Cuba in the Cross fire

I think the greater irony is the more obvious... the CIA ran a terror campaign against Castro for years and never really stopped.

It even included an attempted invasion, but assassination and terrorism, including economic terrorism like burning sugar cane fields and random cutting of power lines.

In comparison the actual Cuban terrorism in the US was largely by the opposition to Castro... 

I repat what I said some time ago - argumentum ad misericordiam is a major logical fallacy. Being hunted/persecuted does not prove moral superiority of the persecuted party. It does not prove inferiority either. In short - it proves nothing. Relative lack of Cuban terrorism in US mainland has nothing to do with some high morals of communist Cuban government - rather it has more to do with power disparity - Cuba is a small and dirty poor country and they know what the consequences will be if they decide to do something stupid.

Well, US actions vis a vis the Cuban government have been negligible since the 1950s compared to what they could possibly do -destroying power lines, burning sugar cane fields or preparing a regiment-sized invasion force can hardly be qualified as genocidal excesses (seizing all of Cuba could easily be done with 2-3 USMC divisions)

max steel wrote:As long as russia exists usa can't seize cuba  .

It could easily seize Cuba in 1990s - Russia under Yeltsin surely would not risk anything just to save a small and dirty poor island some thousands km away from the nearest Russian border. Their alliance was dissolved when USSR collapsed and mutual relations only started increasing a few years ago.

I repat what I said some time ago - argumentum ad misericordiam is a major logical fallacy.

And I am sure Goebbels would approve the idea that repeating a claim over and over often enough makes it true.. but that doesn't make it true either.

Being hunted/persecuted does not prove moral superiority of the persecuted party. It does not prove inferiority either.

No... all it proves is that the bullying party is misusing their power against a weak opponent... some countries might respect such nonsence, but the official morality of the US is actually against such behaviour, so the countries that will be impressed will be countries that are completely unlike the US in terms of morals and values like Saudi Arabia, so why do other countries condone US behaviour?

Fear that they might bring the same sort of attention from the US if they don't fall into line... a coalition of the afraid...

BTW Cuba maintains a moral superiority over the US because they are standing up to a bully that is rather more powerful than they are and they could never defeat on the battlefield, yet they still stand against them... that shows backbone... a rare thing these days.

Relative lack of Cuban terrorism in US mainland has nothing to do with some high morals of communist Cuban government - rather it has more to do with power disparity - Cuba is a small and dirty poor country and they know what the consequences will be if they decide to do something stupid.

Rubbish... Al quada was able to perpetrate terrorist acts on US soil... it is not that hard or expensive.... even a tiny nation like Fiji could do it if they wanted... hell with a truck and some diesel and fertiliser Timothy McVeitch was able to do it very easily.

All through the cold war the Cubans had the Soviets backing them... they could have created a false organisation... say the Cuban intervention army... lets call them the CIA for short to attack infrastructure and civilian targets in the US with the mission to kill people until the US stopped attacking Cuba... what would the US do exactly?

Well, US actions vis a vis the Cuban government have been negligible since the 1950s compared to what they could possibly do -destroying power lines, burning sugar cane fields or preparing a regiment-sized invasion force can hardly be qualified as genocidal excesses (seizing all of Cuba could easily be done with 2-3 USMC divisions)

Indeed attacking infrastructure and over 200 attempts to murder Castro and an actual invasion attempt are negligible compared with the excesses we have seen from the US that ranges from regime change in a dozen countries or more and now an attempt at regime change at FIFA... but compared with the actions of Cuba against the US they are significant because the reciprocal actions have been nonexistent... yet they call Cuba a state that supports terrorism.

Hypocrites... 

It could easily seize Cuba in 1990s - Russia under Yeltsin surely would not risk anything just to save a small and dirty poor island some thousands km away from the nearest Russian border. Their alliance was dissolved when USSR collapsed and mutual relations only started increasing a few years ago.

And how long would Vietnam part II last for the US exactly?

When the local population hates you, you can't really stay very long... and the idea that all the Cuban exiles in Miami would suddenly take over and control Cuba is amusing for all those Cubans who stayed...

LOL, that's simply not true, the bombings are widely justified by US society as necessary to save lives.

