Americas News
Raul Castro offers 'olive branch' to US, but only after Bush
Jul 26, 2007, 21:27 GMT
Havana - Interim Cuban President Raul Castro on Thursday again offered an 'olive branch' to the United States, but said no dialogue would be possible with Washington until after US President George W Bush leaves office.
The November 2008 US presidential elections will bring Bush's 'erratic and dangerous' administration to an end, Castro said in a speech to mark the 54th anniversary of Fidel Castro's first attempt to topple Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship.
One of the most noted aspects of the celebrations was the absence of Raul Castro's ailing brother, President Fidel Castro.
'The new (US) administration will have to decide if it wants to keep the absurd, illegal and failed policy against Cuba or whether it accepts the olive branch that we offered' on December 2, Raul Castro said, referring to statements made in a speech last year.
'If the new US authorities finally step aside from their arrogance and decide to talk in a civilized manner, they're welcome,' he said.
'If not, we are ready to keep confronting their hostility policy even for 50 years more,' the defence minister said, adding that Cuba 'substantially increased' its 'defensive capacities' in the past year.
Fidel Castro was last seen in public exactly a year ago. Five days later, he temporarily delegated power to his brother, Raul, while recovering from a surgery apparently due to intestinal bleeding.
Raul Castro issued assurances Thursday about his brother's health, but did not set a date for an eventual comeback of the man who governed Cuba for almost half a century.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Wow, another 50 years without Cuba...Who cares about that. I know I don't. Besides, Who in their right mind wants relations with a country thats has close relations with Chavez. Cuba Who??? Cuba Gooding on the the other hand is an awesome actor..lol
Relations with Cuba can, I hope, lead to economic improvements for their country as well as our own.
The Cuban people have proven to be industrious and inventive manufacturing parts for their out dated U.S. automobiles and surviving the financial embargo placed upon them many years ago.
U.S. interests, in the private sector, that existed there in the past can possibly be renewed and a new focal point in American tourism will blossom.
I'm sure, this Island nation and neighbor of the U.S. has alot to offer us in trade and in industrial purchases food purchases and in retail merchandise for the Cuban consumer they will, in all likelyhood make with out country.
It's about time the hand of peace is extended to Cuba and our government buried the hatchet. It's been long enough and it's just not the American way. We have done more for others, thousands of miles away from us than we have ever done for Cuba. End this now and let our Cuban American Citizens once again enjoy the pleasures of visiting their homeland and seeing their relatives and loved ones again.
I'm sure some with disagree with me but it's how I feel. It's time to let the past go and move on to better things, after Bush is out of office.
Nobody with an IQ over 70 wants to be involved in any way with Bush.
Who really cares anyway? Cuba and it's ailments have no effect on the average American's everyday lifestyle and who wants to be friends with a corrupt Socialist regime anyway? In my opinion, the only good things coming from Cuba are hard-working citizens and cigars. Their government will probably not change for the better any time soon.
Yeah those Liberals! The Christians got it right. They just need to add a few new Bush chapters to their bibles on bullying people, being judgemental of others, finding ways to demonize as many people as possible so you can feel good about waging wars on anyone who doesn't bend and cower to your bullying and then celebrate the missions accomplished in blissful ignorance.
More like Cuba got it right. The world will sigh in relief when the Repubilcans are banished from the political stage for two or three decades in disgrace
ridiculous. are there any reasons why over a million Cuban citizens have left Cuba? Fidel Castro is a dictator. Period. Life in Cuba is horrid for most people. They have few civil liberties. He will only talk to the US after Bush? Please. So another communist dictator wont talk to our president? Wow, Bush must be horrible. We must need Clinton in there for negotiations to begin. What does that say about democrats? Maybe Bush will start talking to Cuba if Castro starts treating his citizens better.
Well said Lou C. I completely agree with you. Although there is a big part of me that wishes for socialism to survive in Cuba. Relations with the US will inevitably bring privatization to Cuba but I hope that the values and standards, of equality across the board, of socialism survive privatization. Something that unfortunately did not survive in China and has possibly never even existed in the US.
