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| Caribbean-Latin America | ||||||
| Cuba, on war footing, gears up for huge anti-US seething | ||||||
| 2004-05-12 | ||||||
HAVANA : Cuba's communist government called a mass protest against the United States, and increasingly is putting the population on a war footing amid new US moves aimed at speeding the end of President Fidel Castro's rule. Friday's protest will take place along Havana's famous Malecon waterfront boulevard, where the US Interests Section section is located, said the Communist Party's official newspaper, Granma. Last week, US President George W. Bush endorsed measures to tighten the US embargo against Cuba by restricting Cuban-Americans' cash remittances to relatives on the island and limiting family visits between the United States and Cuba to one every three years. The remittances are a pillar of the Cuban economy worth some 1.2 billion dollars a year.
The plan also involves the use of US military aircraft to broadcast pro-democracy radio and television programs into Cuba. The United States has had a comprehensive economic embargo clamped on Cuba since 1962. Cuban dissidents have harshly criticized the new measures.
Elizardo Sanchez Santacruz, who leads the National Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, called them "counter-productive." Meanwhile, the Cuban government -- which long has contended the United States could invade, but stepped up warnings of the potential for a US military move after the US-led invasion of Iraq -- is readying Cubans for the possibility of war.
"The fundamental work is to continue perfecting the tactics, the techniques, the methods and the principles of The island of 11.2 million people, which is larger than Portugal (roughly the size of the US state of Virginia) put in place plans for the evacuation of children and the elderly and created 1,400 Defense Zones with militia brigades comprised of people unable to join regular forces. Militias are armed with small anti-aircraft rocket launchers, while fields have been littered with landmines, which the government calls "the weapon of the poor."
Cuban authorities say their strategy is to involve the enemy in a long conflict, "an inferno worse than Vietnam."
Cuba has also countered the United States' tougher economic sanctions by imposing tough new austerity measures on its people, including a sharp reduction in sales at stores that accept dollars and a push for greater self-sufficiency. "Days of work and sacrifice await us, but so do glory and victory for our heroic fatherland," the communist government said Monday.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #38 I'd like to see you someplace where GWB is talking and yell that out and see how free you are to do so - like you wouldn't get jumped on by about 700 security goofs, huh? The USA is a country that has the greatest written constitution - by the people for the people! Yet the majority of you have absolutely no understanding or appreciation of it. You allow a bunch of money hungry zealots lead you, like lemmings, from one war to another. Naturaly their bank managers love them and it's not their kids getting shot at. And now, despite the protection offered yopu by your own constitution, you've allowed an uneducated, alcoholic, whoes never been able to hold down a job become the mouthpiece of your system's abusers and should you dare to voice an alternative opinion you can - each one of you, without question - be detained without charge or right of redress indefinitely. And that's the freedom you try to now force on the rest of the world! Only Yankies bleed.... Good one! |
| Posted by: yorgos 2004-05-14 4:09:53 AM |
| #37 AP, I'm having a rethink. I like the general thrust of the fatwa. Maybe it was the reference to Sebastopol that set me off. That's real close to Marin County. Makes me think of hot tubbing liberal (valueless modern not classical kind) idiots and John Walker Lindh. Is this an interactive process? Are the faithful allowed to comment on the quality of the fatwa, or do we just take what gets handed to us? |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-05-12 10:52:59 PM |
| #36 Sgt. Mom: Give 'em hell! :-p Trolls: FOAD. If you're going to waste Fred's bandwidth, the least you can do is hit his tipjar. And not for 50 cents, either; fork up some real money. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-12 10:43:24 PM |
| #35 Yorgo, Cuba didn't choose to reject "multinational capitalism" and that's because the people of Cuba, living as they do in a dictatorship, aren't actually allowed to choose anything. What you mean is that CASTRO chose those things you like, and the Cuban people were at one time foolish enough to believe him and give him the power which he will hold onto until the day he dies -- and woe unto him who chooses to disagree with him. I'm allowed to go to the USA and shout out "Bush is a fascist and a fucking moron". Do you think similar sentiments regarding Fidel are likely to be allowed to be shouted out in Cuba? |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2004-05-12 10:37:10 PM |
| #34 Hey yogy and douche I feel your pain.Wait for it here comes the tear,idiots. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2004-05-12 10:37:10 PM |
| #33 ...chooses to reject multi-national capitalism. LMAO! That's the funniest thing I read all day. "Hey Jose, we need your expertise in our company. It's a good position with a competitive salary. You'll have enough money to send all your kids to college." "Naaaah. Today I have chosen to reject multi-national capitalism. Maybe tomorrow." |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-05-12 10:25:28 PM |