I am afraid you are right... most westerners believe the Japanese started the Pacific War by attacking Pearl Harbour, but of course it really started several years before when the US and UK imposed sanctions on Japan because they thought they were growing too fast... remind anyone of anything?

Like current sanctions on Russia... and likely future sanctions on China regarding rights over certain islands...  hmm that sounds like a sensible way to go... 

Cubans don't hate Americans and America - and it can be easily seen by comparing numbers of Cubans that migrated to USA versus number of Americans that migrated to Cuba.

By the way - America can take no more credit for it's expansionism than you do for the carbon dioxide you exhale - expansionism simply is THE way politics manifests itself - and you can't change it without invoking a magical demon that controls the minds of all people on earth, preventing them from ever again interfaring in each other's political affairs.

Cubans don't hate Americans and America - and it can be easily seen by comparing numbers of Cubans that migrated to USA versus number of Americans that migrated to Cuba.

I would say all Cubans hate all American governments past and present... half of the Cubans will hate the governments of the US because they think they have gone too far in punishing Cuba for something that was really nothing to do with the US in the first place... and I think that the other half of Cubans will hate the US government for not going far enough in saving Cuba from the Commies.

At the end of the day the sanctions and bad behaviour has only hurt the average Cuban... the people they pretend they want to help.

By the way - America can take no more credit for it's expansionism than you do for the carbon dioxide you exhale -

Bullshit.

Both Russia and China are growing in power... political, economic, and military and you don't see either country imposing sanctions except in response.

The irony is that the US claims the moral high ground... something neither Russia nor China do... with the US the bullying comes with a sermon...

US, Cuba reopening embassies after more than 50 years

WASHINGTON/HAVANA, July 20. /TASS/. The United States and Cuba will begin a new stage of relations on Monday by reopening their embassies in Washington and Havana. The states are restoring diplomatic relations and taking the last step to leave behind half a century of mutual hostility and mistrust.

The American mission in the Cuban capital will be transformed into an embassy without any official ceremonies. The US Interests Section in Havana will be transferred into the category of an embassy without hoisting the national flag of the United States. According to an unnamed official of the US State Department, quoted by the Cuban media, there are no legal requirements for hoisting the flag for the official opening of a diplomatic mission. This important event will take place during US Secretary of State John Kerry’ visit to Havana to be held shortly, the official added. However, Kerry’s visit date has not been specified.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla will travel to the Cuban Embassy in Washington to raise his country's flag, an event that Cuban government officials said will be broadcast live on the island's state-run TV, CCN reported.

Castro to Obama: Relations Won't Be Normal Until Guantanamo Returned



As US President Barack Obama makes a historic visit to Cuba following a thaw in relations, Cuban President Raul Castro has stressed that complete normalization cannot be achieved until Guantanamo Bay is returned to Havana.

Meeting with Obama in Havana, Castro stressed that the US must abandon its territory at Guantanamo and lift its embargo against Cuba.

"Much more can be done if the embargo is lifted," he said. "We recognize the position President Obama is in, and the position his government holds against the blockade, and that they have called on Congress to lift it."

The Cuban president added that there remain "profound differences that will not disappear over our political model, democracy, human rights, social justice, international relations, peace and stability," and stressed that the Cuban people will not "relinquish what they have gained through great sacrifice."

Castro denied accusations that Cuba holds political prisoners, saying "give me a list of those political prisoners and if the list exists they will be released before the night is through."

Speaking to reporters, President Obama said he could not offer an exact timeframe for the end of the embargo, but stressed that Washington does not view Havana as a threat.

"What I have said to President Castro is that we are moving forward and not looking backwards, that we don't view Cuba as a threat to the United Statesm," he said. "The embargo's going to end. When? I can't be entirely sure. The fact that there has been strong support, not just inside of Congress, but also among the Cuban people, indicates that this is a process that should continue."

"We're moving ahead with more opportunities for Americans to travel to Cuba and interact with the Cuba people," he added. "We are ready to pursue more commercial ties, which create jobs and opportunities for Cubans and Americans alike."

Still, the US does have concerns.

"People are still concerned about [human rights] inside of Cuba," Obama added. "We can't force change on any particular country, ultimately it has to come from within."

While recognizing these concerns, Castro said that no country on Earth can meet all international human rights standards. He hopes that all countries can work together to meet those standards.

