Castro: U.S. Embargo Hasn't Broken Cuba

[Comrade Ceausescu]

Castro: U.S. Embargo Hasn't Broken Cuba

Saturday February 14, 2004 3:16 PM

By LISA J. ADAMS

Associated Press Writer

HAVANA (AP) - America's economy hangs by a thread while Cuba - after four decades under a U.S. economic blockade - continues to offer free health care and boasts an infant mortality rate lower than its northern neighbor, President Fidel Castro asserted early Saturday.

In a 4-hour speech to economists, Castro also took shots at President Bush, saying he ``couldn't debate a Cuban 9th-grader.'' He recited for a half-hour from a published compilation of Bush malapropisms, bent over with laughter as the audience roared.

Castro also challenged Bush to be clear about how the United States plans to realize a transition to democracy in Cuba. He wondered aloud - again - if it involved a plan to kill him.

``The great difference'' between Cuba and the United States is that Cuba ``has learned to do a lot with very little,'' Castro said at the conclusion of the Sixth International Meeting of Economists on Globalization and Development Problems.

Castro noted that many of the more than 1,000 attending economists from 50 countries - including some from the United States - had sharply criticized globalization and the ``neoliberal'' economic policies of industrialized nations.

He lauded U.S. Nobel Prize-winning economist Daniel L. McFadden's ``keen observations'' - among them that the United States, with a fiscal deficit of more than $520 billion, is managing its economy like a ``banana republic.''

``This economy is hanging by a thread,'' Castro said.

Castro also lashed out at the ``foolishness'' of the U.S. economic blockade that has been in place since the presidency of John F. Kennedy, saying it hadn't stopped Cuba from surpassing the United States in many areas.

The communist-run island has no illiteracy, a lower infant mortality rate than the United States, lower student-teacher ratios and higher levels of educational achievement, he said.

``Bush couldn't debate a Cuban 9th-grader,'' Castro remarked as he leaned across the podium toward applauding listeners.

Castro's commentary addressed everything from free trade agreements and fluctuating currencies to the current presidential campaign in the United States. At one point - after offering his audience coffee to avoid falling asleep - Castro went on to quote various reports from the U.S. media severely criticizing Bush, the economy, U.S. unemployment and the war on Iraq.

He talked at length about the Bush administration's Commission for a Free Cuba - a panel set up in October and led by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to plan a strategy for Cuba once the 77-year-old Castro is no longer in power.

When the United States announced creation of the commission, Powell suggested that the goal was not to force Castro out.

U.S. officials talk about a transition, ``but how would they make this transition?'' Castro asked Saturday, suggesting that ``the only way is to proceed with an illegal assassination using the scores of techniques they have available.''

Castro challenged Bush ``to have the courage to say whether he is using this power.''

Even if his days are numbered by the United States, ``don't feel any pity,'' Castro told his listeners.

``There is no fear. To demonstrate fear would be a mistake. ... and in any case I would have to say to this illustrious gentleman (Bush) what the Roman gladiators said: 'Hail, Caesar. Those who are going to die salute you.'''

[guerrillaradio]

Hahahahahahah. That's amazing.

[Comrade Ceausescu]

God I love Fidel.He has to be one of the smartest guys alive.He makes intelligent points and mixes in humor.

[ComradeRed]

Vive Fidel! :castro:

[guerrillaradio]

I dunno. He does some pretty illogical things. On a personal level I think he's a pretty sweet guy, but I kinda wish he passed over power to someone a little more logical.

[Comrade Ceausescu]

What has he done that was illogical?I think he thinks very clearly.

[Fidel Castro]

More classic Fidel in action, he still hasn't lost his touch, that is why he has survived through all these years!


passed over power to someone a little more logical.

What??? I think it takes a pretty logical man to hold an economy together despite illegal blockade, travel ban and the collapse of a main trading partner! As well as repelling attempted invasion, asassination and continuing to hold overwhelming support of the nation! A lesser man would have been crushed years ago.

[Comrade Ceausescu]

Exactly Genghis.Fidel is a strong and charasmatic guy.He was born to be a leader.

[Lardlad95]

"Bush couldn't debate a cuban ninth grader"

*DIES FROM LAUGHTER* Fidel you are the man

[guerrillaradio]

I'm not supporting his recent crackdowns on dissidents or fugitives.