| #32 yorgos - eat me. Move on, nothing to see here |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-12 10:12:37 PM |
| #31 15 million homeless and living below the poverty line is 15 million homeless and living below the poverty line - they are people not percentages! 99% of the populaton of cuba live in poverty? Let's get real here - it's all relative - if 99% live in poverty the reality is that 99% is the accepted norm. You're comparing oranges with apples. The inability of, what appears to the rest of the world to be, the majority of US citizens to see that everyone on this planet has feelings (when they get stomped on it hurts them just as much as it hurts an American who gets stomped on) and deserves to live a life of their own choosing even if that is a life based on spiritual principles rather than materialistic greed - is the major cause todays woes. Rather than build a house your government would prefer to develop depleted uranium missiles with which to blow one up. Stange that there appears to be no money to build homes and feed the needy but an endless supply of funds to blow the crap out of people whose only crime is to live in a country that chooses to reject multi-national capitalism. Go figure.. |
| Posted by: yorgos 2004-05-12 10:06:49 PM |
| #30 I don't know AP... Too many WHEREASes, not enough fire and brimstone, (or Death to Infidels or whatever riled up Islamofundos wail about). Put yourself in Tater's shoes. How would he express it? |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-05-12 9:46:50 PM |
| #29 WHEREAS the troll situation at Rantburg as of late has amounted to a few emaciated bottom feeders WHEREAS even the sink trap for the the last three days has caught less trolls than manatees that exist today in Wales, Alaska AND WHEREAS many Rantburgers hunger for the mouth watering and lip smacking satisfaction derived from hammering trolls like a bored cat plays with a mouse, then THEREFORE let a new troll named OGROY arise from the slimy depths of By the powers invested in my by the Great Poobah of Sebastopol and by various passages of the Satanic Verses as well as the hardware section of an old and venerated Sears Catalogue, I set my hand and seal this 13th day of May, 2004 AD (that'll get em poppin') 0056 GMT. How's that? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Nome 2004-05-12 8:59:25 PM |
| #28 "If you Yanks want a REAL Viet Nam, try to take Cuba." >your joking, right? And if we wanted a close to home replay of France in 1940 bending over in 20 min's we'd just roll north ay? "I am a proud Canadian and have been to Cuba on many occasions (my country lets me travel wherever I want)" >and if it wasn't for us you'd prolly be a proud Soviet right now Douche, er, I mean Duke. On second thought, I was right the first time - you are a douche - one syllable I know......how poetic. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-05-12 8:50:35 PM |
| #27 "Don't feed the trolls" - "you'll never win an argument with an idiot" words to live by, even though I've transgressed at times too.... I see the pressure more as trying to pry Chavez's lips from Fidel's ass. Make Fidel worry about home control, and he's less likely to notice our efforts at bringing democracy to Venezuela - after all, Cuba's got no oil... heh heh |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-12 8:05:39 PM |
| #26 I'd be sure to rely on the CIA for factual information. I doubt that the US has anywhere close to a 97% literacy rate. If it does, it only applies to one syllable words, like the ones that dickweed president of your uses (or, more aptly, misuses). Duke |
| Posted by: duke 2004-05-12 8:00:47 PM |
| #25 So, Duke, lemme see if I understand your position. You are basically saying that "a boot stamping on a human face--for ever" is OK by you as long as the face has a government-provided dental plan? |
| Posted by: Darth VAda 2004-05-12 7:59:36 PM |
| #24 Is it my imagination, or has the short-bus been making more than its usual stops at Rantburg? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-05-12 7:35:32 PM |
| #23 Yorgo, indeed? WTF kind of troll is that? Why don't we get any truly good trolls to play with? The only ones with persistence are insane--quite possibly of the criminal variety. Murat used to put up a good fight, but even he has lost his spirit. Alaska Paul: Can you issue a fatwa and summon us up a better class of trolls? |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-05-12 7:20:59 PM |
| #22 Amen Mike! How many Americans defected to Cuba over the past 50 odd years? That’s all the truth you need to know! Oh and Duke how many former Canadians now make their home in the USA? A lot more than the other way around! |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-05-12 7:09:54 PM |
| #21 my country lets me travel wherever I want Your country also bends you over on a regular basis while you beg for more (but hopefully this will change in June). Duke, from one Canadian to another: go f*ck yourself. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-05-12 7:04:09 PM |
| #20 I know we could steam roll them in a few days LOL. Nope. Just sit back and wait. The beard got about 5 yrs left. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-05-12 6:55:15 PM |
| #19 Torgo didn't have funny legs; he had big knees. Much more frightening. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-05-12 6:52:18 PM |
| #18 Its kind of nostaligic to deal with the communists again. Harkens back to a simpler, safer time. |