According to a White House press release, the US and Cuba have already launched a joint effort to combat the Zika virus.

"The United States and Cuba have committed to deepen scientific and public health cooperation, focusing on communicable diseases including arboviruses such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya [and]…on the prevention and treatment of Chronic…diseases such as cancer," the White House said in a fact sheet released on Monday.

"In the coming months, the United States and Cuba intend to work toward finalizing arrangements to strengthen our collaboration in these and other scientific and health areas."

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/us/20160321/1036693498/castro-obama-guantanamo.html#ixzz43iBr0C1o

It seems the US activated its sleeper cell agents inside Cuba to foment this insurrection. It will be in the best interest of Russia, China and the rest of the world that resist American imperialism to thwart this latest attempt by the Americans to impose regime change in Cuba.

‘Freedom, food, vaccines!’ Mass protests in Cuba backed by US officials as president urges supporters to defy ‘foreign meddling’

Large anti-government protests broke out in Cuba's major cities in a rare display of “pro-freedom” sentiment that was immediately cheered on by US officials and denounced as “foreign provocations” by President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Thousands of protesters marched on Sunday in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and other locales, decrying food, medicine and vaccine shortages, and demanding an end to the island nation's Communist rule. Numerous videos posted on social media showed crowds marching and chanting such slogans as “We are not afraid”, “Liberty” and “Cuba is not yours!”

US Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-New York) said it's encouraging to see the Cuban people demanding an end to their misery. “I hope and pray for a free Cuba for my relatives and all (who are) suffering under its unbearable Communist rule.”

The Biden administration also expressed support for the protesters, although a State Department official portrayed the demonstrations as being entirely about the pandemic. “Peaceful protests are growing in Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising Covid cases, deaths and medicine shortages,” said Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for the department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Such swift reactions from abroad add credibility to President Diaz-Canel's claims that foreign forces might have spurred and amplified the demonstrations, while sincere protesters were being manipulated by US social media campaigns.

“We are calling on all the revolutionaries in the country, all the Communists, to hit the streets wherever there is an effort to produce these provocations,” he said in a broadcast to the nation.

As crowds of pro-government counter-protesters took to the streets, he added on Twitter, “The revolution is defended by the revolutionaries. And among the revolutionaries, the Communists are going to the front – never as an elite, but as a conscious and committed force.”

Amid reports of clashes and arrests, after Cuban authorities mobilized security forces to contain the unrest, US Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) pleaded with President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to urgently “call on Cuban military forces to not fire on their own people.”

The protests sprung up just days after Cuba approved for emergency use its homemade Abdala coronavirus vaccine, which it eventually hopes to export to other countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Vietnam and Even Iran. The unrest also comes on the heels of last week's assassination of President Jovenel Moise in neighboring Haiti, allegedly by a hit squad made up of 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans.

Diaz-Canel succeeded Raul Castro as president in 2018 and as Communist Party chief earlier this year. Shortly after taking on the latter role in April, he reportedly told party leaders, “Our sworn enemies go about thinking up the most perverse plans to attack the revolution, create distrust and break up unity. The Cuban revolution won't be betrayed or given over to those who toy with the fate of the homeland.”

https://www.rt.com/news/528952-cuba-protests-foreign-meddling/

There will always be hordes of useful idiots who can serve as regime change cannon fodder. This is why street protests have no legitimacy
as a substitute for elections. The US itself treats the Capitol Hill protestors as insurrectionists and then pretends that every mob is some
proxy for the whole population when it serves its regime change interests.

Cuban Leader Calls on Supporters to Hit Streets, Oppose Provocations, 12.07.2021.

As citizens took to the streets on Sunday to demand improvement of economic conditions in the country amid the COVID-19 outbreak, it is worth noting Cuba has been under a US embargo for almost 60 years, which has prevented the arrival of humanitarian aid in the island nation during the pandemic.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called for his supporters to take to the streets on Sunday after accusing enemies of the Cuban Revolution of trying to destabilize the Caribbean nation.

"We will not let anti-revolutionary mercenaries who are beholden to the American empire to create instability. There will be a revolutionary response," he said in a televised address to the nation.

"We are calling on all Communists to take to the streets where these provocations are being staged and oppose them," he said, referring to protests that are reportedly taking place in several cities.

