Castro Notes Absence of Plot to Kill Him

[Robbien]

PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela -- Cuban President Fidel Castro said his visit to Venezuela for a Caribbean oil summit Wednesday marked the first overseas trip he could remember in which foes had not mounted a plot to assassinate him.

. . .

"This may be the only visit I've made in which there was no plan to attack me, simply because I wasn't going to make the trip," said Castro, citing assassination plots thwarted during past summits.

. . .

The leaders of 14 Caribbean nations signed an agreement that promised to bring the region more oil sales from Venezuela on preferential terms. The initiative would extend and improve special financing arrangements under past oil deals and use an expanded fleet of Venezuelan tankers to deliver fuel directly to bypass costly intermediaries, Chavez said.

Chavez said the Venezuelan state oil company had created a new affiliate called PDV Caribe to coordinate the project, and that Venezuela would be willing to accept goods such as bananas or sugar for a portion of payments. The initiative could help small Caribbean countries save a projected $6 a barrel on fuel, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez said.

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sns-ap-venezuela-castro,0,1047988.story?coll=ny-leadworldnews-headlines

Hiding a major cooperative South American energy agreement under a throwaway headline such as this. Corporate media at its best.

[demnan]

1. It's less trouble just to wait till he dies.

[robcon]

2. At least he admits his paranoia.

Castro's a nutjob, but it's refreshing to hear him admit it.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. oh yeah, it's all in his head.

He imagines the craziest things. Like Operation Mongoose.

Anti-Castro plots seldom lead to jail in U.S. - July 23, 1998 The Miami Herald

Castro Assassination Plots

[Media_Lies_Daily]

4. Right. The US would NEVER try to kill Castro. Do yourself a favor....

...and read Minstrel Boy's post...you might actually learn something.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

5. Heh...

Trying to kill Castro is an American tradition.

[meganmonkey]

6. Just because you're paranoid...

doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you
I'd be paranoid too, if I were him.
:shrug:

[donsu]

13. sorry, but it's all in your head

nt

[brainshrub]

7. English translation: Poor countries can pay for oil without dollars.

From the US perspective, Venezuela & Cuba have just declared economic war. Allowing 3rd world countries to have more purchasing power, means less power for corporations.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. Is the US, at this date, the only remaining country enforcing the

embargo on Cuba?

Why?

We made friends with the soviets, and twelve years later the soviet empire collapsed. We made friends with China, and now it is a shining example of state capitalism. We've normalized relations with Vietnam, even, and 50,000 Americans died there.

But we can't kiss and make up with Cuba because they overthrew our bought and paid for dictator, and nationalized a few sugar plantations 45 years ago?

I just don't get it.

[Minstrel Boy]

9. The reason is it's 50 miles away.

The US has been unable to make peace with Cuba because Cuba sets an example in its own backyard.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Cuba's progress seems to have made an impression on World Bank officials

several years ago. They've made enough comments and gestures indicating they've examined Cuban progress to preclude any damage _Wolfowitz could do, I surely hope, to advance the Neocon goals for Cuba...

Learn from Cuba, says World Bank

by Jim Lobe

Washington, 30 Apr 2001 (IPS) - World Bank President James Wolfensohn Monday extolled the Communist government of President Fidel Castro for doing “a great job” in providing for the social welfare of the Cuban people.

His remarks followed Sunday’s publication of the Bank’s 2001 edition of ‘World Development Indicators’ (WDI), which showed Cuba as topping virtually all other poor countries in health and education statistics.

It also showed that Havana has actually improved its performance in both areas despite the continuation of the US trade embargo against it, and the end of Soviet aid and subsidies for the Caribbean island more than ten years ago.

“Cuba has done a great job on education and health,” Wolfensohn told reporters at the conclusion of the annual spring meetings of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “They have done a good job, and it does not embarrass me to admit it.”

His remarks reflect a growing appreciation in the Bank for Cuba’s social record, despite recognition that Havana’s economic policies are virtually the antithesis of the “Washington Consensus”, the neo-liberal orthodoxy that has dominated the Bank’s policy advice and its controversial structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) for most of the last 20 years.

Some senior Bank officers, however, go so far as to suggest that other developing countries should take a very close look at Cuba’s performance.
(snip)

http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/learn.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You might want to read this article, as well:

November 11, 2004

Cuba's Response to AIDS
A Model for the Developing World
By EDWIN KRALES

http://www.counterpunch.org/krales11112004.html

[Igel]

11. And he knows this how?

Just because you don't see the person that's trying to kill you doesn't mean s/he's not there.

[Judi Lynn]

12. True enough! I've heard Cuban security is very good, however.

They have uncovered plots before in time to prevent their success, and notified authorities in other countries where President Castro was visiting.

I believe they were the ones who exposed the one in Panama when he was supposed to address a very large gathering in an auditorium, and alerted their police in time for them to locate the Cuban "exiles" (including bomber/mass murderer Luis Posada Carriles) who had the bombing materials with them, before they could pull it off.