Defying U.S., Cuba stands by Venezuela on eve of regional summit

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

| Thu Apr 9, 2015 2:40am BST

Defying U.S., Cuba stands by Venezuela on eve of regional summit

HAVANA | By Nelson Acosta

(Reuters) - Cuba said on Wednesday it would remain steadfast by Venezuela even as it seeks to improve ties with the United States, criticizing Washington's Venezuela policy before a summit meeting where the U.S. and Cuban leaders will meet face-to-face.

Cuban Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel chastised Washington over its decision last month to declare Venezuela a national security threat and order sanctions against seven Venezuelan officials.

"Nobody could think that in a process of re-establishing relations, which we're trying to move forward on with the United States, Cuban support for Venezuela could be made conditional," Diaz-Canel, the heir apparent to Cuban President Raul Castro, told reporters in Havana.

"If they attack Venezuela, they're attacking Cuba. And Cuba will always be on Venezuela's side above all things," he said.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/09/uk-cuba-usa-venzuela-idUKKBN0N003V20150409?rpc=401

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(If you don't approve of US treatment of other governments you are "defiant"? Says who?)

[geek tragedy]

1. Did anyone expect otherwise? nt

[Ken Burch]

2. Good for them.

Only the rich in Venezuela would benefit from the fall of the Maduro government.

It would be nothing but loss for the working-class, non-European majority there.

[Marksman_91]

5. Under Maduro, Venezuela is actually starting to see a rise in poverty

And they are the most poorly handled economy in the world, with inflation higher than most countries around the world, and certainly the highest in the Americas. Not to mention the increasing crime rate, which saw nearly 25,000 in 2014 alone. And with national production from almost any product near almost nil, they can barely sustain themselves. Venezuela has seen itself forced to import almost all kinds of products, and rely on oil for more than 90% of their export income. Anyone with basic knowledge about how economies work would tell you that it is a VERY bad idea to put all your eggs in one basket, as Venezuela did, especially with a product like oil which price can fluctuate very often. Venezuela is now far worse under the hands of the boligarchs than when they were under the oligarchs.

[Larry Engels]

11. +1.

Yes, good for them. And I hope Cuba sticks with it. They may actually have some influence now that President Obama is seeking détente.

[Judi Lynn]

16. They can't stand the thought of a man who's been poor in the President's Office,

just like this country.

When Hugo Chavez was in office, they referred to him as an "ape" publically in the media, and without a doubt far worse out of public range. He was partly black and indigenous, as you know, and it made these European-descended @$$holes wild with rage for a man like him, or like Maduro being elected by the poor to improve their country for EVERYONE instead of just the predator, parasitic class.

They demand they get back to being the big deals surrounded by a sea of poverty, struggling, hungry, sick, uneducated masses of poor, like before.

Anyone with a conscience couldn't live like that. They insist on it.

[DeSwiss]

3. ''If you don't approve of US treatment of other governments you are "defiant"? Says who?''

- Reuters. - Conservative. Business. 1%.

eom

K&R

[djean111]

4. Looks like those people in our back yard are getting a bit too independent.

Maybe working with them, not against them, would be a good idea.

[Marksman_91]

6. The US is Venezuela's #1 oil client and receives a lot of US products.

In fact, in the last few years, Venezuela has become more dependent on its oil than in any other time in history. And the US is the one that pays the most for it. I wouldn't exactly call Venezuela becoming "too independent"

[djean111]

9. Does this give us the right to meddle in their government? That is what I meant.

[Marksman_91]

10. What meddling is the US doing at the moment exactly?

It's not like the sanctions affect their ability to govern. They only consist of not allowing certain individuals who have collaborated in the abuse of human rights in Venezuela to be given a visa to travel to the US, and the seizing of their assets in the US itself, and considering how supposedly anti-imperialist they are, I'd actually be shocked if they do have any bank accounts there. So why are so many people worrying about this? As far as I know, the US, and pretty much any other country, has the right to deny entry to any individual it pleases.

