I'ts beyond belief that those who want "tourists" instead of freedom still talking about Batista 50 years later. The United States helped Castro by not selling Batista the weapons he needed to fight him. Herbert Mathews and the New York Times made a Robin Hood out of this communist mafioso and the American embassy told Batista (only 7 years in power vs 50 years for Castro) that he had to go. And he did. I don't know what kind of history books some people read...but that is what happened in Cuba. (not including the fiasco and the treason of the Bay of Pigs and the Kennedy Khrushev agreement of 1962 committing the U.S. to protect Castro against the actions of it's own people)

*dragonfly777 you're late for your KKK meeting..

*postor1, I relate to your outrage; a hispanic myself, I'd like to see nothing better than the Castro's lined up before a firing squad for what they've done to Cuba - barring that, America can help make Cuba a more democratic, modern nation simply by being engaged, and confronting Cuba's communists rulers (some of whom I believe cannot be blind to the ruin Fidel has made of their homeland) as to why and how Cuba can rejoin the community of democratic nations...

To those bloggers who clearly speak out of their own hatefulness, remember, the USA helped put Castro in power by their previous support of Batista and his criminal regime prior to the revolution, looking the other way at his abuses because he was a puppet.

The actual problem with American Cuban policy is that it's been crafted with no thought to what might best serve the people of Cuba, it's been held hostage by the Cuban American lobbyists who have longed to see Castro overthrown, and have put the lives of the people of Cuba in jeopardy for the last 50 years by imposing an embargo on them which has accomplished N O T H I N G except KEEP Fidel in power.

Look at China, Vietnam, the Easter bloc - what did American diplomacy accomplish there? Engagement broke down communism - China has a human rights record at least as awful as Cuba, but Wal-Mart practically has their world headquarters there, and rudimentary free markets have vastly improved the lives of their people despite their oppression - the same people who decry stabilizing relations with Cuba often have no problem with human rights violations elsewhere.

Cuban isolation HELPS Castro keep power, not hinder it; it is the ignorance of the CANF and those who persist in arguing against engagement who have caused as much misery in Cuba as the Castro's have. Lest we forget, Batista, who ruled with the blessings of the USA, was just as bad as Castro was - read your history books people.

100,000 cubans murdered....more than 300,000 have suffered prison...almost one third of population in exile...and thousands drawning in the ocean every year escaping from hell....and these people have the audacity to call it "anti-communist propaganda". Poor souls! How can they look themselves in the mirror and keep living!

I disagree entiely. Obama has really no idea what he is doing. He thinks he does and his ego refuses to let him see anything other than what his own little world perceives. He is not a black president, in America's effort to show their forward thinking, they chose Obama not because he was the best choice, but because he was black. He and his administration in less than 100days have been on a power grabbing, money orgy, frivilous and foreign bowing spree. A person who holds the highest office in the land, then goes to foreign natons to run down his own country, needs to move to another. You are smitten only because of his color.

Look I don't doubt that more could be done for Cuba; however, some Americans are still under the spell of 50+ years of anti-communist propaganda. I have experienced this first hand, having been accused of socialist leanings and being a thief, because I support Universal Health Care. To these American's, every country that has universal health care (which is every 1st world western nation bar the US) must be socialist or communist. It is hard to convince these people that our capitals are absent of a "red square". Obama has to balance political pragmatism against voter fallout. And for that reason I can understand a softly softly approach towards Cuba. President Obama has been the best ticket in a long time and not because he's black, because he knows what he's doing! As a secular realist, I have to admit that President Obama is a Godsend.

MHR

Thank you. I can't agree more. But Mr. Obama doesn't seem to believe in anything enough to do it completely. Guantanamo is styill in operation. The US is still operating by Bush rules in courts. We are still fighting illegal and immoral wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

We need to quit the war and the embargo against Cuba, and apologise for a half-century of cruelty and state terrorism. We need to aspologise to Fidel Castro for 40 attempts to murder him.

Bert Hornback

Congressional Black Caucus Smitten With Castro!

The Negro is indolent and spends his money on frivolities, whereas the European is forward-looking, organized and intelligent... We're going to do for blacks exactly what blacks did for the Cuban revolution. By which I mean: NOTHING!"
(Ernesto "Che" Guevara.)

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/congressional_black_caucus_smi.html

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on realities in Cuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on realities in Cuba.

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

Why Did Congressional Black Caucus Overlook Racism in Cuba?

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31415

From his grave, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. answers Bashir Goth, President Obama, and the members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 and cannot comment directly about this article and the hypocritical members of the Congressional Black Caucus who went to Cuba to lick the bloodied boots of a dictator that has enslaved 11 million Cubans for 50 years.

But we can quote the leader of the American Civil Rrights movement to show what he would have told those who today proclaim to follow his principles, while doing completely the opposite of what he preached.

Here is a famous quote by Dr. King, that applies perfectly to Mr. Goth, Obama and those members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba to support an evil dictator:

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ... So in order to be true to one's conscience and true to God, a righteous man has no alternative but to refuse to cooperate with an evil system." From Dr King's book "Stride Toward Freedom," Page 51.

Cuba's Bailout!

Fidel Castro decided since 1959 to confiscate all American properties and businesses. He executed and jailed Americans and determined he didn't want us there. During the October Missile Crisis of 1962, this American hater wrote a personal letter to then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushev, begging him to "nuke" the United States. Castro supported all anti-American efforts in Latin America: Tupamaros, Montoneros, FMLN guerrillas; and now is the political adviser of Hugo Chavez and other anti- American crusaders. This paranoic dictator wants the U.S. taxpayers to finance and rescue his failed oppressive totalitarian regime.

It is estimated that the Castro brothers will pocket 5 billion dollars, if American tourists are allowed to go there for a good brainwash. Many will go to the island to enjoy cuban cigars, cuban rum and to engage in the horrors of child prostitution (jineteras) promoted by the authorities. Others in the extreme left, will go there to reaffirm their ideological convictions and to bring back home new orientations and fresh anti- American slogans from "el Comandante". After 50 years of suffrering communism, Cubans see the United States as the "promised land" and the "American Way of Life "as the raw model for their future generations. The consequenses of this mistaken policy will destroy forever our present moral image and stature in the eyes of the oppressed people in Cuba. They certainly need freedom for their country.....but have no use for abusive tropical adventurers, communist fellow travelers or Castro siypathizers. I think it would be extremely wise if all this money, now destined for Castro, stay home to help aliviate our awful economic situation.

Its obvious you know very little about Dictatorships. The regime in Cuba has human blood including those of small children. The Crime? Fleeing and attempting to elude Cuban authorities. Mr. Arthor, your ignorance is incredible. But, until leftists like Obama whom is not well liked here in Miami)is out we have to deal with this useless and dangerous thinking. Plenty of Cubans in Miami has had relatives killed by the Castro brothers, So at the very least respect the dead and enjoy your freedom others aren't so lucky.