Cuba blames U.S. for shipwreck that killed 31

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25718377.htm

Cuba blames U.S. for shipwreck that killed 31

HAVANA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Cuba blamed the United States on Thursday for the death of 31 people lost when an overcrowded speedboat with failing engines capsized en route to Florida, an illegal migration Havana accuses Washington of fomenting.

A Cuban government statement said 24 men and eight women were aboard a speedboat that had a capacity for only 10 passengers and capsized on the night of Aug. 16. Three survivors were picked up in the sea by a passing ship 30 miles (48 kms) off the Cuban coast on Monday and returned to Cuba.

When the engines began to fail, the two smugglers manning the boat told the passengers to throw themselves overboard, the statement said, citing the accounts of the survivors. In the confusion, the boat overturned, it said.

"We hold the government of the United States responsible for the death of 31 people who have all surely perished," said the statement read out on nightly television news.

[Yupster]

1. Cubans are willing to

risk their lives on rickety boats to get out of Cuba and come here, and if they don't make it, it's our fault.

I guess it's also our fault if Mexicans die in the desert trying to come here too.

Castro has been in power for 46 years now.

You'd think by now he would have gotten things at least decent enough so people wouldn't risk their lives trying to flee him.

Maybe it's time to give the opposition party a chance?

[seriousstan]

2. Alertnet...need I say more.