Chaos US predicted never materialized in Cuba, Raul Castro says

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Euskal Irrati Telebista 24

Chaos US predicted never materialized in Cuba, Raul Castro says
07/26/2007



Ceremonies marking the launch of the Cuban revolution. Photo: EFE


As the sun rose over Camaguey, 100,000 people filled a plaza of red-tile paths and green grass. Red and black flags symbolizing the July 26 holiday hung from every floor of an apartment building nearby.

Interim President Raul Castro told tens of thousands of loyalists Thursday that the country suffered a serious blow when his brother Fidel fell ill a year ago, but that the chaos that the U.S. had long predicted never materialized.

"We could hardly have suspected what a hard blow was awaiting us," the younger Castro said of Fidel's illness as he took his brother's place at ceremonies marking the launch of the Cuban revolution. "These have truly been difficult moments, although with a diametrically different impact than that expected by our enemies, who wished for chaos to take hold and for Cuban socialism to collapse," he said.

The one-hour speech by Cuba's 76-year-old defense minister came exactly a year after Fidel's last public appearances, when he celebrated the Revolution Day anniversary with speeches in the eastern cities of Bayamo and Holguin. Now 12 months at the helm, Raul's provisional leadership gained further airs of permanence as he delivered the keynote message on the island's top holiday.


Read more: http://www.eitb24.com/new/en/B24_59298/world-news/CUBAN-REVOLUTION-Chaos-US-predicted-never-materialized-in/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Raúl Castro takes stage at July 26 parade

Posted on Thu, Jul. 26, 2007
Raúl Castro takes stage at July 26 parade
BY FRANCES ROBLES
[email protected]

Thursday's July 26 revolutionary party had all the markings of Cuba's annual revolutionary celebration: the flags, the music, the chanting crowds.

But this year the roar of the masses recited a different name: ''Ra-ul! Ra-ul!'' Marking the end of an era and the start of new one, for the first time in 48 years -- but for an enormous billboard -- the comandante en jefe Fidel was nowhere to be found. In his place was his brother, Defense Minister and interim President Raúl Castro, who stood before tens of thousands of people in the central city of Camagüey and offered to negotiate with whoever wins the 2008 U.S. elections.

'I tell whoever the next group of leaders is: `If you are ready to talk in a civilized manner, we are prepared to do so,' '' Castro said. ``If not, we're ready to confront your policy of hostility for another 50 years if necessary.''

Viva! The crowd shouted.

Castro took a shot at George Bush, saying the U.S. president is fixated on putting an end to the Cuban revolution. Fidel's illness last year gave the Cuban military the opportunity to prepare for a U.S. attack, leaving it more prepared than ever.

''It would be interesting to ask him how he plans to stop it,'' Castro said. ``How little they have learned from history.''

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/581/story/182891.html

[Tempest]

2. That's not surprising

The WMD Bush said Iraq had never materialized either.

[tanyev]

3. But maybe it will the next time Castro dies!

Or the time after that.

[David__77]

4. This most certainly is not 1989.

Cuba was not merely a Soviet vassal, and so it didn't get swept up in the "liberal" wave of 1989. Cuba's revolution is an indigenous project, with real roots in broad segments of the population. Many of those who were against it have actually left the country. It's too bad there cannot be national reconciliation yet, like there has been for the most part in China. Eventually is will happen, long after the Castro brothers are gone and the Miami ex-oligarchs have faded into obscurity.

[Mika]

5. Raúl (Castro) again offers 'olive branch' to U.S.

Source: Miami Herald

Castro, also for the third time, called for a dialogue with Washington and made only passing mention of Fidel -- whose absence at the ceremony marking the 54th anniversary of the start of the Cuban Revolution reinforced the belief that Fidel will not return to active rule after his emergency surgery for intestinal bleeding last July.

The flag-waving crowds chanted ''¡Ra-úl! Ra-úl!,'' underscoring that an era had ended, and a new one begun.

Castro started his hour-long speech much as his brother would have: with attacks on the United States. He blasted the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and the lack of visas issued to Cuban migrants, said Cuba's military was readier than ever for any U.S. intervention and held out hope that the next U.S. presidential elections will lead to better relations.