| Posted by: Jake 2004-05-12 6:44:13 PM |
| #17 Duke: Yes, Cuba is so much better than everywhere else that people build makeshift rafts in Florida and row themselves across the straits just to get there. [/sarcasam] Sgt. Mom: You're deadly. Remind me to stay on your good side. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-05-12 6:30:40 PM |
| #16 Isn't Yorgo that guy with the funny legs in "Manos, The Hands of Fate"? That was Torgo, the world's worst sidekick. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-05-12 6:22:29 PM |
| #15 Uh, comments by space aliens and Canadians aside, from what I gather Castro is a pussy cat compared to Raul, the man who WILL definately take over Cuba once his brother dies. Expect a crack down on.... is there anything left to crack down on in Cuba? |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2004-05-12 5:58:26 PM |
| #14 We'd much rather invade Canada. All those precious ice wells just for the taking, so us southern imperialists can cool our mint julips. Run along sonny and lick something cold and metallic. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-12 5:52:14 PM |
| #13 Actually the US infant mortality rate is 6.75 per 1000 live births versus 7.15 for Cuba. And this is assuming that Cuba isn't lying about their rates like every other known totalitarian state. Also, the US, Canada, and Cuba all have 97% literacy rates (making the same assumption as above). Source for the above: CIA World Factbook. BTW, we in the US don't have to sing and dance in the streets because we have _homes_ to entertain ourselves in. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2004-05-12 5:44:48 PM |
| #12 How nice for you, Duke, sweetie--- your parents must be very proud. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2004-05-12 5:33:44 PM |
| #11 For your information, Cuba has a higher literacy rate than any other counrty in the western hemisphere as well as the lowest infant mortality rate in the same area. They have the best trained doctors in the world. Nobody goes hungry, everybody has decent clothes to wear and, in spite of the vile US embargo, the Cuban people are frequently seen smiling and singing in the streets. If you Yanks want a REAL Viet Nam, try to take Cuba. I am a proud Canadian and have been to Cuba on many occasions (my country lets me travel wherever I want). |
| Posted by: duke 2004-05-12 5:13:35 PM |
| #10 Cuba, Cuba... isn't that one of those dinky Carribbean island mini-nations, like Haiti and Puerto Rico, with a perennially broken economy only kept up by all the ex-pats sending money home? Still run by that doofus with the raggedy beard and old green set of fatigues...damn, he's still around? Well, the ol' dance card is pretty full right now, I kinda think the cunning plan is to let it collapse of its' own accord. But you can always re-submit your request next quarter, maybe we'll get around it it sooner. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2004-05-12 4:24:28 PM |
| #9 Yorgo: Let me explain this thing called percentages to you. In the US, less than 1% (according to your own numbers) live in poverty. In Cuba 99% live in poverty. Which is a good deal for Castro, but not so good for the other eleven million or so. I know I'm feeding the troll, but I couldn't resist. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2004-05-12 4:19:09 PM |
| #8 whoa yorgo - there's a strectch did you see black helicopters abover your house last night? do you stay up long nights serching the sky for the appoarching 12th planet? |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-05-12 4:11:47 PM |
| #7 Isn't Yorgo that guy with the funny legs in "Manos, The Hands of Fate"? I saw that on MST3K once. |
| Posted by: Cthulhu Akbar 2004-05-12 4:09:00 PM |
| #6 Don't know. But I think GODZIRRA!!! kicked his ass once. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-05-12 4:07:36 PM |
| #5 Yorgo..... Is that an earthling name? |
| Posted by: Wuzzalib 2004-05-12 4:03:33 PM |
| #4 Funny thing is that there is more poverty and homelessness in the USA (over 15 million people are homeless or survive below the poverty line) than the entire populaton of Cuba (under 12 million people) - why not just invade New York? Time will prove that it was your own money hungry , capitalistic multi-nationals who enticed a bunch of un-educated, nomadic tent dwellers to carry out their insurace scam and bomb the city with guided planes. |
| Posted by: Yorgo 2004-05-12 4:01:28 PM |
| #3 This is right out of Tinhorn 101. When your country's gone to shit, look to the Great Satan. If it wasn't for them, everything would be great here, right, El Jefe? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-05-12 3:44:04 PM |
| #2 No way we should invade Cuba. It's too good of an example of the wonders of Communism for the rest of the Western hemisphere. "See? You too can live in a poverty-stricken police state run by a multi-millionaire who wears 1950s combat fatigues." |
| Posted by: Patrick Phillips 2004-05-12 3:36:04 PM |
| #1 I don't know allot about Cuba. I know we could steam roll them in a few days but what do you think the average people would do? Would they resist, welcome, or make a mass exodus to Florida? Any ideas out there what would happen if we went in? I don't think we will - Castro will die in the near future. What do you think will happen after that? I'm think his bro Raul will take over and try to prove he's a bad ass. Any ideas about this scenario too? |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2004-05-12 3:33:10 PM |