Fearing Attack, Cuba Readies Troops

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Cuba-Castro.html?hp&ex=1154836800&en=99b3a4e298efef98&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Fearing Attack, Cuba Readies Troops
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 5, 2006
Filed at 3:23 a.m. ET

HAVANA (AP) -- Cuba government has mobilized citizen defense militias, saying it fears a U.S. attack during Fidel Castro's health crisis, even though the White House insists no such threat exists.

The island's government, under the control of Castro's brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, has also asked military reservists to check in daily.

Cubans interviewed on state-run media Friday said they would fight to the death against any invaders from the north, while the Communist Party daily Granma said, ''We Cubans are prepared for the defense'' of the island.

White House press secretary Tony Snow rejected as ''absurd'' any suggestion that the United States would attack the island...

MORE

[MADem]

1. Who can we send?

Maybe those guys down in Little Havana honking their horns and waving their flags?? We'll outfit them and off they go, they can stay when they're done, too....

Hell, they've got rent-a-cops on the gates of most military facilities. All the troops are overseas.

There will be no invading Cuba anytime soon...

[Syrinx]

2. a couple of boy scout troops could probably topple the Cuban government

Not that it should be done, though.

[High Plains]

23. That is a serious misunderestimation of the Cuban military.

[TomClash]

14. Maybe those old Miami Cubans will pick up rifles nt

[Oversea Visitor]

3. Terror Terro Terror

What afraid of the old gentle giant :rofl:

Sorry many around the world scare shitless

Need to cozy up to Russia and China

Make nice nice

Incase bush look our way :rofl:

bush foreign policy 101

Don't think just do what one wants to.
Bring it on
Muslim terrorist
WMD
Valerie Plame :puke:
President cuckoo drives world cuckoo

[Syrinx]

4. may I ask where you live?

I'm only curious. Thanks.

[Oversea Visitor]

5. Why me not hide

It is on profile :rofl:
Stupid question
You mean bush one look my country way :rofl:

Do I feel threaten :rofl:

No worry Malaysia very easy to take

Airforce all old junk got no parts :rofl:

Got no anti air defence

Real easy push over :rofl:

Oh gee Blair will go nuts

[theHandpuppet]

6. Oversea Visitor has been around DU for some time...

... and is a prolific contributor the DU fora. :hi:

If you wish to know where someone is from just check the link to their DU profile. Next to the poster's name you'll see some little icons -- just click the one that looks like a file folder. Oversea visitor's profile is there and howdy to our friend from Malaysia!

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Hey hello

:hug:
Lots of uptight people around nowadays
So many missing old DUer

[Syrinx]

9. okay, I dig satire and parody

Even if it is borderline racist. :hi:

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[Mika]

8. This story is a joke. The Cuban defense is mobilized for the storm!

Tropical storm Chris is about to pass right over Cuba. No one can predict just how much rain will fall or if there will be flooding, mud slides, etc.

Cuba's defense and civil militias are in charge of disaster mitigation.

They do an amazing job of evacuating anyone in harms way.

Of course the current US admin is incapable of actually protecting or helping citizens so the mainstream media gives BushCrimeInc what Monica gave Clinton, by helping rumor mongering and spreading fear with a story like this.



http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/emergencies/asian_floods_2004/background/cubalessons

Oxfam America recently studied the experience of Cuba in its development of disaster prevention and mitigation programs. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Cuba frequently stands in the way of serious hurricanes. While its neighbors are battered, losing lives and property, Cuba is unusually good at withstanding these calamities, and suffers much fewer dead.

Oxfam’s report, entitled Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction in Cuba cites a number of attributes of Cuba’s risk reduction program that can be applied by other countries. Three in particular are transferable to Asia and other regions:

* Disaster Preparedness: Cuba was especially good at mobilizing entire communities to develop their own disaster preparations. This involves mapping out vulnerable areas of the community, creating emergency plans, and actually simulating emergencies so people can practice evacuations and other measures designed to save lives. When disaster strikes, people know what to do.

* Commitment of Resources: Cuba’s strong central government prioritizes resources for its civil defense department. This helps the country to build up a common understanding of the importance of saving lives, and the citizens trust that their contributions to the government are well used for this purpose. Their collaboration on developing emergency plans helped build confidence in the government, so people trust in the plan they helped develop.

* Communications: The communications system for emergencies in Cuba builds on local resources. Using local radio stations and other media to issue warnings on potential hazards also reinforces the disaster preparations. Since the local population is already involved in mapping risks and creating emergency plans, they are more inclined to act on emergency bulletins. Good communications, packaged simply, and built on existing, commonly used resources, is another way to build trust in disaster preparations.

Cuba is a unique example. There is a strong central government committed to protecting all its citizens, even the poorest and most isolated who are typically the most at risk. The most common natural disaster in Cuba is a hurricane, a threat visible for days and even weeks in advance.

[flordehinojos]

10. i don't think the story is a joke with bush and rice blowing stupid hot

air cuba's way, with the bush and rice track record for attacking, invading and occupying the less armed, with mel martinez, ileana ros-lehtinen and the diaz-balar brothers saying, you go bush and rice... the story is not a joe...i think they (the cubans) think of it a preventive dental care.

[Mika]

11. Agreed, the threat isn't a joke, but the NYT story is.

Read the story. Nowhere does it describe any actual mobilization of a military defense against an invasion. In Cuba, when a storm approaches, reservists are always asked to check in - in case they are needed to help with an evacuation in their area. That certainly is not a mobilization in preparation for a US attack. The story just regurgitates the BushCrime party line using fear.

[Judi Lynn]

22. Thanks for pointing out what's happening here.

Either they are simply unable to grasp what's happenening, or they are deliberately misrepresenting it.

If they didn't understand what's going on, all the reporter has to do is ask, for crying out loud, for more information. This leads you to the only OTHER explanation available, and that's to get a sensationalistic, and completely misleading story.

[Robbien]

24. True, I believe Bushco believes Cuba will be floundering if Castro dies

They have no idea of what it is really like in Cuba.

I was just listening to a radio interview this morning about how over the past few years Castro has been delegating many responsibilities over to a strong group of men who had been handling many of the duties of governing the country. Due to his age, he has been stepping back a bit but remains the public head for political purposes. If he does die now, very little will change in Cuba.

[catmother]

12. condi was just saying yesterday how the cuban people

deserve to live in a democracy. now there's a possibility that they have oil. well who knows?

[Toots]

21. Caring for and protecting a country's citizens..What a Novel Concept!

:banghead: USA only Industrialized nation without Universal Heath Care

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Syrinx]

17. I'm just saying use your commen sense

That's all I'm saying. Don't be fooled by bullshit.

[jpkenny]

18. I hope they have some good anti-aircraft weapons.

Face to face without the support of air power they will fight off the Americans once again.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

19. Nahhh

Kennedy was just trying to get rid of some troublesome elements in the US. So he threw them to the wolves with no support whatsoever once they hit the beaches. Think it might be arguable that he had no intention of supporting them once they got there.

Would not call what happened in the 60' fighting off an American force.

I think a ground war in Cuba would be different than Baghdad. Its allot easier to supply a force 90 miles off the costline than the other side of the globe.

Not saying it should happen, only that it would be different. Of course, this assumes that you have a competent SecDef overseeing the military.

[robcon]

20. I think Castro (Raul?) learned from Bush

Fear - unjustified fear - unites his followers, and makes them forget his incompetence, mismanagement and fascism.