[Larry Engels]

12. Well, "at the moment" does all the work in your screed, doesn't it?

That way we can leave out the kidnapping, the CIA inspired demonstrations, the US financial hardships placed on the economy, etc. Nice piece of slight-of-hand!

[Marksman_91]

14. I don't deny the US has meddled in the past in Latin America.

But each presidential administration has its own agenda, and Obama's consists of looking for diplomatic pragmatic solutions to things, certainly not an "imperialiastic" one like Maduro claims. You can just ask Raul Castro or the Iranians. I hear no say of any other Latin American nation claiming that their hardships are because of US "interference." For some reason only Venezuela seems to think this way. But what's funny is that they never show anything to prove it, and certain Chavista sympathizers here always go with the "Well, it happened to Allende in 1973! So it must be happening now" BS excuse to try to justify it. Now Maduro has put up a whole show with the supposed 10 million signatures against Obama's decree, and I'm just here wondering how the hell is that gonna help Venezuela's problems other than help the paper industry (which we probably import more than produce anyway. I'm Venezuelan, by the way, hence the 'we'.)

[Judi Lynn]

17. Hilarious. You've apparently refused to learn anything about Honduras, in 2009. Sad. n/t

[Mika]

22. Don't be so quick to assess the learning process.

Just doing their job here.

[Larry Engels]

19. The US is busy in the middle east, which it has set on fire.

It will take a while before the US shifts its sights to Latin America. A long while, I hope.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Wouldn't that be a shock? Working WITH a leftist government!

Not sure it's ever been tried, with so many fascists in our country. Certainly would be more like having a Democrat in office.

[hack89]

7. VZ paid for that support with billions in annual subsidies to Cuba

until they can realign their economy with the US, Cuba can't afford to offend VZ.

[Larry Engels]

13. You have just reduced socialist solidarity to nationalistic self interest.

Without even giving an argument. Congratulations on your prestidigitation!

[hack89]

15. Cuba understands the social implications of their economy collapsing

I am sure their leaders don't want to end up swinging from the lampposts. They have no hope of self sufficiency - they need VZ until they can find a replacement.

Pragmatism will rule the day.

[Judi Lynn]

18. The people who swung from the lampposts in Cuba were LEFTISTS, and suspected LEFTISTS.

The piece of filth operating as the leader of Cuba at the time was U.S.-supported death-squad-loving, murderous Fulgencio Batista.
His victims also were dismembered and their pieces hung in trees near Santiago de Cuba, they were thrown out of cars, they were put in burlap bags, with gasoline thrown on them, followed by matches, they were allowed to dig deep holes before kneeling and being shot to fall into them.

When the mothers of the dismembered and hung young men near Santiago de Cuba marched through the streets to beg the US ambassador to intercede with Batista, his police got out their fire hoses and hosed them all down, like the Birmingham, Alabama police did to the civil rights protesters.

One of the death squads was named after the owner of one of the Batista newspapers, Rolando Masferrer, the old dirty "Masferrer's Tigers."

Cuba already KNOWS what US-styled capitalism is. A lot of their country was owned by US multimillionaires, politicians, corporations, and Cuba itself was used as a "Rest and Recreation" spot for the U.S. Navy.

They were also lucky enough to have their hotels and restaurants operated by the U.S. Mafia, some of the profits going nightly to Fulgencio's wife's brother who always stopped by to pick up their money.

Cuba has friends THROUGHOUT the Americas now. Cuba would be OK, regardless, just as they've been meeting incredible goals from the first.

It's BECAUSE of Latin America's insistence on not having any more OAS meetings without Cuba that changes are being made this year. Latin American leaders already made this statement several years ago.

[Larry Engels]

20. Jesus Christ!

Good post.

[hack89]

21. And it might happen again if they are not careful. Nt