The US/Cuba relationship

[jdinca]

Very true, it has been the US imposing its political system on to South American countries that has given rise to many a South American Terrorist organization.

As far as Communism goes as a political system, it looks good on paper but it never truly works well. It tends to take forget about the reality of human greed and motivation.

As for Cuba, I hardly think Castro is a direct threat, not even if he combined with countries from South America. They could possibly mount terrorist campaigns, but where is the benefit to Cuba in attacking the US?

You're limiting your thinking to military threats. Add economic into the equation.

 

[Kane]

I cannot imagine one justification for this. What, I wonder, do you actually know about Cuba? Is it those "evil communists"? What a laughable position to have.

I have a question: What legal or ethical right or claim does that United States have to the base at Guantanamo Bay?

Sorry for the late reply, I just found this thread.

No don't think we should go to war with Cuba for the reason of communism. Although I am against communism I do think in time communism will come to end. I am not for a war against China or Vietnam, two communist countries.

I would support a war in Cuba because of one man: Fidel Castro. This guy may not be as bad as Saddam (although we don't know how many people he has slaughtered to make him as worse as Saddam) but he still has done many crimes against humanities. I have a friend who escaped with his family 4 years ago. His father was killed because of a bogus charge of seduction. This government is run by a tyrant and thee people deserve being liberated!

 

[Xue Sheng]

You're limiting your thinking to military threats. Add economic into the equation.

Actually. I'm not, I was speaking economics. What advantage is it to Cuba to attack the US? It would be an economic debacle. The only threat they currently pose is through nationalist terrorism. Which, just as a side note, is very different than Religious based terrorism.

Cuba can't afford it, until the South American connection, they were starting to allow a form of capitalism to start.

From an economic perspective, Communism as a system does not work.

Also, if you read Marx, there has never been a truly Communist system, based on what Marx says it is. There are communist political parties, but the systems, which they operate in, are closer to socialism.

Who are the big communist powers, Russia?..changing...China?..changing. Both are still major threats, militarily, but they are allowing more and more capitalist ideas to flourish.

If you want to worry about a Communist government worry about North Korea, not Cuba. Cuba is not a military threat and what economic threat does it pose?

 

[sgtmac_46]

Actually. I'm not, I was speaking economics. What advantage is it to Cuba to attack the US? It would be an economic debacle. The only threat they currently pose is through nationalist terrorism. Which, just as a side note, is very different than Religious based terrorism.

At this point in history, Cuba is no longer a direct threat. In the very recent past, however, they've funded and trained terrorist organizations, some of whom had influence and direct representation within the US itself. For years Castro has been funding groups in Puerto Rico with the hopes of fomenting revolution.

However, Castro is a lame duck. Though he'll probably live several more years (his parents both lived in to their 90's if i'm not mistaken), with his advancing age, and most importantly, the collapse of his benefactors in the Soviet Union, Castro is isolated and is in decline.

What's more, Cuban communism, unlike communism in some other nations, is almost entirely a product of the cult of personality. Communism in Cuba will not survive Castro for long.

Cuba can't afford it, until the South American connection, they were starting to allow a form of capitalism to start.

Again, Castro's death will spell the return of capitalism and democracy to Cuba.

From an economic perspective, Communism as a system does not work.

Certainly true.

Also, if you read Marx, there has never been a truly Communist system, based on what Marx says it is. There are communist political parties, but the systems, which they operate in, are closer to socialism.

That is mainly because Communism is impossible in practice. The only way that communism can remotely be maintained is through force. Without force, men naturally revert to other economic systems.

Who are the big communist powers, Russia?..changing...China?..changing. Both are still major threats, militarily, but they are allowing more and more capitalist ideas to flourish.

Russia ceased entirely being a communist nation. They now seem to practice a laissez faire style of capitalism not even seen in the US. What's more, Russia has recently reduced income taxes below even US levels. They have, in many ways, become even MORE capitalist than we are. It's interesting to note that Russia has emulated it's former enemy, the US, instead of Europe, in both it's choice of Parliamentary model and economic system. The belief at the collapse of the Soviet Union, was that the US and Russia would become two new global allies.

As for China, they remain a communist nation in name only. They are still a mostly despotic regime, but they have embraced capitalist economics (a bizarre situation, considering the state apparatus was developed to ensure communist principles, which no longer seem to exist).

If you want to worry about a Communist government worry about North Korea, not Cuba. Cuba is not a military threat and what economic threat does it pose?
[/quote] North Korea is a threat, mainly in the sense that they've been able to develop nuclear technology. The main threat is selling of technology to other nations. North Korea is a much bigger direct threat to South Korea and Japan.

As an aside, it's of interest whether or not an expanded North Korean threat will force Japan out of it's 60 year purely defensive military posture, and in to a larger military capability.

 

[jdinca]

Actually. I'm not, I was speaking economics. What advantage is it to Cuba to attack the US? It would be an economic debacle. The only threat they currently pose is through nationalist terrorism. Which, just as a side note, is very different than Religious based terrorism.

Cuba can't afford it, until the South American connection, they were starting to allow a form of capitalism to start.

From an economic perspective, Communism as a system does not work.

Also, if you read Marx, there has never been a truly Communist system, based on what Marx says it is. There are communist political parties, but the systems, which they operate in, are closer to socialism.

Who are the big communist powers, Russia?..changing...China?..changing. Both are still major threats, militarily, but they are allowing more and more capitalist ideas to flourish.

If you want to worry about a Communist government worry about North Korea, not Cuba. Cuba is not a military threat and what economic threat does it pose?

I'm not concerned about Cuba attacking us economically, it's a non-issue. My concern is Castro's impact on other countries that could hurt us economically. In particular is Venezuala. Cuba is not content just playing in their own yard. They are very active in supporting leftist rebels and dictatorial regimes throughout the region. Were that to gain momentum and grow, we could have a serious problem. Venezuala and Bolivia, to a lesser extent, already have me concerned.

North Korea is a major issue. We really can't take the military option. The second that happens, Tokyo goes up in a mushroom cloud. Sanctions haven't worked. They don't care a bit about starving their people. China is about the only country that can influence the government, and they aren't exactly our best friends.

 

[Xue Sheng]

North Korea is a major issue. We really can't take the military option. The second that happens, Tokyo goes up in a mushroom cloud. Sanctions haven't worked. They don't care a bit about starving their people. China is about the only country that can influence the government, and they aren't exactly our best friends.

As for Castro's influence in South America, he currently needs them more than they need him. And South American nations have been doing very well on there own, without help from Cuba, sprouting terrorist organizations.

I am not suggesting to attack North Korea that would be very bad, I am just stating that they are by far a bigger threat than Castro and Cuba. As sgtmac_46 stated mentioned, Castro is not long for this world.

That is mainly because Communism is impossible in practice. The only way that communism can remotely be maintained is through force. Without force, men naturally revert to other economic systems.

Agreed, kind of. Communism is currently practiced as a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership. In order to maintain this, force is required. This is why it is not a truly communist system. Communism is, to be very basic; everybody owns everything and all are equal.
This is why it does not work. Humans can be very greedy and crave power.

And you are correct China can be very influential in the North Korean situation. As for being despotic, there is definitely a person in charge with a whole lot of power, but I would not call it tyrannical.

The view we get of other countries, via the news, at least in the US, is not always what is really occurring. We do not hear the entire truth about countries like Russia, China, North Korea and Cuba. But in Russia, China, North Korea and Cuba they do not get the whole story about the US either. I tend to look to the BBC for a more realistic picture of what is going on.

But to get back to Cuba, I just do not see the threat.