Post by: wmenorr67 on September 06, 2008, 07:45:02 PM
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HAVANA Cuba politely declined a U.S. offer to send a disaster assessment team to the island after Hurricane Gustav, saying Saturday it would rather Washington suspend restrictions on travel and the sale of food and other materials it needs to recover.
Cuba's Foreign Ministry did not mention some US$100,000 in humanitarian aid that Washington offered to send through nonprofit groups, along with the assessment team. It said in a statement that it appreciated the U.S. government gesture recognizing the destruction that Gustav caused.
The Cuban statement was released as forecasters predicted another powerful hurricane, Ike, will likely sweep across the length of the island early in the week.
"Today when the country's east already is under storm alert with the threat of Hurricane Ike, just as powerful as Gustav, Cuba affirms that in reality the only correct, ethical (action) ... would be the total and definitive elimination of the harsh and cruel economic, commercial and financial blockade applied over nearly a half century against our nation," the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has called for a temporary suspension on restrictions on family travel and remittances to the island while Cuba recovers. His rival, Republican John McCain has called for easing restrictions only when the U.S. is "confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made."
Currently, people of Cuban origin living in the U.S. can visit the island only once every three years and can send money only to members of their immediate families, excluding cousins, aunts and uncles.
Ailing former leader Fidel Castro wrote this week that recovery from Gustav could cost billions of dollars on an island where the average state salary is only about US$20 per month.
Cuba's Foreign Ministry did not mention some US$100,000 in humanitarian aid that Washington offered to send through nonprofit groups, along with the assessment team. It said in a statement that it appreciated the U.S. government gesture recognizing the destruction that Gustav caused.
The Cuban statement was released as forecasters predicted another powerful hurricane, Ike, will likely sweep across the length of the island early in the week.
"Today when the country's east already is under storm alert with the threat of Hurricane Ike, just as powerful as Gustav, Cuba affirms that in reality the only correct, ethical (action) ... would be the total and definitive elimination of the harsh and cruel economic, commercial and financial blockade applied over nearly a half century against our nation," the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has called for a temporary suspension on restrictions on family travel and remittances to the island while Cuba recovers. His rival, Republican John McCain has called for easing restrictions only when the U.S. is "confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made."
Currently, people of Cuban origin living in the U.S. can visit the island only once every three years and can send money only to members of their immediate families, excluding cousins, aunts and uncles.
Ailing former leader Fidel Castro wrote this week that recovery from Gustav could cost billions of dollars on an island where the average state salary is only about US$20 per month.
Bush could do a lot for McCain by lifting the sanctions against Cuba. You could hand Florida to him on a silver platter.
Of course I would want to know in advance that it was happening so I could be one of the first ones in line. I want some of the old cars. And you could get them for a steal.
Post by: yesitsloaded on September 06, 2008, 09:49:18 PM
Post by: mtnbkr on September 07, 2008, 03:26:10 AM
Bush could do a lot for McCain by lifting the sanctions against Cuba. You could hand Florida to him on a silver platter.
I think that would turn all the Cuban expats in Florida against him. Not that I care, I think the restrictions have outlived their usefulness.Chris
Post by: wmenorr67 on September 07, 2008, 03:32:32 AM
Bush could do a lot for McCain by lifting the sanctions against Cuba. You could hand Florida to him on a silver platter.
I think that would turn all the Cuban expats in Florida against him. Not that I care, I think the restrictions have outlived their usefulness.Chris
I would disagree because a lot of them still have a lot of family still in Cuba and would love to be able to help them out openly.
Post by: mtnbkr on September 07, 2008, 03:50:05 AM
Chris
Post by: Manedwolf on September 07, 2008, 04:28:42 AM
Bush could do a lot for McCain by lifting the sanctions against Cuba. You could hand Florida to him on a silver platter.
I think that would turn all the Cuban expats in Florida against him. Not that I care, I think the restrictions have outlived their usefulness.Chris
I agree. That would make all the ones I knew of living there FURIOUS.
Remember, the loud ones in S. Florida, the politically active ones, tend to be the ones whose families were rich under Batista, who lost their villas and property when Castro came to power.
Post by: Regolith on September 07, 2008, 05:18:24 AM
Bush could do a lot for McCain by lifting the sanctions against Cuba. You could hand Florida to him on a silver platter.
