Is Castro's Cuba next..

[LordChaverly]

In other words, for a popular uprising similar to what is happening in various Middle Eastern countries? Although it is on a different continent, Cuba shares many of the characteristics of the dictatorships which are being in the process of being swept away in the Middle East, i.e. it is an oppressive police state, where citizens are denied the right to vote or even to express their political opinions without risk of being thrown in jail or even killed. It is also economically moribund and, like Libya, has been ruled by a megalomaniac for many years.

 

One key difference is a key role in the revolutions happening in the Middle East is being played by the 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' generation. In Cuba, both Facebook and Twitter are both banned and the Castro government keeps a tight rein on citizens' access to the internet. Similarly, citizens are not allowed to leave the country without official approval. Indeed, is this and other respects, Cuba is an even more repressive state than some of those currently undergoing transformation in the Middle East.

 

One thing is for sure though, and that is if there is an uprising in Cuba and Castro seeks to suppress it (as inevitably he would) he could no doubt rely on the support of the ‘Sheffield Socialist Choir’, the court clowns and applause monkeys for one of the most oppressive regimes in the world. Nor can Sheffield City Council absolve itself of its role, however minor, in bolstering this regime by providing support for a forthcoming visit by a Cuban choir (see Jonathanb977’s recent thread on this subject), which can be nothing other than a propaganda arm of the Castro regime. It would be shameful if a single penny of Council taxpayers’ money went to support this event.

[Harleyman]

About 80 percent of Cubans have never known any other leader than Castro and the remaining 20 percent are old enough to remember the days of the dictator Juan Baptista who they hated with a passion.

The situation in Cuba may well be bad but the majority of Cubans still think Castro as something akin to God.

Those who didnt have left for Florida already.

[LordChaverly]

the majority of Cubans still think Castro as something akin to God.

 

How do you know this Harleyman?

 

The same might have been said about Gaddafi until last week. The fact is that, in an oppressive regime like Castro's, we don't know what the general population really think of their leader. What we do know is that any anti-Castro demonstrations are likely to be broken up and their participants are likely to end up in jail.

[alchresearch]

I thought Cuba was well on the way to democracy with a new found friendship with the USA?

[Cavegirl]

From the, admittedly, quite little I know about Cuba I don't think that the underlying symptoms of the current revolts exist in Cuba that exist in the Middle East.

 

The Middle East is in uproar because of excessively high and rising food and commodity prices, not because they are seeking democratic change as the western media likes to suggest. As such, the Middle Eastern protests can be seen as anti-government rather than pro-democratic, the latter is just what the west is hoping for.

 

Cuba became completely self-sufficient in food growing following the US blockades and embargoes that caused them such problems in the 1990's so it is not suffering the hyper-inflationary food prices that are affecting the Middle East. Cuba has also just found a potentially large oil field within its waters, so I imagine the people are looking forward to reaping some of the benefits of this.

[Harleyman]

How do you know this Harleyman?

 

The same might have been said about Gaddafi until last week. The fact is that, in an oppressive regime like Castro's, we don't know what the general population really think of their leader. What we do know is that any anti-Castro demonstrations are likely to be broken up and their participants are likely to end up in jail.

 

No doubt the Cubans have been brainwashed over decades also and their access to outside contact as you already mentioned limited although the island is popular with Canadian and European tourists. US citizens are not allowed to visit. I'm sure also that Castro's police keep an eye on those Cubans who through their jobs come into daily contact with tourists.

 

For what it's worth I'll state my opinion that once Castro dies his brother Raoul will take over as he has done already to an extent and after a period of mourning Raoul Castro will put out feelers to the US government which the US government will welcome and talks on a normalization of relations will start from there. Businesses in the US are eager to invest in Cuba due to it's proximity and the climate. Within a matter of ten years casinos and hotels will sprout everywhere but this time without the Mob running the operations.

 

In the meantime I dont see riots breaking out. Cuba's transistion to democracy will be a slower gradual one

[Harleyman]

I thought Cuba was well on the way to democracy with a new found friendship with the USA?

 

The Obama administration is very interested in starting a dialogue with Cuba and Raoul Castro is open to the idea I think but while Fidel is alive his hands are tied.

 

There is some resistance from the Republicans and Cuban exile groups but once normalization is established which it will, despite the current opposition exiled Cubans and their descendents will be eager to invest in the country as will the hotel and tourist industry and of course US aid will follow.

 

I'm looking forward to visiting Cuba myself once that happens

[John Dory]

The Obama administration is very interested in starting a dialogue with Cuba and Raoul Castro is open to the idea I think but while Fidel is alive his hands are tied.

 

There is some resistance from the Republicans and Cuban exile groups but once normalization is established which it will, despite the current opposition exiled Cubans and their descendents will be eager to invest in the country as will the hotel and tourist industry and of course US aid will follow.

 

I'm looking forward to visiting Cuba myself once that happens

 

I doubt the US will make Cuba as well off as Hiati, Nicaragua and some of the other hell holes in that region.

[Harleyman]

I doubt the US will make Cuba as well off as Hiati, Nicaragua and some of the other hell holes in that region.

 

 

Dont compare the Cubans to Haitians or Nicaraguans. Casro's regime did a lot of good for the Cuban people and there is a core of literate, educated people as a result.

It's far more attractive to foreign investors because of this factor.

 

As for Haiti the only thing that can ever place that country on a decent footing would be either a permanent occupation by the US with government run by US politicians or permanently administered by the United Nations.

 

Neither I imagine are very eager to take on that responsibility

[John Dory]

Dont compare the Cubans to Haitians or Nicaraguans. Casro's regime did a lot of good for the Cuban people and there is a core of literate, educated people as a result.

It's far more attractive to foreign investors because of this factor. by the US with government run by US politicians or permanently administered by the United Nations.

 

Maybe that's the answer then, install left wing governments in places like Haiti and Nicaragua, ban elections and impose santions.