Odds and ends
- Last weekend, Brazil’s president talked with President Obama and said afterwards, “What I told President Obama, and I have hope that it will happen, is that it is necessary for there to be a rapprochement with Venezuela, a rapprochement with Cuba, a rapprochement with Bolivia.” AFP Spanish coverage here.
- Cuba eliminated Mexico with a 7-4 win and faces the loser of tonight’s Japan-Korea game on Thursday night.
- El Nuevo Herald reports that a Cuban television technician left the team and is now in Miami.
- When Cuba ended support for communist guerillas in the 1990’s, the most cited cause was the loss of Soviet support. But another change occurred in those guerrilla movements – some turned to electoral politics, most notably El Salvador’s FMLN, which won the presidency on Sunday.
what has Lula been smoking?
ReplyDeleteIt is not just Lula who puts the re-approachment with Cuba, Venezuela, et. al at the top of their lists for Washington. Look at the Caricom meeting a month or too ago. Cuba was the main issue there. Look at the UN votes. Look at the multitude of US think tank reports. Even the South American Defense Ministers made news by stressing the Cuba embargo in their meetings. Those in the States may not understand the brotherhood and solidarity that is emerging in the region. An injury to one is an injury to all. The region wants to see a new approach and nothing would symbolize a change of approach than revising these mean spirited, Cold War policies.
ReplyDeleteLeftside is not being ideological here, just stating the facts.
ReplyDeletefor the Latins, Cuba represents a cheap diversionary tactic so they don't have to explain to their own peoples their own failures to bring prosperity and hope to their countries.
ReplyDeleteLeftside:
ReplyDeleteFair Enough.
Oh, what have Lula and CARICOM told Cuba? Have you gotten the quotes on that? I'm just wondering how harsh and/or direct Lula was when pressing Raul to release all political prisoners and allow the formation of political parties and the exercise of a free national election. He must have REALLY laid into Raul on that one.
Lula understands that you make progress in sensitive areas, not by making public speeches about the internal politics of another country, but by sitting down and talking in private. I am also sure that Lula understands the situation with political prisoners and elections is not as black and white as folks in Miami like to think. Lula knows the Bush Administration worked closely with those locked up 6 years ago. He also knows more people go to the polls for elections in Cuba than in Brazil, despite the fact that it is mandatory in Brazil.
ReplyDeleteBS. Lula and the others couldn't give a rat's a-- about conditions in Cuba. It's purely a domestic issue for these countries to placate their rabid misguided Left.
ReplyDeleteleftside:
ReplyDeleteYou've never been to Cuba have you. . . LOL
I have been to Cuba, and just as importantly, I have been to other Latin and Caribbean countries, to compare.
ReplyDeleteLula has deep warm feelings for Cuba and Fidel. It is not just a "domestic issue" for him and the PT. Many of his cadres were given a helping hand by Cuba when the rest of South America was under the yoke of murderous US supported dictatorships.
Right, so then a murderous non-U.S. supported dictatorship is infinitely better. Yeah leftside, I get it. We're a bunch of brain dead brown-skins who need to have the food literally shoved into our mouthes, lest we starve.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is - extremism is always a dangerous thing - be it left wing or right wing - makes no difference.
Lula, in his support for Fidel - much like so many other leaders - is a hypocrite. It's just that simple.
Lula, in his support for Fidel - much like so many other leaders - is a hypocrite. It's just that simple.
ReplyDeleteIf only I was able to see the world in such simple absolutes. Things would be much easier.