I was in Cuba several times in the late '80s as a member of an approved scientific delegation reviewing their work in some areas of biotechnology. They actually have a rather sophisticated biotechnology infrastructure, although it does not get reported in this country. As an American who remembers the '60s all too well, I wasn't sure what to expect the first time visiting there. What I found was that virtually every, and I mean every, country in the world with the exception of the US has a presence there. That includes Canada, Mexico and European countries. That raises the question of who is isolated-them or us. We have relations with China, the socialist republics of Scandanavia, and other such countries around the world. Saying that doesn't make me a socialist. I don't agree with or want socialism, but that doesn't mean that I won't talk to them. It's all politics and not very well thought out (I'd say stupid politics, but that would be redundant). I think that the US is completely isolated in its posture, that the causes for the embargo are long past and that we ought to get over it and move on.
If the international oil economy were to collapse, which could happen for various reasons (peak oil, war / terrorism, climate change), Cuba would be much better able than us to continue feeding people.
I don't associate this with the fact that Cuba is 'communist.' Rather, the isolationism that has been forced on them means that they have not become as dependent on the resources of other countries as we have. While we have been indulging in various luxuries like eating rainforest berries and driving huge vehicles, we have created for ourselves a very fragile system without much in the way of sustainability, long term planning, or self-corrective mechanisms.
I am not advocating communist dictatorships, so please keep your knee-jerk patriotic reactions to a minimum. I am just saying that countries that have avoided the pitfalls of U.S. 'free trade' economics have a potential to survive as a society that we have lost. There is much that we have lost, or had taken from us in the United States, and sometimes it is important to consider what we could have bought with our riches, and what we chose instead.
I think it's fair to say that we know that Communism is no threat anymore. All the reasons for which we placed the embargo on them are basically moot in this day and age.
Anybody who says that lifting the embargo would be pointless or harmful is obviously ignorant. This is the modern world, and we should be trying to strengthen ties with our neighbors. The Cuban revolution was more than 50 years ago, it's time to move on.
I think Raul is waiting for Fidel to die so he can move to San Francisco
ou West Hollywood and be happy forever.
I totally agree with you 'Smart Guy'... so funnny, too! and true...haha
Other than driving down prices and providing for easy access to Cuban cigars, I don't see the advantage of doing business with such a country. Let them enact some reforms then we'll talk.
It has not worked in it's 50 years of existence, and even new refugees from Cuba admit not only is it a failed policy, but it hurts the very people we are trying to help. We are just giving wings to Fidel's propaganda: by saying: See the U.S. wants to starve you to make supposedly make you free', we are only hurting the common everyday Cuban people and not Fidel, Raul or the rest of the ruling class.
Lou C.: if that many Cubans want to return to their homeland they should have never left in the first place and I'd be happy to pay for them to sail back.
loucsadversary: You sound pretty ignorant. These people moved to the US to get a better life, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't like to go back to cuba for a visit, even if they are happy in the US.
This message goes out to ALL MANkind. Those of the Human species who inhabit this earth who 'claim' to be CHRISTians or CHRISTLIKE, may find this very offensive. To the rest of the Human species, i expect You will find the TRUTH in which i speak, (i didn't capitalize i because EGO is MOST HIGH LIVING GOD.) i am only one aspect of that TRUE EGO.
Cuba is a POPULATION of Humans. my FATHER who IS, has sent me to 'MAKE CLEAR MY PATHS FOR ALL MAN.' Part of my MISSION is to expose the lying holy Roman LIARS. Much of this work has already been accomplished by others. Cuba is in the area of your so called 'garden of Eden'. You were LIED to by the Roman Empire and since Constintine's rule, as well as every Ceaser since, and including our present Ceaser.