I think that would turn all the Cuban expats in Florida against him. Not that I care, I think the restrictions have outlived their usefulness.Chris
I agree. That would make all the ones I knew of living there FURIOUS.
Remember, the loud ones in S. Florida, the politically active ones, tend to be the ones whose families were rich under Batista, who lost their villas and property when Castro came to power.
And a lot of their friends and family members during the ensuing "purge."
Post by: alan2 on September 07, 2008, 10:03:58 AM
Post by: 41magsnub on September 07, 2008, 10:44:50 AM
At least they were "polite". In any event, if a soverign nation has a "problem", which leads another nation to offer aid, should they, for any reason wish to decline the offer, they are a soverign nation.
Feel that way about Myanmar/Burma as well?
Post by: alan2 on September 07, 2008, 12:27:28 PM
At least they were "polite". In any event, if a soverign nation has a "problem", which leads another nation to offer aid, should they, for any reason wish to decline the offer, they are a soverign nation.
Feel that way about Myanmar/Burma as well?
Some might note that it's a function of what the people in the effected nation(s) are willing to put up with. However I might or might not "feel" about it is beside the point.
Post by: longeyes on September 07, 2008, 03:21:06 PM
Post by: RevDisk on September 07, 2008, 08:10:34 PM
Heh. We still cut them a $3,086.36 check every year for Guantanamo Bay rent. Allegedly, only one check was actually cashed. The rest are allegedly kept in Castro's office stuffed into a desk drawer.
In fairness to Castro, we DID try to kill a large number of times. Obviously, the guy's going to be bent about that. Just wish he'd hurry up and croak so Cuba could open up to democracy. Plus communism has completely killed their cigar industry. Overproduction, poor environmentalism, lack of QC. Cuban cigars are not what they once were.
Post by: Manedwolf on September 08, 2008, 04:21:31 AM
Heh. We still cut them a $3,086.36 check every year for Guantanamo Bay rent. Allegedly, only one check was actually cashed. The rest are allegedly kept in Castro's office stuffed into a desk drawer.
In fairness to Castro, we DID try to kill a large number of times. Obviously, the guy's going to be bent about that. Just wish he'd hurry up and croak so Cuba could open up to democracy. Plus communism has completely killed their cigar industry. Overproduction, poor environmentalism, lack of QC. Cuban cigars are not what they once were.
Uh. Fidel is no longer running the show. Raoul is. Nothing will change anytime soon.
Raoul was waiting in the wings to take over for a long time, with the same agenda. Did you think it'd be like Star Wars when Fidel died?
It isn't. It won't ever be. Raoul is probably grooming a successor, too.
Post by: MicroBalrog on September 08, 2008, 04:24:56 AM
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Did you think it'd be like Star Wars when Fidel died?
Perhaps it'd be different if one of those guys died, err, suddenly, rather than if he had a time to prepare a successor.
Post by: Boomhauer on September 08, 2008, 04:36:15 AM
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Did you think it'd be like Star Wars when Fidel died?
Perhaps it'd be different if one of those guys died, err, suddenly, rather than if he had a time to prepare a successor.
Ah, we tried to arrange that on a number of occasions.
You can thank Ford for putting a stop to that. Carter and Reagan reiterated it with executive orders.
Post by: Scout26 on September 08, 2008, 11:50:49 AM
Post by: Lennyjoe on September 08, 2008, 11:54:02 AM
Would rather have my tax dollars go elsewhere instead.
Post by: RevDisk on September 08, 2008, 12:22:43 PM
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Did you think it'd be like Star Wars when Fidel died?
Perhaps it'd be different if one of those guys died, err, suddenly, rather than if he had a time to prepare a successor.
Our CIA is significantly less adept than pictured in movies. Failure, not success, is the norm in assassination attempts for them. You'd be better off sending the IRS after Fidel or Raoul.
Assassination of heads of state is specifically illegal now in the US. If we stopped killing 18 year olds, many of whom were conscripted, and start actually killing those responsible, it may heighten the risk to our own politicians. Gods know, our politicians can't have that.
Post by: MicroBalrog on November 03, 2008, 10:45:54 AM
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Our CIA is significantly less adept than pictured in movies.
I didn't mean the CIA.
I meant the Air Force.
Post by: Manedwolf on November 03, 2008, 10:49:50 AM
I didn't mean the CIA.
I meant the Air Force.
What's with you and digging up long-dead threads lately? Look at the last posting date. ;)