Changes in Cuba are "cynical;" U.S. official

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Reurters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Recent changes made by Raul Castro, the new Cuban President, to improve access to consumer products are "cynical" since most Cubans won't have enough money to buy them, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday.

"It's somewhat cynical that some time in the future they will have the right to buy a cell phone, if they are able to come up with the money", U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez told the Reuters Latin America Investment Summit in one of the first reactions by the Bush administration to the recent lifting of restrictions in Cuba.

Gutierrez, a Cuban-American, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are leading a commission trying to push for democratic changes on the communist-run island, and he thinks recent actions should not be seen as "reforms."

"It's sad that after 50 years of suffering and 50 years living in fear with shortages and 50 years living with repression, Cubans now have the right to buy a rice cooker," he added.

Stores started selling some of the electric goods that were previously banned in the socialist state, such as DVD players, with microwave ovens and computers expected in a day or so.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/LatinAmericanInvestment08/idUSN0121857320080401

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It might be cynical to sell DVD players and big macs to the latin american 220 millions living in poverty.

[tanyev]

1. Well, lift the frakking restrictions on how much money relatives can send

and how often they can visit, and they will be able to buy things, Mr. Gutierrez. Heck, get rid of the entire embargo.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Exactly! Lift the embargo while we are at it.

How many days left in the Bush regime?

[darue]

2. typical bush regime projection n/t

[Judi Lynn]

4. He's a little biased, himself, as one of the Bush collection of right-wing Cuban

stooges.

Bushes have been up to their eyebrows in reactionary terrorist Cuban "exiles" since before the Bay of Pigs. Just google it all, if you can stand the disgust over this mob of hitmen, thugs, bombers, etc. Grotesques.

[damntexdem]

5. All statements by Bushistas are cynical ...

at best.

[Mika]

6. When will our gov allow us to stay in Cuban hotels & use Cuban cell phones?

:shrug:

[AlphaCentauri]

7. Bingo!