America is, and has always been My HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE! However according to my FATHER'S WILL, i was blinded again and brought to a FAITHful SERVant. i was shown the error of MY EGO (this includes YOUr's). i've removed my planks and now i will ask you if you would like help in removing your specks. If you wish to not recieve the help sent to you, it is 100% totally fine. The modern 'snail' mail system is wonderful and the most is OUR GREAT ROMAN LIBRARY!! With these tools, my FATHER who's name is CHRIST, has very little resistance from the 'scribes' and 'pharises'. Spellcheck, is one thing i've not mastered, and this English language is known by most on the Earth, but is not very easy to make 'perfect'. I (ego) am an AMERICAN to the CORE. I love Rome!! i also enjoy rome as my home. I and i believe that 'We the People of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a 'MORE' 'PERFECT' UNion' should do just that. my FATHER CHRIST has sent me and with his LIVING VOICE, gives me the RIGHTOUS PLANS to allow HIS KINGDOM to ARRIVE. HE also gives me the RIGHTOUS PLANS to 'lock up' mammon/anti-christ, for 1,000yrs. In addition, as before, when i am INSPIRED i do write HOLY SCRIPTURE. Also, the 'holy' roman church has edited and Greatly Removed Necessary 'SCRIPTURE'. i didn't write them to be followed always literally. Hello???? AnyONE with ears had BETTER listen up!
CHRIST Always spoke in what in front of the crowds? Come on! Do you remember the parable of the sower who went out to sow his seeds?
Some of us inquired of THE MASTER why HE always spoke in riddles and fables or parables. His answers? Why don't you read it for YOUrselves. While you are at it, look up the part of HOLY INSPIRED SCRIPTURE that has the designation of Proverbs 8:22. In fact, just read the whole actual book. This is the KEY that has been intentfully removed from the public perception. This is TRUTH. Without this KEY, You will NOT be able to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the SCRIPTURES.
Here is the MOST HIGH LIVING GOD (MHLG/YHVH) and the TRUE TRINITY.
Read:
Genesis 1:1
Proverbs 8:22
John 1:1
You have been LIED to and Purposly MISLED for 1,600 years (depending on calendar). The Greek word for WISDOM is SOPHIA. The Greek word for Experience Knowledge (Experiencial Knowledge), is GNOSIS. So you can know something by reading it or being told it or even observing it. Think of riding a bike or rollerskating. You know about it and may even think you know how to. Without EXPERIENCE, you have not GNOSIS. Without gnosis, you CANNOT have WISDOM. Do what SHE (SOPHIA) tells you to do. Forget EVERYTHING else you have ever, EVER, learned. You believe only what they allowed you to know about. Seek WISDOM/SOPHIA with ALL your being, and BEFORE anything else. Drop what you are doing right now and for ever. The rich man asked CHRIST how he could get into the KINGDOM. How did my FATHER answer the servant of MAMMON?
The time is short. i cannot give you the EXACT date, for i know not. Not even FATHERCHRIST, but only LGMH/YHVH knows. CHRIST sent me into this body on the 50th day to inhabit for this time. It TRULY Does NOT matter if you are ready, or if you do anything but WORSHIP and SERVE MASTER MAMMON. The BRIDE IS. THE GROOM only awaits the TRUMPET. The LANTERNS are FILLED. You who are ASLEEP, WILL/will ENTER the 'TRIBULATION' of the PUREIFICATION OF FIRE. YOUr own FREEWILL is YOUrs to enjoy in whatever you wish. Create as much EVIL as you can conjure. MHLG SAYS 'I/IS/EGO WILL POUR OUT FIRE DESTROY LIFE RESET BALANCE REST'. my FATHER IS as well as HIS FATHER IS. my MOTHER iS like i iS. HAlf/BREed. i 'sin', she once 'sinned'. GNOSTIC/GNOSIS.
Cuba is not the battle. Our BATTLE is NOT flesh and blood. Our's is Quantium.