`FAILED POLICY'

''Whatever new administration emerges will have to decide if it will maintain the absurd, illegal and failed policy toward Cuba, or if it will accept the olive branch that we extended,'' he said. ``If the new U.S. authorities finally put aside their arrogance and decide to talk in a civilized manner, they're welcome. If not, we are willing to continue confronting their policy of hostility, even for another 50 years, if that becomes necessary.''

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/884/story/183838.html

---

Its a shame that Kucinich and Gravel are the only candidates who have pledged to normalize relations with Cuba. ALL other candidates (R & D) platforms either maintain or increase the hostilities against Cuba.

[thecrow]

6. Well, Obama at least said he'd TALK to them

That's a start

[Mika]

8. He's said he would modify the travel sanctions and sanctions, not eliminate them.

He's just gotta ( :sarcasm: ) pander the Miamicuban extremist community. That's who has the campaign dollars to give.

[Judi Lynn]

9. What a pitiful shame. You'd have to hope the anti-travel ban bipartisan movement in Congress

will finally get strong enough to get that completely veto-proof bill to remove the travel ban WITHOUT the approval of the President!

Increasing Democratic majorities in Congress is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to get it done. Successful bills with great travel to Cuba provisions have passed before which got gutted in committee by _Bush's "exile" Congressmen and their allies.

As soon as that travel ban is completed, there will be an INSTANT power loss in Miami, once Americans win the right to go to Cuba and find out what the truth about the country is for themselves. Once they know, they won't be able to accept any of the old propaganda, ever again, and they'll tell every one they know about it.

They must fear that inevitable event like death itself in Miami.

[Mika]

10. Yep. Without a Castro, there'll be no more millions of our tax $$ for anti Castro boondoggles.

Like Radio & TV Marti, Cubanet, and funding for terrorist organizations (aka: "freedom fighters" in Miami).

Hundreds of millions of our tax dollars have been sunk into the corrupt cesspool of the anti Castro industry.

It is the so-called anti Castro foundations & Cuba Transition Study groups in S Florida universities that need a Castro to survive and remain as Head of Sate of Cuba. That's why most of the advice they offer to any and all US administrations on "freeing Cuba" ends up unifying the Cuban people behind their leadership. Status quo = money flow.

[David__77]

7. US policy is idiotic from any perspective.

The US policy greatly strengthens the political foundations of the Cuban state. It provides the rationale for single-party rule - "We're under attack for a superpower. We cannot afford to be disunified." Because it is only the US that is carrying out this policy, it fails to radically harm living standards in the country, and so doesn't threaten the state, as sanctions started to do with South Africa. So, no matter how one looks at it, the US policy does not further its stated objectives, which suits me just fine, by the way. I don't think Cuba needs the US, and I hope it maintains its independent standpoint.

[Mika]

14. Sure is.

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/cable/cable-3-16-60.htm

Washington, March 16, 1960.

A PROGRAM OF COVERT ACTION AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME

1. Objective: The purpose of the program outlined herein is to bring about the replacement of the Castro regime with one more devoted to the true interests of the Cuban people and more acceptable to the U.S. in such a manner as to avoid any appearance of U.S. intervention. Essentially the method of accomplishing this end will be to induce, support, and so far as possible direct action, both inside and outside of Cuba, by selected groups of Cubans of a sort that they might be expected to and could undertake on their own initiative. Since a crisis inevitably entailing drastic action in or toward Cuba could be provoked by circumstances beyond control of the U.S. before the covert action program has accomplished its objective, every effort will be made to carry it out in such a way as progressively to improve the capability of the U.S. to act in a crisis.

2. Summary Outline: The program contemplates four major courses of action:

a. The first requirement is the creation of a responsible, appealing and unified Cuban opposition to the Castro regime, publicly declared as such and therefore necessarily located outside of Cuba. <3 sentences (10 lines) not declassified> (Tab A)

b. So that the opposition may be heard and Castro's basis of popular support undermined, it is necessary to develop the means for mass communication to the Cuban people so that a powerful propaganda offensive can be initiated in the name of the declared opposition. The major tool proposed to be used for this purpose is a long and short wave gray broadcasting facility, probably to be located on Swan Island. <2 sentences (4 lines) not declassified> (Tab B)

