U.S. has plan to aid post-Castro Cuba

Ron Burgundy · 08-01-2006, 11:45 AM

U.S. has plan to aid post-Castro Cuba (AP)

AP - The Bush administration, which has made no secret of its desire to see the end of Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba, said it has a plan in place to help transition the island nation to democracy after Castro.

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Ron Burgundy

U.S. has plan to aid post-Castro Cuba (AP)

AP - The Bush administration, which has made no secret of its desire to see the end of Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba, said it has a plan in place to help transition the island nation to democracy after Castro.

But........why do they need "help". If there is an end to the regime, what are we going to do?

TheMrs · 08-01-2006, 03:13 PM

[sarcasm]Oh goody.[/sarcasm]

Concept · 08-01-2006, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

But........why do they need "help". If there is an end to the regime, what are we going to do?

Loans to get the nation back on its feet, maybe?

JaJae · 08-01-2006, 03:15 PM

This could cause more harm than good. When Castro is well enough to seek power again he's going to have to deal with the idea of American support or Fidel leadership among his people. That could cause serious problems in Cuba.. perhaps serious problems that are long overdue. But regardless, it puts the US in a pickle. If we cause a shitstorm in Cuba, we better be ready to support our decision and do it in the most humanitary way.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

But........why do they need "help". If there is an end to the regime, what are we going to do?

Loans to get the nation back on its feet, maybe?

Economic help, or somethingorother.

JaJae · 08-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Lift the embargo, start trading with them. Help them form a better government.

TheMrs · 08-01-2006, 03:17 PM

Thing is, Concept... what kind of position is the U.S. in to even be *entertaining* the idea of a 'loan'? My God man... this country will be in debt up to it's by-god for generations to come. We're in no position to be BankAmerica here.

Lift the embargo, start trading with them. Help them form a better government.

Exactly!

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Lift the embargo, start trading with them. Help them form a better government.

\
That is about the only thing I can rationalize that we should do...but for some reason, I have a feeling this administration is going to want to be far more involved than that.

And I think it's assholish to even make these statements before the guy even croaks.

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

Loans to get the nation back on its feet, maybe?

Economic help, or somethingorother.

This country can not, or should no longer be the world's Western Union.

JaJae · 08-01-2006, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

This country can not, or should no longer be the world's Western Union.

It's really the same difference though. Whether we start trading with them or just hand them money. What exports does Cuba have? Cigars? Seriously, if we open the ports to Cuba we're gonna be doing a charity for them anyway. But at least this way promotes their industry and gets their people working.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 03:24 PM

It was an idea that popped up into my head.

But trading with Cuba would really whip Cuba back into shape. Thing is, if we traded we Cuba now with their government, it would merely drift into the coffers of Fidel and his family. The Cuban people would not benefit in any way.

The loan thing came about from this rationalization:

A few months down the line after a revolution, Cuban businesses will begin emerging in a free system (should this be the case; we may have another dictatorship; no one knows). American loans will kick Cuban business in the ass and spark something.

If you get what I mean.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's really the same difference though. Whether we start trading with them or just hand them money. What exports does Cuba have? Cigars? Seriously, if we open the ports to Cuba we're gonna be doing a charity for them anyway. But at least this way promotes their industry and gets their people working.

Sugar, tobacco, tourism. (potentially, should the government change).

Bacardi was a Cuban company until Fidel came to power. Then they moved to Puerto Rico.

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

It's really the same difference though. Whether we start trading with them or just hand them money. What exports does Cuba have? Cigars? Seriously, if we open the ports to Cuba we're gonna be doing a charity for them anyway. But at least this way promotes their industry and gets their people working.

I believe Cuban cigars would be huge here....They may take over Cohiba in a bad way...The point should be, not us handing them money, but them working for it. Even if it's for cigars.

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

It was an idea that popped up into my head.

But trading with Cuba would really whip Cuba back into shape. Thing is, if we traded we Cuba now with their government, it would merely drift into the coffers of Fidel and his family. The Cuban people would not benefit in any way.

The loan thing came about from this rationalization:

A few months down the line after a revolution, Cuban businesses will begin emerging in a free system (should this be the case; we may have another dictatorship; no one knows). American loans will kick Cuban business in the ass and spark something.

If you get what I mean.

The thing is, is if we open trade to Cuba, and the people aren't getting the money, then the people need to make the change in the government to get the money. And by hostile means if that's necessary.

JaJae · 08-01-2006, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

Sugar, tobacco, tourism. (potentially, should the government change).

Bacardi was a Cuban company until Fidel came to power. Then they moved to Puerto Rico.

Sugar and tabacco aren't exactly things we're short of.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Sugar and tabacco aren't exactly things we're short of.

Right, but there's always a market for things like sugar and tobacco.

Cuban tobacco is very famous also.

kinggovernor · 08-01-2006, 05:39 PM

time for a revolution

motivez · 08-01-2006, 05:47 PM

It's pretty ridiculous that we have a trade embargo with Cuba, but we are all to happy to trade with China.. how much more hypocritical can you get

I hope that if we push for Democracy, it works better than it has in Iraq and every where else that has sprung up with a Democratically elected government lately.. seems those people aren't really benefiting so much from freedom

beez · 08-01-2006, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

It's pretty ridiculous that we have a trade embargo with Cuba, but we are all to happy to trade with China.. how much more hypocritical can you get

Supplying WMD to Iraq and then attacking them on the pretense that they might still have some when we keep our own stockpiles?