CHIEF of TRIBE OF WHITE LION
Paul
To: George Milton'
What typical socialist rubbish. Why do all of you embrace conscienceless despot murderers such as Fidel? Thanks to globalism by both Clinton and Bush our food, which used to be the safest in the world is not safe anymore. No more Presidents named Bush or Clinton. After 22 yrs. America is 50% Socialist, and 50% Conservative. You are just another Streisand, Michael Moore Ward Churchill Sharpton etc American hater.
Glad to see some real changes will be happening too bad we have to wait for Bush to leave. Maybe they can teach us how to provide free healthcare for out people.
I have worked in Cuba on and off for the past 4 years, you can't find more friendlier people than the Cubans.All they want is just a bit more which they are finally getting, some of you people have no idea what you are talking about, you should go and live and work with these people and then add your comments.
cuba .a good place for bush to retire
CHRIST COMMANDED us to have SELF-LESS COMPASSION to EVERYONE. The CENTRAL doctrine of the Church of Satan is 'SELFISHNESS' that's SELF-ISH-NESS.
The VERY churches Peter and i established worked on a different system. Read ACTS and ROMANS 1-5.
You will then see that the NATIVE AMERICANS and especially the HOPI have been LIVING the CORRECT and CHRIST way.
Rome NEVER fell. Read theirstory/history. my beloved Rome decided to finish our MISSION, we needed to DIVIDE our Empire into 2. West and East. We changed the name ONLY of our GRAND EAST EMPIRE and then tricked the people that we collapsed. From that time on we DISGUISED ourselves and basically 'hit the refresh/reset button. CHRIST WON our war. So we decided to 'mimic' LGMH and destroy the earth, flood the entire planet with lies and then force worship of the BEAST/MAMMON. This all happened after we all had exited the Quantium Universe.
CHRIST has SENT me to GATHER the TRUE FLOCK (BIRDS) from the false flock (sheep). The KINGDOM OF CHRIST IS now. Anti-christ is alive and walking the Earth.
CHRIST has GIVEN me CHIEF of the TRIBE OF THE WHITE LION which will 'LAY NEXT TO THE LAMB' In my role of CHIEF, i/I will reveal my ETERNAL NAME. The TRIBE OF THE WHITE LION carries the TRUE CROSS, alliances with HOLY LAND OF FOUR CORNERS, and I carry MY own religion. This TRUE religion IS, and has been DIRECTED BY -1,0,+1 YHVH/GLHM/HTMW/TCAS.
The PROOF is in MOTION and REST.
Paul, CHIEF METATRON
Aside from 'defecting beisbolplayers' - what 'good' ever came from CUBA besides a couple of scenes from the GODFATHER MOVIES??? Two old 'freakin' commies who made themselves 'SUPER-RICH' while the CUBANO MASSES suffered definitely leads to 'la revolucion' or as RAUL hablas:'...a greater restructuring' Ha!!! BRING BACK FULGENCIO AT LEAST THE 'CASINOS' WERE CLEAN AND THE PUTAS HAD FREE MEDICO!!!
Smart Man Jul 26th, 2007 - 22:12:02
'Nobody with an IQ over 70 wants to be involved in any way with Bush.'
Great post and I couldn't agree more.
Don't you think that there's a reason why Fidel, his brother, or any other DICTATOR for that matter, won't talk to President Bush?! The fact that they will talk to politicians like Clinton is not a good thing! I don't believe that the U.S. should have to 'beg' for peace from countries such as Cuba. I do wish that there was a way for our Cuban Americans to see their families, but there is a reason why those Americans who came here from Cuba came here in the first place. What I am going to continue to do is pray for countries like Cuba. We have to keep America's best interest in mind, and I do not believe in 'lowering our standards' so-to-speak, and work with any sort of dictator. That's against what America stands for!
scumbag dictators won't talk to bush. The only people who will have anything to do with him are greedy losers who wouldn't lift a finger to help make the USA a better place for it's legal citizens. To me, bush is an uneducated sleaze-ball with a terrible case of paranoia.