Citizens took to the streets across the country on Sunday to oppose poor economic conditions and the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation has faced shortages of food and essential products as its health industry is going through difficult times.

Under the so-called Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, foreign-based subsidiaries of US companies are prohibited from selling their products to Cuba. Cuban Permanent Representative to the United Nations Pedro Luis Pedroso Cuesta told Sputnik earlier that under the so-called Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, foreign-based subsidiaries of US companies are prohibited from selling their products to Cuba.

According to local media reports, protests and crowds have been reported in eight cities on the island, including Havana, and no major incidents have been reported.

Meanwhile, US politicians took to Twitter to support the mass protests in the island nation, calling on the American government to support Cubans against the "communist dictatorship".

The United States imposed trade restrictions on Cuba in the late 1950s in response to the communist revolution. Ex-US President Barack Obama made small steps towards normalizing relations with its neighbor, but the Trump administration reversed many of those.

US President Joe Biden has vowed to continue Obama's policies, but no significant steps have been made in that direction so far. Given the overall support of the ongoing unrest and decades-long rejection of any possibility for a socialist government in its backyard, it is highly unlikely the current administration will try to normalize relations.

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the US policies of violating human rights abroad earlier this week, which is epitomized in the harsh economic sanctions against states Washington deems "not free", with the most "egregious example" being the imposed and ongoing (despite numerous UN General Assembly resolutions) blockade of Cuba.

On June 23, the United States voted against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the embargo on Cuba that was adopted by the overwhelming majority of 184 other nations.

by Asya Geydarova, for Sputniknews.

https://sputniknews.com/latam/202107111083362551-cuban-president-calls-on-supporters-to-hit-streets-oppose-provocations/

The expert pointed to the "smart" US participation in the protests in Cuba, 12.07.2021.

“The United States undoubtedly supports such speeches. But they do it in a smart way - during the protests there were no calls to overthrow the government, ”Nikolai Kalashnikov, an expert on Latin America, told VZGLYAD newspaper, commenting on the first protests in Cuba in many years.

“On the one hand, I would not exaggerate the scale of these protests. At the same time, an avalanche sometimes starts with one snowball. In any case, this is a signal to the country's leadership that it is necessary to take measures to eliminate public discontent, ”said Nikolai Kalashnikov, advisor to the director of the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

According to the expert, "in general, life in Cuba is now quite difficult - both due to the pandemic and due to the fact that the United States under Joe Biden did not change the nature of the relationship that was established by the previous head of the White House, Donald Trump." “Let me remind you that he introduced all possible sanctions against Cuba, which greatly complicated the country's economic life,” Kalashnikov said.

“As a result, due to the pandemic and US sanctions, Cuba has lost several hundred thousand tourists. It was tourism that became the main industry that helped develop the country's economy. All this has led to the discontent of the population, and they are taking to the streets, ”the source added.

“The Cuban authorities believe that the protests on the island are taking place at the suggestion of the United States. Washington undoubtedly supports such statements. But he does it smartly. The videos from the protests that I saw contained chants, slogans, but there was not a single pre-prepared poster, and there were no calls to overthrow the government. It is difficult to predict how these performances will end, ”concluded Kalashnikov.

Let us remind you that the first mass protests in many years began in Cuba. The demonstrators are demanding "free elections" and a solution to social problems. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared his readiness to fight and die for the revolution: “We are ready to give our lives. They need to step over our corpses if they want to face the revolution. We are ready for anything and will fight in the streets".

The protests took place in the city of San Antonio de los Baños and other settlements in Cuba. They began on July 11, the day Cuba saw a record number of new cases of coronavirus infection. Reuters and AFP estimate the number of protesters at several thousand. Among the slogans chanted by the protesters - "Freedom", "Down with communism", as well as calls to provide medicines, vaccines and end hunger, writes "Kommersant".

Jake Sullivan , Adviser to the President of the United States for National Security, said that the Cuban authorities should not use violence against protesters. He noted that "the United States supports freedom of expression and assembly in Cuba." Sullivan stressed that the United States authorities "will strongly condemn any violence or action against peaceful protesters." According to him, the protesters "defend their universal right."

Text: Natalia Makarova

https://m.vz.ru/news/2021/7/12/1108452.html

Miami Mayor Calls to Send Troops to 'Protect' Cubans From a 'Bloodbath’ as Protests Sweep The Island, 12.07.2021.