c. Work is already in progress in the creation of a covert intelligence and action organization within Cuba which will be responsive to the orders and direction of the "exile" opposition. <3 sentences (7 lines) not declassified>

d. Preparations have already been made for the development of an adequate paramilitary force outside of Cuba, together with mechanisms for the necessary logistic support of covert military operations on the Island. Initially a cadre of leaders will be recruited after careful screening and trained as paramilitary instructors. In a second phase a number of paramilitary cadres will be trained at secure locations outside of the U.S. so as to be available for immediate deployment into Cuba to organize, train and lead resistance forces recruited there both before and after the establishment of one or more active centers of resistance. The creation of this capability will require a minimum of six months and probably closer to eight. In the meanwhile, a limited air capability for resupply and for infiltration and exfiltration already exists under CIA control and can be rather easily expanded if and when the situation requires. Within two months it is hoped to parallel this with a small air resupply capability under deep cover as a commercial operation in another country.

(Tab C)

6. Recommendations: That the Central Intelligence Agency be authorized to undertake the above outlined program <2 lines not declassified>.

Tab B

PROPAGANDA

1.

2. As the major voice of the opposition, it is proposed to establish at least one "gray" U.S.-controlled station. This will probably by on Swan Island and will employ both high frequency and broadcast band equipment of substantial power. The preparation of scripts will be done in the U.S. and these will be transmitted electronically to the site for broadcasting. After some experience and as the operation progresses, it may be desirable to supplement the Swan Island station with at least one other to ensure fully adequate coverage of all parts of Cuba, most especially the Havana region. <3 paragraphs (19 lines) not declassified>

[KillCapitalism]

11. We need friendly relations with Cuba IMO.

They are not a threat to us whatsoever. The economic sanctions/embargo is not hurting Castro, it's hurting the Cuban people. The travel ban should also be lifted completely. Personally I'd love to visit. Eliminating the economic sanctions and travel ban and instituting fair trade policies with Cuba will help bring in tourist money and other revenue which the people there so badly need. Think about it, it could be a 2-way street, we could send them economic aid and food exports and in turn they could send their doctors to give free or low-cost medical care to our poor. At least that;s how I'd see it if I were one of the Presidential candidates.

I think we also should work on having normal relations with Venezuela and Bolivia as they are not a threat to us either. I don't see any of this happening however since pretty much America in general thinks socialism is evil.

[Bacchus39]

12. what would prevent the doctors from staying and working on their own?

making money and the like. the US would never agree (I hope) to "watch" over the doctors and make sure they aren't doing something counterrevolutionary like making money.

[Mika]

13. What prevents them from doing so now?

There are plenty of Cuban professionals living and working in many countries (I know several) who return to Cuba for visits, then go back to where they are currently residing and working.

Its the US that won't grant travel or work visas to Cuban professionals. The only way for them to enter the US is via an immigration visa (that the US is currently holding up that processing), and via the US Wet Foot/Dry Foot illegal-made-legal entry granted to Cubans only.

One could go to Canada, for example, and find many Cuban professionals who work there, but remain Cuban citizens and residents.

Your premise is based on stunning ignorance of what is really going on, regarding Cuba now.

[Bacchus39]

17. the denial of exit permits maybe???

this by the way, explicitly contradicts your claims that it is the US that is preventing medical professional from fleeing.

"Some Cubans who get U.S. visas are denied exit permits by Havana, which arbitrarily deems them "defectors," the State Department says. <b>Cuba also regularly refuses to allow doctors and other medical professionals to leave even if they have visas."</b>


http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Asia/Cuba_US_Immigration.html



the same article discusses the "slowness" of the US government in issuing vias. awwww, poor Fidel. "Please let my people out, they want out!!!".


aside from your false claims, some practical obstacles for a medical services for goods include requirements of the doctors to complete US residency programs to receive a license to practice medicine.

the US could in fact grant say an extra 1000 visas a year for doctors only lets say. but Castro would have to let them leave now wouldn't he?

by the way, your post about the US granting 20,000 visas a year but not allowing professionals to work there makes no sense. among those 20,000 are you saying there are no professionals??? I wonder whose fault that is if true.

your post is completely false and makes no sense.