No business, in their right mind, would ever invest in Cuba. It's way too risky. Look at Venezuela, and Chavez socializing the companies down there. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying it's bad for business risk. Nothing will change in our relationship with Cuba, until socialism falls, full stop. And, how somebody can champion socialism, like the comments above, are people living in complete denial about what the realities of socialism truly are. It's depriving, it's ultra-conformity, and it's anti-individualistic. Its a dead concept, much like capitalism is. And nobody cares enough anymore to invent new political concepts.
Bush is just a great big jerk.
Allow me to correct a few popular myths about Cuba;first the poreverty there is attributed to Castro according our american friends,right ?
THen what about Honduras,Guatemala,Panama?Haiti,Santo Domingo ,etc,etc,all nice capitalist countries wiyhout much critcism from the White House .All of these countries are far worse of than Cuba as far as the standard of living is concerned,as well as education,heakth care ,etc.Do you guys at least know that Cuba has perhaps the lowest illiteracy rate of the world ?Probably not ,too busy swallowing the usual spin from your own media ?So the Cubans are massively fleeing the brutal dictaor Fidel Castro ?Let me guess,the people from El Salvador,Guatemala,Honduras trying to enter the USA looking for a better life are also trying to evade Castro then ,right ?
Wouldn' t you think that the bulk of them are just trying to escape poverty ?Many people from Europe take holidays in Cuba ,noce hotels in Varadero and a few other places .The cuban people seem to be very nice ,friendly ,and in the majority rather supportive of Castro .
How are the excellent education figures and health care in Cuba explained by those claiming Castro is just a rude tyrant,as coincidence perhaps ?
As somebody else already mentioned here,great care is given to educate people on academical levels in Cuba.Indeed their contrubutions to the pharmaceutical preogress is notorious alover the world ,many american companies would love to colaborate with the cuban scientific community in developing medication .Are these high standards of scientific research just another coincidence of the cuban reality,perhaps a freak accident of nature or is this the result of a skilled policy of development of human resources .Just a few objections I wanted to make towards the usual cuba bashers to chew on.Have fun trying to distort reality explaining all this .Good luck.
El Jeffeh' a there iise a gringo heere to seeh youh...
Raul: Whoo iise he, Juan?
Juan: Hee sahys hee iise from Statos Unatos el jeffeh... hee's nahme iise
Santos de Bruklar!
Raul: Ohhhh si! Show heem iin Juan!
Berger: Que Pasa, El Jeffe', long time no see sir!
Raul: Hoow's myh gringo friend beeen?!
Sandy: Good sir! Very busy collecting...er....archived documents sir!
Raul: I read that...no...jailh timeh either! You are thee sheeit man!
Sandy: oh..thank you sir...it was nothing...did it all the time back in 98'! Sir, I'm here to start the...er...planing process...ah...for the future sir...
Raul: ...and...did you bring...?
Sandy:...uh....the investment capital? You betcha playa! I got two brief cases right here! Think of it as foreign aid!
Raul: I always can count on my firends in Amerikha!
Sandy: well sir, as long as we're in power! Now sir, this is a...well, er sales commission...I've gotta ask you about some...uh...help...from your chinese friends...just like back in 95'...
Raul: Conseeder eet doone my friendh! Always happy to heelp democracy...well in someone elses nation anyway...
Sandy: good, good! The Russians too Raul...they gotta deliver. It's been a real dry spell with this Texan in office, but after 08...let the freak flag fly man, it's ALL good!
Raul: You stayhing thee night Santos? We got chiquitas,!
Sandy: oh thank you sir, I'm sure they're lovely...but no sir, I have to get back...business you know?
Raul: Ohh...I do!
Sandy: Damn, these pants sure chafe my thighs! I need to figure another way to haul stuff!
Raul: How aboout upp the poop chute..youu knoowh, like theee criminals...no insult inended there santos!
Sandy; Oh, none taken sir...always an option, but it makes me feel guilty. Afer all, thats the way both our constituants must feel every day sir! Makes me nervous, you know?
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LuisJul 26th, 2007 - 22:02:52
When fellow socialists like Clinton or Obama take over then they will find common ground.
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