Thousands of citizens of Cuba, which has been under a US embargo for almost 60 years, preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid to the island nation during the pandemic, took to the streets on Sunday in protests driven by food shortages, high prices, COVID-19 restrictions and a lethargic vaccination rollout.

"Cubans are worthy and ready to rule themselves without tyranny. It can end today and it must end today. The implications of this moment can mean freedom for millions of people in the hemisphere, from Nicaraguans and Venezuelans and so many more," the mayor said at a news conference.

Suarez attended a demonstration in the Little Havana section of Miami, where hundreds had gathered outside the Cuban Versailles restaurant.

As images have surfaced showing thousands of Cubans flooding the streets in protest against poor economic conditions and the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez called for international intervention led by the United States "to protect the Cuban people from a bloodbath."

The Cuban regime’s military police are shooting at unarmed Cuban protestors fighting for freedom. 60 years of communism, cruelty, & oppression cannot last any longer! We are imploring the USA to take action as we peacefully demonstrate on the streets of Miami #PATRIAYVIDA pic.twitter.com/oXy24RjwZW

— Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) July 11, 2021

I have never felt such raw emotion from the people of Miami desperate for intervention by the government and by themselves on behalf of Cuba. This is the moment for freedom in Cuba. IT CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER! pic.twitter.com/gM1SjOZ222

— Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) July 12, 2021

Three US Representatives - Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Carlos A. Gimenez (FL-26), and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) - released a joint statement in solidarity with the protests in Cuba.

“Now more than ever, the United States and the international community must support the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom," they wrote in their statement.

Amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases associated with the arrival of the Delta variant of the virus, with health authorities reporting a record 6,923 cases and 47 deaths on Sunday, the island republic is suffering from the crippling fallout from US sanctions imposed by the administration of former president Donald Trump.

People have also been brought out into the streets over a worrying lack of food, medicine and other basic products.

Crowds in the streets of #Cuba chanting "freedom" #SOSCuba pic.twitter.com/kJDDVuEITP

— Newsistaan (@newsistaan) July 11, 2021

​Thousands of Cubans, from Havana to Santiago, turned out for the Sunday protests, with the images going viral on social media.

We have NEVER seen a day like today in #Cuba

62 years of misery, repression & lies boiling over into organic, grassroots protests in over 32 cities #SOSCuba #PatriaYVida pic.twitter.com/U5L5Zzb5mg

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 12, 2021

A spate of broadcasts on social media showed hundreds of people marching through the streets of San Antonio de los Baños, Guira de Melena and Alquízar, all in the province of Artemisa, near Havana.

Diaz Canel addressed the island on Sunday in a televised speech to denounce what he called a “smear campaign” unleashed by the US, while urging Cubans to remain calm.

"We will not let anti-revolutionary mercenaries who are beholden to the American empire to create instability. There will be a revolutionary response," he said in a televised address to the nation.

Referring to protests reportedly taking place in several cities, he added:

“We are calling on all Communists to take to the streets where these provocations are being staged and oppose them."

The United States imposed trade restrictions on Cuba in the late 1950s in response to the communist revolution. Ex-US President Barack Obama took some minor steps towards normalizing relations with its neighbor, however the arrival of the Trump administration reversed many of those.

After President Joe Biden, who vowed to continue Obama's policies, entered the White House, the Cuban Foreign Ministry had high hopes for restoring relations between the two countries, abruptly cut off under the Donald Trump administration.

The latter had returned Cuba to the US list of state-supporters of terrorism.

However, Biden administration's review of the US policy toward Cuba has not progressed over the past five months, ostensibly because of its current low priority for the White House, The Washington Post reported in June, citing anonymous sources.

On June 23, the United States voted against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the embargo on Cuba that was adopted by the overwhelming majority of 184 other nations. Top Cuban diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez, underscored that political and ideological differences were not an "impediment to a respectful and civilized relationship" with neighbours. Rodriguez slammed the White House for making empty promises and seeing no progress.

by Svetlana Ekimenko, for Sputniknews.

https://sputniknews.com/world/202107121083365722-miami-mayor-calls-to-send-troops-to-protect-cubans-from-a-bloodbath-as-protests-sweep-the-island/