US Havana messages outrage Castro (BBC News)

[Up2Late]

(More provications from the Bush Cabal, Grrrrrrrrrr)

Monday, 23 January 2006, 05:08 GMT

US Havana messages outrage Castro

By Stephen Gibbs
BBC News, Havana

Cuban President Fidel Castro has condemned the US for broadcasting illuminated messages on the building of its mission in Havana.


The slogans appeared on the US mission in Havana last week

The US says the messages, including quotes from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are an attempt to break Cuba's "information blockade".

President Castro said it was a gross provocation and a US attempt to break off all relations with Cuba. He called for a mass protest on Tuesday outside the US interests section.

Exiled militant

In a three-hour live television address, President Castro launched a fierce attack on the US administration, describing it as being run by a bunch of bandits. He said that his long-term ideological enemy was in no position to talk about human rights.

The large scrolling display appeared last week outside the building housing the US interests section, carrying messages such as "everyone has the right to free thought". US diplomats say they are only attempting to launch a dialogue with the Cuban people.

A massive march of hundreds of thousands of people outside the building is expected on Tuesday.

(more at link below)
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4638240.stm>

[lindisfarne]

1. Pretty ironic the Bush admin. is quoting the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights

[HuffleClaw]

2. that is just plain WRONG

if iran's US embassy did the same thing, bush and co. would FREAK.

[tritsofme]

3. Ironic yes, but wrong...?

I think more than anything it is ironic to see such an administration quoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I don't see why anyone besides a tyrannical thug would be offended by such a noble document.

[Judi Lynn]

4. The sting obviously would come from being preached to by a country

which has placed Cuba under a crushing embargo for over 45 years, and has conducted an armed invasion, as well as sponsored many, many small incursions and acts of terrorism, while looking the other way as the Cuban "exiles" in south Florida to this day make terroristic attacks on the island, from the air, ocean, and even land small groups of armed men to shoot the place up. A Cuban "exile" thug has even testified during his murder trial he carried vials of biological warfare into Cuba working for the CIA.

Noble? More like filthy behavior from a country so large it spends more in 12 hours on defense than Cuba spends in an entire year.

You're not going to mislead anyone here.

[leftchick]

10. perhaps it is because the messenger

is the tyrannical thug in this instance. :eyes:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. "Tyrannical thug"? According to whom? I find it rather interesting....

...that he has managed to lead his country for so long without any home-grown attempts to overthrow him...all of the plots to remove him from power have originated from the U. S.

[Mika]

15. Where does it say that Mr Castro is offended by the UDHR?

The article states no such thing. Why would you say that it does?

.. the messages, including quotes from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ..

It has a nice propaganda effect, for travel banned Americans, to include quotes from the UDHR while provoking one's host with other messages of ill intent. The UDHR is part of the Cuban constitution. Cubans are well aware of the document because it is part of their school curriculum.

It is twisted propaganda to suggest that Castro or Cubans "would be offended" by the UDHR.

-

US diplomats say they are only attempting to launch a dialogue with the Cuban people.

Really? Well.. which government is preventing a dialog between the American people and the Cuban people?

The Cuban government and the Cuban people have been seeking open relations with Americans for 46 years. Bush's "diplomats" want a filtered restricted dialog with only a select few Cubans - those on the US payroll, willing to do the US gov's bidding.. willing to act as agents of US interests.

If real dialog is the sincere intent, then its time to end the US government's dictate that bans travel for Americans to go to Cuba to create open dialog and also bans Cubans from coming to the US for such dialog - from Cubans across the spectrum.. educators, researchers, artists & musicians to baseball players & Olympic teams.

Only tyrannical thugs prevent open dialog between peoples, and in the case of US/Cuba dialog it is the US government that prevents such dialog.

[ugarte]

5. The US cares so much about Cubans, it blockades them for 50 yrs

Cubans understand the US only cares about one "right": the right to take over Cuba again.

[Clutch Cargo]

6. A three hour speech?

What is it with these dictators who feel that they have to dominate their country's consciouness with these all-day TV speeches. Who in their right mind would listen to that blowhard for three hours? Wow!

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Castro's age must be catching up with him

His speeches often run twice that long.

[ret5hd]

9. couldn't be any worse than a 20 minute speech by your leader...

don't ya' think?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

12. Castro actually has something to say....especially when compared....

...with Herr Busch who only repeats what he's told to say from the microphone in his ear.

[Clutch Cargo]

16. He obviously has something to say

He's got three hours of something to say. It's just not worth listening to becasue it's three hours of bullshit. All the great dictators are known for their long winded three hour speeches about nothing and he fits in with that great tradition. When he dies, hopefully soon, he will be recognized as one of the world's great dictators.

[Mika]

18. LOL! As if Cuba's consciouness is dominated by TV.

In that regard, Cuba isn't like the US - at all.

Who in their right mind would dedicate many many dozens of hours every year watching 'Survivor' 'Friends' or some such mindless entertainment.

Or worse than that.. Fox News.

[Judi Lynn]

19. As if a man who communicates well with his fellow citizens is worthy

of right-wing American censure. Maybe he could use some pointers from a pResident who keeps everyone but Republicans completely out of sight every time he appears in public, and has lowered himself to do press conferences only a handful of times since he stole control of the White House.

I happen to recall reading when he fainted after speaking a while, wearing his heavy uniform in the hot Havana sun, sources even in the States commented on the fact people in his huge audience were deeply concerned, some even crying when they feared he had bought the farm. Doesn't sound like a multitude of people who feared him, does it?

[Up2Late]

20. Actually, they're quite entertaining, like the LW ver. of Rush Limbaugh

I saw part of his July 2004 speech on CSPAN, when he read from the book "Bush on the Couch" about how GWB shows signs of Alcohol induced Brain Damage. Great fun for a LW audience.

Think of all the hours the RW Lemmings sit listening to 3-4 hours speeches by Rush Limbaugh and Neal Boortz. Those blow-hard often do 3 hours with very little effort. It's very similar.

Here's a copy of the text from the July 2004 speech:

<http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/13573_Castro.html>

[robcon]

7. Castro is an out-of-control despot

His speeches reflect his megalomania. His 40+ year reign reflect his brutal regime's l;ack of political freedoms.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. "Brutal regime"? Because the Necons tell you it's brutal?....

...Maybe you should do a little reading on Batista, the murderous rightwing dictator that Castro overthrew. Maybe then you might understand why the vast majority of Cubans support Castro.

[Bridget Burke]

14. Out of control?

Why do you want to control him? How many countries has Cuba bombed & invaded recently?

[ronnie624]

21. Really?

Do you have any excerpts from some of these speeches that would illustrate his "megalomania"?

[rman]

22. just a bunch of RW memes

[Mika]

17. Meanwhile, a few miles away in Gitmo, a "waterboarding" is taking place..

.. speaking of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.


People in glass houses..

[leftchick]

23. some people have no grasp of the irony

:eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

24. Profoundly embarrassing. Only something a right-winger could excuse:

The party which has hoisted itself above the law.

[Up2Late]

25. And 90 miles away, we find the last country in the western hemisphere...

...who has (and strongly defends it right have) the Death Penalty.

[Mika]

26. I don't understand your post.

Are you referring to Cuba or the USA?

Both have death penalties. I disagree with both countries on this issue.

[Up2Late]

27. I'm talking U.S.A. From all I've heard is Cuba does NOT still have...

...the Death Penalty, it's only us here in the Western Hemisphere, unless you count what's coming to GTMO (the U.S. Military just changes it's execution policies, see LBN today).