Bush calls for democracy in Cuba

[Guest Warwick Green]

Mr Bush no doubt cited Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of where America assisted in developing well functioning democratic societies.

Bush calls for democracy in Cuba

Life in communist Havana ostensibly continues as normal.

US President George W Bush has urged Cubans to work for democratic change in his first public comments since Fidel Castro had stomach surgery on Monday. He pledged Washington's support for Cubans who sought to "build a transitional government in Cuba committed to democracy".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5243860.stm

[jdobbin]

Mr Bush no doubt cited Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of where America assisted in developing well functioning democratic societies.

A sop to the 800,000 Cubans in Florida before the election.

[Drea]

We're heading off to Cuba this February. We need to hurry before the US gets in and ruins it.

"Bringing them democracy"... for Pete Sake... have they learned nothing over the past 3.5 years?

[Shady]

A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

[Guest Warwick Green]

A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

A democratic Cuba where the Florida exiles go back demanding the return of "their" property is not such a nice thought.

[Shady]

A democratic Cuba where the Florida exiles go back demanding the return of "their" property is not such a nice thought

So it's a choice between a communist dicatorship and your premise? I wasn't aware of that, nor did I read any of that nonsense in the article you linked to. Why don't you continue to cite Iraq and Afghanistan some more? You're all over the map on this one.

As I simply stated. A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Since the news of Fidel Castro's ill health first emerged on Monday, Cuban exiles have been congregating in the heart of Miami's Little Havana district to celebrate what they perceive to be the demise of the Cuban president.

Hundreds and sometimes thousands of exiles have taken to the streets to celebrate the news - the mood is one of jubilation, as they drive past or stand outside the emblematic Cuban restaurant, Versailles, celebrating what could be for them the dawn of a new Cuba.

Most of them say they believe Mr Castro, who they describe as a tyrant, has already died.

But, is it simply an outpouring of jubilation over what they think is the end of their long-standing enemy? Or, do Cuban exiles imagine themselves leaving everything they have built in Miami behind and moving back to Cuba?

Would they do so while a communist government was in place? And, what of a reconciliation with those who have long supported the communist revolution?

Some talk about returning to visit their loved ones graves after many years away. Others say they hope that a far reaching change on the island will help them regain the property they lost at the start of the Revolution.

However, many people simply say they dream of going back and maybe living part time in Cuba....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5241506.stm

[ceemes]

Before calling for Democracy in Cuba, perhaps Mr. Bush should first start calling for the reinstatement of Democracy in the US. Given the voter irregularities that happened in Florida during the 2000 Presidential election and the irregularities that happened in Ohio in 2004, Mr. Bush should becareful throwing stones at Cuba when his own house is made of glass.

As bad as the Castro dictatorship maybe, it has been better for the majority of the Cuban people then the one that it replaced. I strongly doubt that the Cuban people want to return to the good old pre-Revolution days.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Before calling for Democracy in Cuba, perhaps Mr. Bush should first start calling for the reinstatement of Democracy in the US. Given the voter irregularities that happened in Florida during the 2000 Presidential election and the irregularities that happened in Ohio in 2004, Mr. Bush should becareful throwing stones at Cuba when his own house is made of glass.

As bad as the Castro dictatorship maybe, it has been better for the majority of the Cuban people then the one that it replaced. I strongly doubt that the Cuban people want to return to the good old pre-Revolution days.

Democracy will work if the Cubans are allowed to decide for themselves - and that includes telling the likes of Bush, Chavez and the Miami nitwits to buzz off.

You know the Brothers Bush are stupid enough to "assist" Cuba in becoming democratic at the same pledging to help the exiles get their property back.

[ceemes]

Before calling for Democracy in Cuba, perhaps Mr. Bush should first start calling for the reinstatement of Democracy in the US. Given the voter irregularities that happened in Florida during the 2000 Presidential election and the irregularities that happened in Ohio in 2004, Mr. Bush should becareful throwing stones at Cuba when his own house is made of glass.

As bad as the Castro dictatorship maybe, it has been better for the majority of the Cuban people then the one that it replaced. I strongly doubt that the Cuban people want to return to the good old pre-Revolution days.

Democracy will work if the Cubans are allowed to decide for themselves - and that includes telling the likes of Bush, Chavez and the Miami nitwits to buzz off.

Exactly, it is up to the Cubans to decide for themselves exactly what form of government they want. Those who think that Communism in Cuba would fall over night with the death of Castro are living in dream world where the sky is green and fluffy pink clouds float.

The Soviet Union survived intact with the deaths of both Lenin and Stalin, China is still Communist long after Mao died. No doubt that the Party in Cuba has plans in place in the advent of Castro's death and the death of his heir apparent.