[Lardlad95]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2004, 12:23 AM
I'm not supporting his recent crackdowns on dissidents or fugitives.
I don't agree wit them either, but I'm starting to believe more an more that some of those dissedents were linked to those Miami terrorist organizations like he said

[Comrade Ceausescu]

There was a topic on here about that I made a while back.It seems to have been deleted.Probobly when the new design was made.But anyways,I think it was Chairman Mao who gave a very good explanation ff why the "crackdown" happend.If you see this CM,could you possibly give us the explanation again?I think you can explain it better then I can.

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2004, 12:23 AM
I'm not supporting his recent crackdowns on dissidents or fugitives.
I can agree with that, but that doesn't neccessarily prove that Fidel is irrational. Almost every single policy Fidel has created has been implemented extremely rationally. If Fidel was irrational, he wouldn't be ruling Cuba still. Che Guevara was irrational, not Fidel Castro.

[Intifada]

great stuff! fidel is the man!
:castro:
:cuba:

[Fidel Castro]

Che Guevara was irrational, not Fidel Castro.

Hmmm, I agree Fidel is not irrational, but I'm not sure I agree Che was. He was certainly always keen and ready to actively persue his ideals, but I'm not sure he was irrational about it.

[synthesis]

He recited for a half-hour from a published compilation of Bush malapropisms, bent over with laughter as the audience roared.

Only serves to prove that communists are the only ones who know the right way to do politics.

[bubbrubb]

i castro and its sad but true that bush probably couldnt debate with a 9th grader probably not a fifth grader every talks about how bad cmmunism is and how great the u.s. is but look at cubas economy and look at ours :D

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2004, 01:46 AM
Hmmm, I agree Fidel is not irrational, but I'm not sure I agree Che was. He was certainly always keen and ready to actively persue his ideals, but I'm not sure he was irrational about it.
Come on now, how can his little revolution in Bolivia not be described as irrational?

[Intifada]

Come on now, how can his little revolution in Bolivia not be described as irrational?

he was a revolutionary. of course he will be irrational at times, but that was because he was passionate about the cause.

[Comrade Ceausescu]

Che gave himself up for the people.Fought for them all the time.That is not irrational,it is honourable.

[Osman Ghazi]

Cuba does have some serious problems though. Also, the fact that he is still in power and that his brother is likely to take power after him shows that he isn't willing to give up all the benefits of leading a successful revolution.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Lardlad, guerillaradio, don't believe those attrocious lies!
Castro is extremely trustful of his people! I have never heard of a case where Fidel is subdued by paranoia and kills innocent citizens. It certainly was not the case recently. Read this (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=848&hl=)

Fidel is quite a leader!
He is a hero in my mind for standing up, with nothing but a small, humble island, to ruthless American ploys to oust him from his position. And yet he has also defended his island from being overcome by revisionists as Vietnam and China have. Cuba is a shining beacon of socialism in today's capitalist world.

[Stapler]

I wonder what will happen when Fidel is incapable of governing. I hear stories of plots of land in cuba which are on layaway to the McDonalds franchise (hey, my avatar).

Any thoughts as to what will happen when fidel passes power to his brother?

[Fidel Castro]

RedZeppelin is absolutely spot on, couldn't have put it better myself. The United States are responsible for much of Cuba's economic problems, they are the ones holding Cuba back!

[Osman Ghazi]

How exactly are they holding Cuba back?
What advantages would they gain from trade with the U$?
I suppose there would be increased tourism but other than that?

[Fidel Castro]

Well Osman, when you consider that today tourism is Cuba's largest source of income (it has already overtaken sugar), and that in recent years Cuba has had the largest growing tourism industry in the world, then it is obvious that the US travel ban is keeping a potential thousands of US tourists from visiting Cuba! Not to mention the possibility that US propaganda against Cuba is deterring tourists from other nations visiting Cuba.

I'm also sure that I read somewhere that the illegal blockade against Cuba has cost the Cuba economy somewhere in the region of $70 billion. I will post a source for this figure as soon as I can remember where I found it.

Also, you have the USA supporting some companies that rival Cuban brands, Bacardi rum is the first that springs to mind!

Also consider my post:


The United States are responsible for much of Cuba's economic problems

That's much of the problem, but not all. I read an article recently which claims that Europe has also made large financial gains from Cuba, whilst investing less money back into Cuba. Of course I am sure that, as in any nation of the world, there are flaws in Cuba's economic policy.

