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Swan_Knight
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« on: 12:21:12, 19-02-2008 » |
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The multi-millionaire Communist Cuban President has resigned, after nearly fifty years of absolute power.
The so-called 'liberal' press is already in paroxysms of grief over this news. No doubt we can expect a hagiographic piece on Newsnight this evening, if the BBC follows true to its usual form.
Yet, when all is said and done, the man was a tyrant and a despot. True, he may deserve some credit for his David and Goliath act with the U.S. all these years, but we've been brought up to believe that unelected heads of state are generally a bad thing.....haven't we?
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...so flatterten lachend die Locken....
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Bryn
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« Reply #1 on: 12:28:28, 19-02-2008 » |
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The multi-millionaire Communist Cuban President has resigned, after nearly fifty years of absolute power.
The so-called 'liberal' press is already in paroxysms of grief over this news. No doubt we can expect a hagiographic piece on Newsnight this evening, if the BBC follows true to its usual form.
Yet, when all is said and done, the man was a tyrant and a despot. True, he may deserve some credit for his David and Goliath act with the U.S. all these years, but we've been brought up to believe that unelected heads of state are generally a bad thing.....haven't we?
I heard he had announced that he would not be standing for election this time. He may not have been elected by the same sort of highly prized democratic system as that which gave us George Walker Bush, but he was repeatedly elected according to the Cuban system, perhaps less clearly honest, open and above-board system than that used in the USA.  |
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Swan_Knight
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« Reply #2 on: 12:37:53, 19-02-2008 » |
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Bush's election in 2000/2001 was decidedly dodgy; his re-election in 2004, however, was not.
I've no time for Bush, either - probably the most inept leader ever elected by a democratic country. But at least he can (and will) be removed, no matter how much damage he's done.
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...so flatterten lachend die Locken....
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richard barrett
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« Reply #3 on: 14:13:26, 19-02-2008 » |
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Bush's election in 2000/2001 was decidedly dodgy; his re-election in 2004, however, was not.
That isn't what I've heard. Speaking of "damage", it's quite possible for a US president to do so much damage that it's basically irreparable. Bush's eventual "removal" will make very little difference to all the lives which have been ended or ruined as a result of his and his government's actions. Viva Cuba libre! |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #4 on: 20:24:23, 19-02-2008 » |
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Talking of the "liberal press", the coverage of the Kosovo/Kosova situation has been uniformly pro-USA, with no thought of the ramifications if, for example, the IRA were rewarded for their terrorist acts by being given independence...
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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increpatio
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« Reply #5 on: 20:36:03, 19-02-2008 » |
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Talking of the "liberal press", the coverage of the Kosovo/Kosova situation has been uniformly pro-USA, with no thought of the ramifications if, for example, the IRA were rewarded for their terrorist acts by being given independence...
But (the republic of) Ireland was given independence, largely as a result of IRA actions. I don't see how you can view it as being a 'reward' though. I don't see either that many people in Ireland saw it as being a 'reward' for anything. |
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« Last Edit: 20:43:15, 19-02-2008 by increpatio »
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harmonyharmony
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« Reply #6 on: 21:32:59, 19-02-2008 » |
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I really don't know what to think about Castro or Cuba generally.
I obviously don't know enough on the subject and what I do know seems to lead me in contradictory directions.
I certainly find the idea of US gunboats preparing themselves to 'liberate' a post-Castro Cuba a rather chilling prospect.
The problem with political ideology is that there are just so many inconvenient human beings standing between you and it.
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'is this all we can do?' anonymous student of the University of Berkeley, California quoted in H. Draper, 'The new student revolt' (New York: Grove Press, 1965) http://www.myspace.com/itensemble |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #7 on: 09:53:08, 20-02-2008 » |
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I met with someone "involved in Diplomatic Circles" yesterday, on a different matter - but the question Castro came up. There is "a view" that if McCain is elected President, he'll want to be "seen to be doing something about the Commies". However, much easier than a military solution would be something far simpler - dropping the economic embargo under the guise of wishing to "improve relations", and then deluging Cuba with American consumer products. It's believed this would bring down Raoul Castro in a very short time.
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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autoharp
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« Reply #8 on: 10:34:29, 20-02-2008 » |
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Talking of the "liberal press", the coverage of the Kosovo/Kosova situation has been uniformly pro-USA, with no thought of the ramifications if, for example, the IRA were rewarded for their terrorist acts by being given independence...
Not so. Lots of interviews with Serbs, both in Serbia and Kosova. Very few with pleased Albanians who have been having a tough time there for generations. Perhaps I read the wrong papers and watch the wrong TV programmes. Comparison with the IRA is misplaced here. A different place + a different history. |
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Reiner Torheit
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« Reply #9 on: 11:29:19, 20-02-2008 » |
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Comparison with the IRA is misplaced here. A different place + a different history.
I would disagree with that, and believe the situation is entirely analogous. |
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"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
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Bryn
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« Reply #10 on: 11:42:09, 20-02-2008 » |
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Comparison with the IRA is misplaced here. A different place + a different history.
I would disagree with that, and believe the situation is entirely analogous. Ah, so the Albanian Kosovars are the indigenous population, and the Serbs the colonial power. I see. So , why are you not supporting the Albanian Kosovars, RT? |
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ahinton
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« Reply #11 on: 11:50:23, 20-02-2008 » |
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Bush's election in 2000/2001 was decidedly dodgy; his re-election in 2004, however, was not.
That isn't what I've heard. So what have you heard (and from what source/s)? - that neither or both of those elections were dodgy? Speaking of "damage", it's quite possible for a US president to do so much damage that it's basically irreparable. Bush's eventual "removal" will make very little difference to all the lives which have been ended or ruined as a result of his and his government's actions.
How very sadly and worryingly true - indeed, all the more so because US presidents do not have the monopoly on this kind of thing, as I'm sure you appreciate! |
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ahinton
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« Reply #13 on: 12:22:03, 20-02-2008 » |
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Well, that answers the question clearly enough! Thanks. What do you think about that weapon of mass national destruction in terms of its possible instance, say, here in UK? |
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increpatio
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« Reply #14 on: 15:19:52, 20-02-2008 » |
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Comparison with the IRA is misplaced here. A different place + a different history.
I would disagree with that, and believe the situation is entirely analogous. oh? |
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