BF2S Forums Castro resigns

sergeriver wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

I bet they will announce his death on Easter, like Jesus.

Jesus died the Friday before silly.

Isn't Easter the death and resurrection of Jesus?  Whatever.  They will announce it around Easter.

Good Friday was the death. Easter Sunday was the resurrection.

Regardless, I bet the old bastard's dead already.

Castro certainly deserves credit for keeping Cuba away from the fate of most of the Central American countries over the last 50 years. In the face of the world superpower, assassination attempts, international terrorism and a choking economic blockade, Cuba avoided the death squads that most of the surrounding region was plagued by.

The dark side of Cuba is obviously apparent too, lack of free elections and political freedom have been serious rights abuses that have continued throughout Castro's 49 year leadership.

The idea that Cuba was one of the top three human rights abusers for 43 of the last 45 years is crazy. Possibly you could argue that Cuba comitted more abuses because political dissidents were imprisoned repeatedly and had widespread repeated repression of freedom of speach, whereas in most of the surrounding countries they only recieved one human rights violation, being killed.

As the rest of the region has begun to recover, the justification of Castro's regieme has been slowly waining. Hopefully they can get some change in Cuba now and get their political freedom back in open, fair, democratic elections.

Kmarion wrote:

Varegg wrote:

FEOS wrote:

If you take basic human nature out of the equation...and the fact that there are hundreds of other countries in the world that are open to trade with Cuba, yet their economy still sucks.

Cuba's situation is not the fault of US trade policy...it is the fault of Cuba's government. And no one else.

US trade policy setting the standard for other western countries sure had some impact on Cuba, for a country to be open to trade with western countries is essential for their economy.

I'm no fan of dictatorship and Castros monstrosities against his own populace so don't get me wrong on this one ...

Bahh you make it sound like the rest of the world is the US pawn. The EU and other Latin American countries still, on their own accord, vote against Cuba. Mostly because of human rights issues.

Although I think in 2003(?) some EU nations mended ties. Could be wrong on the year, not sure which countries.. too tired.

Believe or not my friend but your country have a huge impact on the rest of the world, not in it's pawn perhaps but somewhat dependent on the US market and policy - just look at the economic situation we have right now as a example.

Varegg wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Varegg wrote:

US trade policy setting the standard for other western countries sure had some impact on Cuba, for a country to be open to trade with western countries is essential for their economy.

I'm no fan of dictatorship and Castros monstrosities against his own populace so don't get me wrong on this one ...

Bahh you make it sound like the rest of the world is the US pawn. The EU and other Latin American countries still, on their own accord, vote against Cuba. Mostly because of human rights issues.

Although I think in 2003(?) some EU nations mended ties. Could be wrong on the year, not sure which countries.. too tired.

Believe or not my friend but your country have a huge impact on the rest of the world, not in it's pawn perhaps but somewhat dependent on the US market and policy - just look at the economic situation we have right now as a example.

I am aware of our global influence. I think you sell yourself a little short when taking responsibility for your own actions at times also.

Kmarion wrote:

Varegg wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Bahh you make it sound like the rest of the world is the US pawn. The EU and other Latin American countries still, on their own accord, vote against Cuba. Mostly because of human rights issues.

Although I think in 2003(?) some EU nations mended ties. Could be wrong on the year, not sure which countries.. too tired.

Believe or not my friend but your country have a huge impact on the rest of the world, not in it's pawn perhaps but somewhat dependent on the US market and policy - just look at the economic situation we have right now as a example.

I am aware of our global influence. I think you sell yourself a little short when taking responsibility for your own actions at times also.

We should also keep in mind that the economy has only been as globalized as today for the past 15 years or so. Cuba's economy has been shit since the Revolution...long before the US economy had anywhere near the level of influence on the global economy as it does today.

And there's the roughly 200 other countries in the world other than the US that could trade freely with Cuba if they chose to...

samfink wrote:

US law prevents the lifting of the embargo on Cuba until someone with a different surname has power in Cuba.

that's some serious bull

I'm not going to pretend I know a lot about Cuba, but you've got to respect Castro. The man has ruled for 49 years, (a shame he didn't make the 50-year milestone,) survived numerous assassination attempts over the years, (apparently around 638,) AND a US invasion - not to mention the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Also, and I remind you that this is from my unlearned viewpoint, as far as communist dictatorships go Cuba was pretty damn good.

I respect Castro - how can you not? The man can deliver seven hour PLUS speeches. That is incredible! If he was on BF2s.com he'd write even longer posts than some of mine are!

(Yes yes, I know about the human rights issues and mysterious dissapearances of opponents so don't drag me up on all that stuff.)

Kmarion wrote:

Ty wrote:

AND a US invasion

lol.. well let's not get carried away.

US organised and sponsored invasion, It certainly wasn't the Marines landing on the Cuban coastline.

Varegg wrote:

Kmarion wrote:

Ty wrote:

AND a US invasion

lol.. well let's get that carrier on it's way.

Fixed

Probably a different outcome. Fact is Kennedy was against it, yet he gets the blame for the failure. He discouraged the overt stuff and he is accused of not providing enough support. You can read the declassified stuff now (freedom of information act). There were some scary people in the CIA back then. They were encouraging a Soviet confrontation. They wanted a nuclear war (no joke).[Insert CIA link to Kennedy's death conspiracy here] The CIA hated Kennedy.

PureFodder is the only person in this thread who at least made some sort of a case to respect him as a government leader. The rest of you guys seem content to admire the man simply because he existed for 49 years. If government longevity outweighs serving the people than I can also say apartheid in South Africa was successful as well. It lasted 46 years.

JahManRed wrote:

I hope he has a nice retirement. He has dedicated himself to Cuba and her people and done what he thinks is in their best interest. Some of it I don't agree with some I do.

It will be short.

Dictators usually don't hand off power unless the absolutely have to.

Oh god, George Galloway is on ITV right now, can't wait to see him lose his rag again.

people who hold onto power for 50 years are good people?