[Lardlad95]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2004, 02:04 AM
Lardlad, guerillaradio, don't believe those attrocious lies!
Castro is extremely trustful of his people! I have never heard of a case where Fidel is subdued by paranoia and kills innocent citizens. It certainly was not the case recently. Read this (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=848&hl=)

Fidel is quite a leader!
He is a hero in my mind for standing up, with nothing but a small, humble island, to ruthless American ploys to oust him from his position. And yet he has also defended his island from being overcome by revisionists as Vietnam and China have. Cuba is a shining beacon of socialism in today's capitalist world.
I never said I believed he was paranoid. And I agreed that some of the dissedents probably did work for the Miami Mafia

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2004, 10:37 AM
he was a revolutionary. of course he will be irrational at times, but that was because he was passionate about the cause.
I'm not denying that. Heck, I didn't even bring it up. It's besides the point. I know how crazy this must sound, but criticism of Che is productive. And this isn't even neccessarily critcism, it's simple acknowledgement.


How exactly are they holding Cuba back?
What advantages would they gain from trade with the U$?
I suppose there would be increased tourism but other than that?

It actually has quite an impact. The embargo not only bans products from the U.S. to be sold to Cuba, but also products made by the U.S. as well. Most impressive medicines are made in the U.S. Even in the early days, when Cuba could still buy medical products that were made in the U.S. from other countries, Cuba bought a lot of medical products from the USSR which were in fact made in the U.S. They are banned from that while losing most of its trade. Most nations not aligned with the USSR had virtually no trade with Cuba, and today in large parts the same is true. The U.S. also happens to control certain funds coming from places like the World Bank and IMF. Cuba and North Korea are the only developing countries to not be given development aid from the World Bank. And that is just a small sample of Cuba's disadvantages. The amount of power a country like the United States has just because of its role in the economy of the world is almost devastating.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Ok, he also didn't distrust or silence the people's true voice, he merely phased out some unsocialistic activists, who deserve to be phased out.

[el_profe]

Fidel is a brilliant man, he somehow manages to keep saying the same shit for 40 years and somehow convinces some that he is right, he is smart, very smart.

He once said the USa wanted to attack cuba with biological weapons. :lol: :lol: :lol: .

If the USa embargo does not affect Cuba, why do you people want it to end?

[Intifada]

He once said the USa wanted to attack cuba with biological weapons. .


bu$h and bliar said the same about iraq!!!!! something about 45 minutes and weapons of mass destruction!! crazy heh! :lol:

[el_profe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2004, 06:50 PM

He once said the USa wanted to attack cuba with biological weapons. .


bu$h and bliar said the same about iraq!!!!! something about 45 minutes and weapons of mass destruction!! crazy heh! :lol:
yes, saddam did not want to attack the USA or the UK, i dont support those statements like everyone here that actually believes anything castro says. :lol:

[Fidel Castro]

everyone here that actually believes anything castro says

i'd sooner listen to what Fidel has to say than those other corrupt, sleezy fuckers looking out for the interests of corporations and their buddies wallets over the wellbeing of their own people! Fidel is a man of experience, intelligence and charisma. He is one of the few world leaders with something worth listening to.

What interest has the US in Cuba apart from getting their dirty hands on Cuban industry and agriculture once again? Making Cuba another whore of the Carribean? Just another fucking Panama?

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2004, 07:09 AM
He once said the USa wanted to attack cuba with biological weapons. :lol: :lol: :lol: .
The Cuban exiles did use biological warfare against Cuba.

[Sabocat]

He once said the USa wanted to attack cuba with biological weapons.

Technically, the U$ has attacked Cuba with biological weapons. They have put contaminates in turkeys bound from Canada to Cuba, they tainted a shipment of sugar that was bound for Europe, they sent over disease plagued mosquitos infecting Cuba with a mostly non-deadly virus (dengue fever) that had never been found there.

On top of that, they have seeded clouds to cause heavy rains to destroy sugar crops etc.

Here's some reading.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/067.html

http://www.poptel.org.uk/cuba-solidarity/C...anuary/Bio.html (http://www.poptel.org.uk/cuba-solidarity/CubaSi-January/Bio.html)