I just heard UN Ambassador Susan Rice talking about Cuba.

[roody]

What a lying sack of shit.

[Billy Burnett]

1. What did she say?

Could you give us a brief rundown?

:hi:

[Braulio]

2. Rice's Statement about Cuba

Rice said Washington was offering Havana "a new chapter" in their relations but had as yet received no answer.

She rejected assertions that the US embargo was responsible for Cuba's crushing poverty, blaming the near permanent economic crisis in the country on government control over the economy and society.

"There are many things the government of Cuba could do," she said. "Positive measures could include liberating the hundreds of prisoners of conscience in Cuban jails (and)... demonstrating greater respect for freedom of speech."

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly reinforced Rice's statement saying the US would consider lifting the embargo "when the government of Cuba starts to make some positive steps toward - toward loosening up its repression of its own people."

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/un-urges-end-to-us-embargo-on-cuba-20091029-hlki.html

[Bacchus39]

4. and the farmer's market story from yesterday is a concrete example

of the Cuban government screwing things up for the Cuban people.

thanks for the info Braulio.

[Peace Patriot]

11. "...the Cuban government screwing things up for the Cuban people..". LOL! And our government

never does that!

Pot meet kettle!

As for political prisoners, how about those people with no rights on the other end of the island of Cuba?

Real dirty pot meet kettle!

[Braulio]

16. Yes, they do screw up things, don't they?

The Cuban government screws up things for the Cubans. The US government screws up things for Americans and for everybody else. However, this doesn't mean the Cuban government can be considered a good government. They're lousy.

[Billy Burnett]

18. "They're lousy." What a pant load.

Cuba's social stats rival the world's best.

Where else in the word has an island nation marshaled their meager resources so fairly, broadly, and effectively?

[IndianaGreen]

12. FRAK her lying ass!

And FRAK this government! It is as imperialistic as Bush's.

[roody]

8. She said that the US has never blocked aid to Cuba.

[roody]

9. The US maintains no restriction on humanitarian aid.

US Ambassador Susan Rice: “It is erroneous to charge that US sanctions are the cause of deprivation among the Cuban people. The US maintains no restriction on humanitarian aid to Cuba. In fact, the US is a major source of humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people and the largest provider of food to Cuba…Mr. President, because it does not reflect current realities, my delegation will vote against this resolution. At the same time, the United States will continue to work to expand opportunities for the people of Cuba to empower themselves through access to information and resources.”

http://www.democracynow.org

[Billy Burnett]

13. Imagine the devastation if the US's largest trade partner were to embargo the US.

Right now with nothing but mounting international debt unparalleled in history being extended to the USA, with the corporate thievery nearly destroying the economy and lives of many tens of millions here, schools are being closed, libraries closing, hospitals closing, clinics closing, meager unemployment benefits expiring, families losing their homes, loss of health care coverage, and on and on.

During the entire period of the US's genocidal sanctions on the island population, Cuba has done the opposite of the above conditions. More schools opened EVERY year, more libraries, more hospitals and clinics, social benefits extended to all, not one family in the street homeless due to foreclosure by corporate pirates, and on and on.

Considering this, which population has more representation?


edit: Forgot to add that the US is now developing chain-gang labor as well ...

North Lauderdale (Florida) seeking inmate work crews
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x492178

[flamingdem]

3. I hope that is cover for the story that Obama is trying to talk to Raul

and asking him to take some step. Of course the miami mafia will attack over that and tie it into the Hollywood liberal connection w Sean Penn etc. but one hopes that Obama doesn't need them, or does he?

... what a shame and a sham that the same rhetoric is being repeated at this point...zzzz.

[Braulio]

7. Seems to me they could learn to love each other

The US should drop the embargo, and this would remove the excuse the Castro regime has for its economic blunders. I've heard from a senior Cuban official they're waiting for the elder Castro to die, and they'll start moving away from communism.

[flamingdem]

10. Fidel will make it to 90 just to spite his enemies nt

[Billy Burnett]

14. Your point begs a question ...

Almost everyone agrees with your point that ending the standoff would do more good in the endeavor of moving the Castros into retirement.

That being the case, one has to wonder - just why is it that the standoff continues, and, isn't it interesting that US politicians who excoriate those who seek to end the sanctions and push to maintain it are the very politicians who benefit from the Castros remaining in power (I'm referring to the politicians who make the Castros one of their main political campaign planks)?

Black is white.

The US Cuban exile politicians (and some others) who rip Castro daily are the very politicians who need Castro to remain as head of state of Cuba in order to maintain their own power base.


Isn't it time to end this type of US politics? We need campaign financing reform more than anything else in the US.

[Braulio]

15. I don't know much about Miami Cuban politicians

But it seems to me they don't need Castro to keep their jobs. Their opposition to the Castro regime and their support for the embargo is driven by the same type of inertia keeping the USA fighting on and on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Billy Burnett]

17. Their "opposition" to Castro and pushing to maintain sanctions is their primary platform.

You're right. Quite obviously, you don't know much about this.

[Braulio]

19. Nope, I sure don't

I don't live in Miami, and I don't really care for the environment, it's one of the last places on earth I would move to. However, I do know about the way communism fails, and Castroite communism sure looks like it's ready for a casket.

[Billy Burnett]

20. You don't know about that either.

Braulio posted this---> "I do know about the way communism fails, and Castroite communism sure looks like it's ready for a casket."

- - -

Cuba tops the class in UN development report
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x25779

- - -

Braulio, face it ... you don't know much of anything when it comes to Cuba, except myth.

[Braulio]

21. I saw that report

That's nice, but it doesn't mean the regime has legs. The key is to have the Americans end the embargo. Once they do, the commies won't have an excuse for their failures.

[Billy Burnett]

22. Yes. The failure of health care, education, security, safety, international respect and solidarity.

Only RWers perceive these things as failure.

Look at America's "successes" (concentration of wealth and corporate power) under RWer rule over America's history.

[EFerrari]

5. Rice said Rodriguez's remarks were Cold War rhetoric

and yet we are the ones continuing an outdated policy the world condemns.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Don't know how she can keep a straight face. Apparently she's been lying so long it's easy. n/t