I would not be surprised to see Cuba follow the Chinese model, of fast economic reform combined with slow democractisation starting at the local/village level. The very worst thing that could happen to Cuba is for it to become a completely free market economy and democratic overnight. One just has to look at the former Soviet Union to see the disaster of such an event. Cuba will in time reform, however it will take time are require a long transistion phase.

You know the Brothers Bush are stupid enough to "assist" Cuba in becoming democratic at the same pledging to help the exiles get their property back.

You think another Bay of Pigs is in the offering? Be a bloody big mistake if they tried that again.

[Guest Warwick Green]

You think another Bay of Pigs is in the offering? Be a bloody big mistake if they tried that again.

Have the Bushites learnt anything from Iraq? They already have a "transition coordinator" in the State Department and not only has there been no transition Fidel is still breathing.

[jdobbin]

So it's a choice between a communist dicatorship and your premise? I wasn't aware of that, nor did I read any of that nonsense in the article you linked to. Why don't you continue to cite Iraq and Afghanistan some more? You're all over the map on this one.

As I simply stated. A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

Hopefully, that might happen. I think it is posisble a civil war could happen between returnees and people who presently occupy land or factories once owned by people who left or who were exiled.

[geoffrey]

So it's a choice between a communist dicatorship and your premise? I wasn't aware of that, nor did I read any of that nonsense in the article you linked to. Why don't you continue to cite Iraq and Afghanistan some more? You're all over the map on this one.

As I simply stated. A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

Hopefully, that might happen. I think it is posisble a civil war could happen between returnees and people who presently occupy land or factories once owned by people who left or who were exiled.

They do have a right to return to their property. I'm sure all the records are still around somewhere, it might take a few years to settle all the claims, but it should be done.

It'd be really nice get the last real communist scurge off our planet and out of our hemisphere.

[jdobbin]

They do have a right to return to their property. I'm sure all the records are still around somewhere, it might take a few years to settle all the claims, but it should be done.

It'd be really nice get the last real communist scurge off our planet and out of our hemisphere.

Whatever happens, it is likely not going to be as peaceful as some people seem to think it will be.

[Guest Warwick Green]

So it's a choice between a communist dicatorship and your premise? I wasn't aware of that, nor did I read any of that nonsense in the article you linked to. Why don't you continue to cite Iraq and Afghanistan some more? You're all over the map on this one.

As I simply stated. A democratic Cuba is definitely a nice thought.

Hopefully, that might happen. I think it is posisble a civil war could happen between returnees and people who presently occupy land or factories once owned by people who left or who were exiled.

They do have a right to return to their property. I'm sure all the records are still around somewhere, it might take a few years to settle all the claims, but it should be done.

It'd be really nice get the last real communist scurge off our planet and out of our hemisphere.

I'm sure the commies got rid of the records years ago. And I'm not sure pursuing a claim with a new government would get anywhere.

[jdobbin]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/04/us.cuba.ap/index.html

Rice tells Cubans not to flee to Florida.

Yeesh. They can't have it both ways. Either it is a terrible place and all Cubans should go to America or it isn't a bad place.

[yam]

Cubans love Castro (yes iv been and talked)

However, they want some of the 'allowances' democracies have like travelling abroad. . .and more disposable income. They think that he is behind the times but speak of him affectionately, and rely upon him

Nonetheless, as one of the poorest countries in the world, the people are all housed. Something they cannot understand is the comparison with Canada wealth (in top 5 richest countries) and homelessness - poverty- wealth distribution. Need i mention Cuba's first class health care system.

Castro is not a dictator rather he suffers huge trade blockages with the many countries that allign themselves with the US. The plan was and has been to the present to pulverise the Cuban economy to force it to conform to the American standard of democray since the cold war. Cuba to this day has refused.

(genocide perhaps??? . . .no i won't even go there)

The people of Cuba are frightened that when Castro dies - the US are going to pound the s*it out of them if his brother does not 'assimilate' his leadership with Bush. Though they still say that they will be economically worse off anyway and regardless

Castro wanted to trade between nations, to bring home or to afford the technical innovations and pleasures of the West for his people. He is not romantically anti-materialist etc AS COMMONLY BELIEVED OF ANYTHING FLYING THE FLAG OF SOCIALISM/COMMUNISM. Rather the world simply will not let him modernise and shout equality for all. Why? It simply would show that equality is possible that is why and that corporations` would have to share their profits. He is one of the last socialist countries to topple . . his not going to give up but he may die.

[Shady]

Castro is not a dictator rather he suffers huge trade blockages with the many countries that allign themselves with the US

Nonsense. The rest of the world trades with Cuba, including Canada. And what does a trade ban have to do with basic human rights, such as freedom of speech? Castro locks away and kills people who disagree with him. Why? Because he's a dictator. It's the same reason he's one of the richest men in the world, while his country is one of the poorest, and why he's been in power for 57 years. Because he's a dictator.