MAIN » ARTICLESMonsters in the Bushes - Report on US Intervention in the event of Castro's death in Cuba
This editorial was first published on livejournal.com on 03.07.2006.
Despite the continuing ranting and raving about Ronaldo and Rooney, the rather eloquent and extremely convincing argument for energy-saving lightbulbs and other marvellous treats in today's Independent, the one article which caught my eye was on Bush Vs. Cuba. I'm mildly indifferent on the other articles, but this one I have a stance on.
I'm not going to come out entirely Pro-Castro, because that would be foolish, but on certain matters I am completely behind Cubans who see America as an agressive danger and irritation to their society. I'll be a semi-sympathiser, how's that? The very suggestion today that Bush and his administration will attempt to intervene after Castro's death is beyond me. Of course I'm not surprised, but it's shocking how they can repeatedly and publicly flaunt their self-imposed right to impose US "democracy" on anyone it feels threatened by. The report set to be released mentions assistance, training, aid, surface suggestions that may have goodwill behind them, but unfortunately we don't know the intentions, or any further action they're considering, as half the report is classified.
For a start the Embargo should have been lifted a long time ago, certainly after the wipeout UN votes in the last three years (182 to 4 in favour of removal in 2003) and now to suggest that they'll actually stop Raul becoming the next president, it's another step further past a line they passed a long time ago. To limit the amount Cubans living in the States can send back to their families is bad enough (surely there are human rights issues here?), but now they appear serious on the issue of implementing the "Save Cuba" plan, how far will they go? Will this 'transition' to democracy involve occupation? Further trade and financial embargos? Democracy shouldn't come about through lack of choice, whether choice is available for the Cubans in their own right is a different matter, but the US aren't giving them a real alternative, they're forcing them down the big starry, stripey highway towards Bush's compound.
If this plan turns out to be financial aid, given to (on request) the next Cuban government, then that's one thing, no problem. Same if the public consensus in Cuba is overwhelmingly in favour of US help. If it involves any illegal intervention (the fact there is already a private memo on US plans following Castro's demise worries me, what do they have to hide?) or the States continuing to ignore international law to their own ends then it'll be the punchline to the joke this administration and the ones before it have been telling since the 60s.
Just to clarify, I'm not supporting everything Castro has done in Cuba, or saying the society couldn't be improved, but I'm against the idea of one country imposing itself on a foreign government time after time (and so arrogantly to assume they must be right) and nothing being done about it. No wonder Ricardo Alarcon considers this report an "act of war", how can they be sure it won't be?
Written by Jay
Despite the continuing ranting and raving about Ronaldo and Rooney, the rather eloquent and extremely convincing argument for energy-saving lightbulbs and other marvellous treats in today's Independent, the one article which caught my eye was on Bush Vs. Cuba. I'm mildly indifferent on the other articles, but this one I have a stance on.
I'm not going to come out entirely Pro-Castro, because that would be foolish, but on certain matters I am completely behind Cubans who see America as an agressive danger and irritation to their society. I'll be a semi-sympathiser, how's that? The very suggestion today that Bush and his administration will attempt to intervene after Castro's death is beyond me. Of course I'm not surprised, but it's shocking how they can repeatedly and publicly flaunt their self-imposed right to impose US "democracy" on anyone it feels threatened by. The report set to be released mentions assistance, training, aid, surface suggestions that may have goodwill behind them, but unfortunately we don't know the intentions, or any further action they're considering, as half the report is classified.
For a start the Embargo should have been lifted a long time ago, certainly after the wipeout UN votes in the last three years (182 to 4 in favour of removal in 2003) and now to suggest that they'll actually stop Raul becoming the next president, it's another step further past a line they passed a long time ago. To limit the amount Cubans living in the States can send back to their families is bad enough (surely there are human rights issues here?), but now they appear serious on the issue of implementing the "Save Cuba" plan, how far will they go? Will this 'transition' to democracy involve occupation? Further trade and financial embargos? Democracy shouldn't come about through lack of choice, whether choice is available for the Cubans in their own right is a different matter, but the US aren't giving them a real alternative, they're forcing them down the big starry, stripey highway towards Bush's compound.
If this plan turns out to be financial aid, given to (on request) the next Cuban government, then that's one thing, no problem. Same if the public consensus in Cuba is overwhelmingly in favour of US help. If it involves any illegal intervention (the fact there is already a private memo on US plans following Castro's demise worries me, what do they have to hide?) or the States continuing to ignore international law to their own ends then it'll be the punchline to the joke this administration and the ones before it have been telling since the 60s.
Just to clarify, I'm not supporting everything Castro has done in Cuba, or saying the society couldn't be improved, but I'm against the idea of one country imposing itself on a foreign government time after time (and so arrogantly to assume they must be right) and nothing being done about it. No wonder Ricardo Alarcon considers this report an "act of war", how can they be sure it won't be?
Written by Jay