Reuters: U.S. rejects talking to Cuba's "dictator-in-waiting"

[Eugene]

U.S. rejects talking to Cuba's "dictator-in-waiting"

Mon Dec 4, 3:48 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department on Monday rejected an offer
of talks with Raul Castro, Cuba's acting president, saying it saw no point
in a dialogue with what it called the Caribbean island's "dictator-in-waiting."

"The dialogue that should be taking place is not between Raul Castro and any
group outside or any country outside of Cuba. It's the regime, with the Cuban
people, talking about a transition to a democratic form of governance in that
country," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

The offer of talks, made on Saturday, was the most direct overture to the
United States by the designated successor to Fidel Castro, who gave power
to his brother temporarily after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in late
July.

At a military parade on Saturday, Raul Castro railed at the Bush administration
and condemned the Iraq war but added: "We take this opportunity to once again
state that we are willing to resolve at the negotiating table the long-standing
dispute between the United States and Cuba."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061204/wl_nm/cuba_usa_castro_dc

[Botany]

Oh for the love of God NOT TALKING has put us into the shitter.

i.e. N. Korea
Iran
Syria
Lebanon
Iraq

Talking is the 1st step ..... Fucking bush is like give into all our
demands and then we will talk .... non starter.

in Sept. 2005 Cuba offered Docs, tents, food, and boats after Katrina
(Holland offered to jet over some world class levee Engineers too)
bush said no.

[Amonester]

8. Yep. Lil' lord pissypants said no, and we all know what ...

happened: more than a thousand innocent AMERICANS suffered through what seemed to be like an endless agony, especially seniors who didn't have the physical choice of being able to leave their beds on second floor, as they watched the water level raise slowly, day after night after day until, no help came to their rescue. Then they got slowly surrounded by the flood all over their aging body until they couldn't breath anymore.

And that utmost heartless, careless monster of a War criminal is still occupying the White House 15 months later??

What was Clinton impeached for, again?

:grr:

[Botany]

1. dupe

[Say_What]

2. LOL but as long as they're *our dictators* they're okay...

Bush's pal from Uzbekistan who boils people comes to mind




http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,963497,00.html

There's a whole history of them...

America's Allies
THE FRIENDLY DICTATORS
Meet the Friendly Dictators - three dozen* of America's most embarrassing "friends", a cunning crew of tyrants and corrupt puppet-presidents who have been rewarded handsomely for their loyalty to U.S. interests.

Traditional Dictators seize control through force and often are self-styled "Generals." Constitutional Dictators hold office through voting fraud or severely restricted elections and are frequently mouthpieces for the military juntas which control the ballot boxes. Both types of dictators are covered here, along with a few tyrannical kings. but don't look for "enemy dictators" (communists and the like) in this set of cards. These are America's allies, strange and undemocratic as they may be.

Friendly Dictators often rise to power through bloody CIA-backed coups and rule by terror and torture. Their troops may receive training or advice from the CIA and other U.S. agencies. "Anti-communism" is their common battle cry and a common excuse for political repression. They are linked internationally through extreme right-wing groups such as the World Anti-Communist League (see card 17). Strong Nazi affiliations are typical - some have been known to dress in Nazi paraphemalia and quote from Mein Kampf, while others offer sanctuary for actual Nazi war criminals.

Friendly Dictators usually grow rich, while their countries' economies go down the drain. U.S. tax dollars and U.S. backed loans have made billionaires of some; others are international drug dealers who also collect CIA paychecks. Rarely are they called to account for their crimes.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html

[anotherdrew]

3. maybe if they pretend he's a KING that'd help? The Dictator of Saudi Arabi gives them no pause n/t

[IndianaGreen]

4. A friendly overture is rejected by a government held hostage by

Miami Cubans.

Bush will go to his grave, and Cuba will still remain a socialist nation.

[Mika]

6. IG, sorry to harp on you with this.. but..

The embargo/sanctions remain NOT on account of a small number of Cuban exiles. That is just a typical blame shifting to avoid dealing with the real problem - our own "democracy".

As I have pointed out time and again, the US standoff against Cuba is a bipartisan campaign.

Each political side of the issue in the US (a mixed group of Dems and repugs on both sides) gain in campaign capital (read: campaign contributions).

No Castros as bogeymen = no anti Castro industry in Washington and Miami (that contribute to both R's and D's campaigns in exchange for bills to continue the standoff).

No sanctions on Cuba = no anti sanction campaign from big AG and travel industry (that contribute to both R's and D's campaigns in exchange for bills to end the sanctions).

It is in the best interest (meaning: campaign financing) for both political sides to continue the status quo.

America should not be held hostage, and our freedoms should not be restricted, on account of a corrupt undemocratic political system in the US. The case of the Cuba standoff isn't just because of a small minority of Cuban exiles - but because of a majority of bought-and-paid-for politicians in congress. On both sides.

An analysis of the Cuba standoff yields an excellent case for campaign finance reform - we need public and equal financing of campaigns, instead of corporate/special wealthy interest group financing, to eliminate financial political gain from 'wedge issues'.

[IndianaGreen]

7. I don't disagree with what you are saying, but....

it is the case of who is to blame: the drug dealer, or the user. Congress is addicted to campaign money. Groups such as CANF and AIPAC have legislators on their payroll, figuratively speaking. The reason there status quo remains vis-a-vis Cuba and the Middle East, is because our courageous Congresspeople value the cash they get more than they do what is in the national interest.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. I'm disappointed, but not really surprised.

It's what I expected from the hypocrites in office.

[Vogon_Glory]

9. Dubya's Post Castro Cuba Agenda--Very Long Odds Against

I suspect that if any of the mobsters who managed casinos in Havana or elsewhere in Cuba before 1959 are still alive and interested enough in gambling to place odds on Dubya's plan to replace the Castros while Dubya is still in the White House (even if the stakes are for match sticks), they'd give very long odds against Dubya getting his Cuban wish-list.

Of course the thought of giving Dubya and his Republican buddies a chance to screw up a post-Castro transition the same way they've screwed up Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti should be enough to scare any sensible American citizen-voter. The thought is almost scary enough to make even capitalist-roaders like myself clench my fist, raise it skyward, and bellow "Viva Fidel!", and I'm not much of a fan of the way the Castros have managed Cuba's economy.

[Vinca]

10. Would we expect anything else from Bush . . . the fool? nt