[Bacchus39]

18. the denial of exit permits maybe???

this by the way, explicitly contradicts your claims that it is the US that is preventing medical professional from fleeing.

"Some Cubans who get U.S. visas are denied exit permits by Havana, which arbitrarily deems them "defectors," the State Department says. <b>Cuba also regularly refuses to allow doctors and other medical professionals to leave even if they have visas."</b>


http://www.dailysentinel.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Asia/Cuba_US_Immigration.html



the same article discusses the "slowness" of the US government in issuing vias. awwww, poor Fidel. "Please let my people out, they want out!!!".


aside from your false claims, some practical obstacles for a medical services for goods include requirements of the doctors to complete US residency programs to receive a license to practice medicine.

the US could in fact grant say an extra 1000 visas a year for doctors only lets say. but Castro would have to let them leave now wouldn't he?

by the way, your post about the US granting 20,000 visas a year but not allowing professionals to work there makes no sense. among those 20,000 are you saying there are no professionals??? I wonder whose fault that is if true.

your post is completely false and makes no sense.

[Mika]

19. Maybe you should learn the difference between immigration visas and travel visas.

It seems as though you don't know.

"by the way, your post about the US granting 20,000 visas a year but not allowing professionals to work there makes no sense. among those 20,000 are you saying there are no professionals???by the way, your post about the US granting 20,000 visas a year but not allowing professionals to work there makes no sense. among those 20,000 are you saying there are no professionals???"

I'm saying no such thing.

Your post just illustrates that you don't seem to recognize the difference between work visas, travel visas, and immigration visas. Those 20,000 visas that you are discussing are US immigration visas.

The Drs and other professionals, that I mentioned previously, had not immigrated to Canada (for example) or elsewhere permanently. They are there using work permits granted by the host countries, and, as I've discussed with you on a prior thread, the only way that the current US government will allow a Cuban Dr. or other professional to come to the US is if they "defect" and get into the US using special perks given to Cubans only (the US Wet Foot/Dry Foot & the Cuban Adjustment Act to mention two major perks). Cuban professionals don't need to "defect" to enter any other country and work there (provided that the host country offers work visas).

[indypaul]

15. Perhaps our potential candidates need a history lesson.....

From "Plain Speaking" by Merle Miller. President Truman addressed this issue quite appropriately
by saying he would NOT have followed any protocol but would have simply picked up a phone and
called Castro and invited him to Washington, D.C. for a talk. Truman's commentary regarding the
handling of Castro by the Eisenhower administration is well worth reading to any person who
is interested in this issue.

[Judi Lynn]

16. Remarkable. Thanks. n/t

[Mudoria]

20. This is late breaking news??

[Mika]

21. The late breaking news on this was Raul's offering an olive branch- again.

But, today, in response, the house killed a Cuba trade bill.

-House rejects easing exports-to-Cuba limits-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2932006

[Judi Lynn]

22. Interesting Saturday story:Cubans dominate track and field at Pan American Games with 12 golds

Cubans dominate track and field at Pan American Games with 12 golds
Saturday, July 28, 2007
By PETER MUELLO
Associated Press Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) Yeimer Lopez streaked to victory in record time in the men's 800 meters at the Pan American Games on Saturday, helping Cuba dominate track and field with 12 gold medals.

Brazilians Fabiano Pecanha and Kleberson Davide were first and second for most of the race until Lopez blew by them on the final turn at the Joao Havelange Stadium and won in 1 minute, 44.58 seconds. Davide finished second (1:45.47) and Pecanha third (1:45.54).

Lopez bettered the old record of 1:45.05, set by Canada's Tadili Achraf at the 2003 games in Santo Domingo.

``I did not expect to have this time even though I was prepared for that. If it wasn't raining, I would have made a better time, but this result pleases me a lot,'' Lopez said.

Cuban athletes were the standouts in athletics, winning 30 total medals. The Brazilians finished second with eight golds and 22 overall medals. The United States had six gold and 24 total.

