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Caribbean-Latin America
Castros welcome Obama to Cuba with a slap in the face
2016-03-22
[Wash Post] President Obama went sightseeing in Old Havana, savoring the adulation of pro-regime crowds welcoming him on streets that had been whitewashed for his visit. But a few hours before his arrival, the true nature of the dictatorship he is embracing reared its ugly head, as hundreds of uniformed security personnel attacked and arrested peaceful protesters leaving Palm Sunday Mass.

A group of dissidents known as the Little Sisters of the Poor Ladies in White was met outside Havana’s Santa Rita church by an organized crowd of Castro loyalists shouting insults and revolutionary slogans. Then, The Post reports, Castro’s secret police pounced on the women and "half-dragged, half-carried them to waiting buses," while men marching with the women "were chased, thrown to the curb and handcuffed." As they were arrested, the crowd chanted "This is Fidel’s street!"

This was a slap in the face to President Obama -- a display intended to send a clear message that, despite his normalization of relations, nothing has changed in Cuba.
Take THAT! You jankee communist wanna-bees !
How little respect do the Castro brothers have for Obama? This month, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes met in Miami with Carlos Amel Oliva, head of the youth wing of a major dissident organization on the island. When Oliva returned to Cuba, he was detained by the regime for "antisocial behavior." His was just one of 526 political detentions in the first two weeks of March leading up to Obama’s trip.
But meeting with a member of the Obama regime actually is "antisocial behavior."
Obama had promised not to visit Cuba under such conditions. In 2014, Obama said he would visit Cuba only if "I with confidence can say that we’re seeing some progress in the liberty and freedom," adding: "If we’re going backwards, then there’s not much reason for me to be there. I’m not interested in just validating the status quo."
Posted by:Besoeker

#13  Castro slapped the US in the face. Zero eas just the facilitator of the event.
Posted by: Unelet Protector of the Sith2424   2016-03-22 13:20  

#12  The demonstrations would have embarrassed Obama. Castro is just being a good host.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2016-03-22 12:17  

#11  I suppose the surprise meter would have been a good choice too...
Posted by: james   2016-03-22 10:48  

#10  Mootch won't let them happen near their vegetable garden on the South Lawn, though.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2016-03-22 10:33  

#9  Potensieel.....
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2016-03-22 10:24  

#8  Every tenant of his actual belief system will come to the fore.

Michelin neckties in the Rose Garden ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-03-22 10:01  

#7  I expect no end to O's shenanigans in the last year of his presidency. Nothing to hide now.

Every tenant of his actual belief system will come to the fore. You'll see who we actually voted for (well 'collectively' anyway).
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2016-03-22 09:58  

#6  Sounds like a good and appropriate place for his Presidential Library.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-03-22 09:32  

#5  "I see nothing wrong here," he giggled.
Posted by: Elmart Lumplump8470   2016-03-22 09:16  

#4  Obama's major accomplishments (lifting sanctions for Cuba and Iran) were never promised in his campaigning. And were conveniently made during his second term.
Posted by: airandee   2016-03-22 08:45  

#3  "Castros welcome Obama to Cuba with a slap in the face" - and all parties enjoyed it.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy   2016-03-22 08:07  

#2  It's no slap in the face; Obama is in Cuba to get lessons on governing & this was just a little demonstration.
Posted by: Glenmore   2016-03-22 08:00  

#1  Obama had promised...

All this turds promises come with expiration dates...some longer than others. This one was about 24 seconds.
Posted by: AlanC   2016-03-22 07:42  

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