cubans simply elect a government that permits the real Twitter? Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #74
What, and allow all that awful freedom in? Can't have that! nt MADem Apr 2014 #84
'Cuban Twitter' heads to hearings in Congress dipsydoodle Apr 2014 #79
Pathetic, isn't it? They even found a Republican who disapproves of this. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #82
. Ghost Dog Apr 2014 #91
Good for Sra. Vidal. The US has been trying to control Cuba longer than she has lived. Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #97
AP's latest on the subject (" trumpeting in the island's official media"): Ghost Dog Apr 2014 #99
America is cancer to other countries. DeSwiss Apr 2014 #80
Yes, what next? Will we create a Cuban Flappy Bird? Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #92
America is just doing their job as Department of Global Enforcement of The Law of the 1%. Zorra Apr 2014 #95
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»US secretly created 'Cuba...»Reply #97