More:
http://cbs2.com/sportswire/PanAms-Track/resources_news_html

[Judi Lynn]

23. From the Washington Post: Track and Field Has Distinctly Cuban Flavor

Track and Field Has Distinctly Cuban Flavor
Associated Press
Sunday, July 29, 2007; Page E04


RIO DE JANEIRO, July 28 -- Yeimer Lopez streaked to victory in record time in the men's 800 meters at the Pan American Games on Saturday, helping Cuba dominate track and field with 12 gold medals.
(snip)

Cuban athletes led the medal race, winning 30 total medals. The Brazilians finished second with eight golds and 22 overall medals. The United States had six gold and 24 total.

Cuba's Dayron Robles won the men's 110 hurdles in 13.25 seconds, just 0.08 of a second off the Pan Ams record set by Cuban Anier Garcia in 1999 in Winnipeg. American David Payne took silver.

Cuba also was the surprise winner of the women's 1,600-meter relay. The United States led for most of the last two legs, but Cuba's Indira Terrero streaked past American Nicole Leach in the home stretch to win in 3:37.51. Mexico grabbed silver and the Americans took bronze.
(snip)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072801111.html

(Cuba's total population is between 11,000,000 and 12,000,000, I believe.)

[Judi Lynn]

24. I made a mistake identifying someone the other day, and must correct it!

I claimed Florida State Senator David Rivera's grandmother threw a fit when government office workers didn't bow and scrape well enough for her tastes, and she got 6 of them fired when she went there to get her food stamps.

Well, it was Florida State Senator Rudy Garcia's dear little old granny, instead, and here is an article to describe the event. It was also detailed in the Miami Herald:

Stalin Would Be Proud
And only Kafka could have dreamed up a character like Rudy Garcia
By Tristram Korten
Published: May 1, 2003

The dismissal of six workers from a local office of the Department of Children and Families is one of the most surreal governmental dramas to play itself out in some time. Certainly you recall the incident. On March 4 an aide to state Sen. Rudy Garcia was accompanying the senator's 94-year-old grandmother to the Hialeah DCF office to inquire about her food-stamp eligibility. The aide, Francis Aleman, claims she and Garcia's abuela were treated rudely. She complained to DCF brass in Tallahassee and voilà, everyone up the chain of command got the axe. Garcia happens to sit on two committees that fund and supervise DCF, and the senate is about to vote to confirm DCF Secretary Jerry Regier's permanent appointment.

Two of the fired employees had not even worked at the Hialeah office for one and a half months. They never saw, heard, or talked to the grandmother. The day they were canned they must have felt like characters in a Kafka novel, complete with self-important politicians (and their aides), obsequious bureaucrats, and a labyrinthine system so mindless that once set in motion, it couldn't be stopped.

This is as absurd as it gets. First, what the hell is the grandmother of a state senator doing on food stamps? Much less a senator who in 2001 listed his net worth as $100,212, and his income as $63,829. "She's an American citizen and she wants her independence," Garcia explained to me. "I can't tell her what to do. This is a nominal amount, around $30 a month."

Then the senator, who earns $29,328 as a legislator and derives the rest of his income from a family flooring and tile business in Hialeah, added, "We're not a rich family."

Okay, he's from working-class Hialeah. Good for him. And his grandma is stubborn, maybe a little eccentric. That's cute. But shouldn't Garcia explain to her that food stamps are for people who actually need them? And, um, he's a Republican? In fact he supported the senate's recent budget proposal, which includes deep cuts to nursing homes and would assess a fifteen-dollar payment to people who go to hospital emergency rooms for inappropriate reasons.
(snip/...)

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2003-05-01/news/stalin-would-be-proud/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The reason I had David Rivera on my mind in connection to food stamps is that he distinguished himself after _Bush started cranking up the pressure on Cuba, by demanding that as a punishment, it should be arranged that Cuban Americans who get food stamps now should lose their food stamp priviledge if it is discovered they have travelled to Cuba!

Here's a quote:

This week, Rivera proposed a bill for the 2005 legislative session that would penalize Floridians who travel to Cuba legally by stripping them of food stamps, state health insurance and housing assistance.
(snip)

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/27/Decision2004/Bush_s_Cuban_American.shtml

[Judi Lynn]

25. I'm including at no extra charge, photos of the two Florida gentlemen:

The esteemed State Senators David "no food stamps for you if you go to Cuba" Rivera,
and Rudy "you displease my granny and you're so fired" Garcia.