Charlie Crist explains why he wants to visit Cuba: 'This policy has not worked'

[Judi Lynn]

Charlie Crist explains why he wants to visit Cuba: 'This policy has not worked'
By Adam C. Smith and Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Staff Writers
Friday, May 9, 2014 5:43pm

ST. PETERSBURG — Charlie Crist minces no words describing the government of Cuba: "It's oppressive. It's anti-free-press. It's totalitarian. It's wrong."

But the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee wants to visit Florida's communist neighbor this summer and says it's past time to lift the United States' 53-year-old Cuba trade embargo.

"The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. This policy has not worked," Crist told the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald in an interview Friday, explaining for the first time the thinking behind his plans.

The controversial trip — panned by Republican Gov. Rick Scott as a public relations coup for the Castro regime — would be a first for such a high-profile Florida candidate, and it may not happen at all if the Department of State or Cuban government reject the idea. The former Republican governor said he is optimistic after submitting his request to the Department of State two weeks ago.

More:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/charlie-crist-explains-why-he-wants-to-visit-cuba-this-policy-has-not/2179105

[Judi Lynn]

1. Scott says Crist will be Castro ‘puppet’ if he visits Cuba

Scott says Crist will be Castro ‘puppet’ if he visits Cuba
by George Bennett | May 7th, 2014

GREENACRES — Gov. Rick Scott and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera blasted Democrat Charlie Crist for considering a trip to Cuba this summer.

“It’s sort of laughable. He’s going to go down there and help promote the Castro regime,” Scott told reporters after a campaign appearance at AutoNation Chevrolet to promote cuts in motor vehicle fees and other taxes.

“He’s just going to be a puppet for the Castro regime and every dollar he spends down there is going to help them oppress their people,” Scott said.

Crist’s interest in visiting the communist island was first reported by The Tampa Bay Times.

~snip~
“Charlie’s been a Republican and an independent and a Democrat,” Lopez-Cantera said. “I don’t know, maybe he’s going down there to explore becoming a communist.”

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2014/05/scott-says-crist-will-be-castro-puppet-if-he-visits-cuba/

[Judi Lynn]

2. Cuba arrests Miami-based 'terrorists' over alleged plan to attack military

Cuba arrests Miami-based 'terrorists' over alleged plan to attack military

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 08 May, 2014, 10:18pm
UPDATED : Friday, 09 May, 2014, 12:26am

Reuters in Havana

Cuba has arrested four Miami-based exiles suspected of planning attacks on military installations with the goal of promoting anti-government violence on the communist-run island.

Labelling the suspects "terrorists", it said they were linked to Luis Posada Carriles, 86, a Cuban exile and former CIA operative living in Miami who for many years sought to overthrow then-president Fidel Castro.

The April 26 arrests could antagonise the already poor relations between Washington and Havana, and the case recalled a series of plots from the exile community in Miami against Cuba.

Cuba said it would contact US officials about the investigation and that the four suspects had admitted to planning the attacks.

More:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1507632/cuba-arrests-miami-based-terrorists-over-alleged-plan-attack-military

[Vogon_Glory]

3. Charlie Crist States The Obvious

Charlie Crist states the obvious: the US trade and travel restrictions with the island of Cuba haven't worked.

I had an older relative who realized this and vocalized it. He had impeccable turn-of-the-Millenium right-wing Republican credentials: a Reagan supporter, Republican fundraiser, a party activist, hostile to the EPA. He'd even honeymooned in Havana before Fidel Castro's revolution even got started. But he was perceptive enough to realize that the Havana government was solidly entrenched, it had popular support and the exile leadership didn't, and short of a full-scale military intervention and long-term occupation (Which he didn't support anyway), the US wasn't going to force the Havana regime to alter its political and economic policies.

That was back in 2001. Charlie Crist only caught up (Publically, at least) 13 years later.

[Mika]

4. "This policy has not worked"

Just who the F do these Americans think they are?

This brazen meme, "This policy has not worked", is just more of the same empire bullshit that Smedley Butler decried (albeit with a smiley face pasted on the US's gunsights) ...

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
― Smedley D. Butler, War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier

How about we just normalize relations - both trade and travel - and then leave Cuba the fuck alone!