Raul Castro Denounces US Siege on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua
HAVANA TIMES – Former Cuban President Raul Castro said today that the United States wants to lay siege against adverse countries such as Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and called to “respond to every challenge,” reported dpa news.
“For us, as for Venezuela and Nicaragua, it is very clear that the fence is closing in, and our people must be alert and prepared to respond to each challenge with unity, firmness, optimism and unwavering faith in victory,” said the leader of the all-powerful Communist Party of Cuba.
Dressed in his general’s uniform, Castro spoke at the 65th anniversary commemoration of the assault on the Moncada Barracks in the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, the first failed attempt by Fidel Castro to seize power.
“Once again, an adverse scenario has been created and the euphoria in our enemies resurfaces,” Castro told thousands of people gathered for the rally broadcast live on state television.
Castro referred to current relations between Cuba and the USA, as “formal diplomatic ties” and noted that the White House’s pronouncements on the island are “characterized by disrespect, aggressiveness, interventionism and the crude manipulation of historical truth. ”
Relations between the two countries have been strained since last year when Washington denounced a series of alleged attacks on its diplomats stationed in Havana, which caused them hearing loss, dizziness and other symptoms, but whose origin has not yet been identified.
The new Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, accompanied Castro with the rest of the Cuban leadership in the celebration of National Rebellion Day, to commemorate the assault on the Moncada barracks against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista back in 1953.
“None of us who attacked the Moncada together with Fidel could dream that we would be alive 65 years later and with a free, independent and sovereign country, a socialist revolution in power with such accomplishments achieved,” said Raul Castro.
WHO is “Dan “? Just think about it!
The irony is that your strident anti-government views – if the shoe were on the other foot and you lived as a permanent resident in the US and were critical of our government – would get you deported. Cuba- which obviously is easily able to read your hundreds of posts – allows you to stay. Sort of belies everything you say about Cuba. BTW, have you improved your Spanish yet ?
These are the three poorest Spanish speaking countries in the world, I’d say that the world is watching them — long fail.
I Michael Davis Sr/ Captain Deufuss am not “blinded by hatred”. Because my home is in Cuba and I spend the majority of my time there with my wife, family, friends and community, I can fully justify my detestation of communism and the dictatorship of the Castro regime. In writing my book about Cuba, I did a lot of research to add to my experience of living there. Read it and you might just learn a little!
As for Trump, I regard him as a temporary four year aberration who has lost the US its position of being the leader of the free world and is an embarrassment for a very high percentage of thinking Americans. I admit there are those who think of him as a national hero for pursuing isolationism, but that will come back to bite them. If you think that Obama was bad (but not impeached which may occur with Trump), I think that you would logically think of the Castro regime as despicable. The use of exaggerated phraseology as practiced by President Trump when addressing his ardent baying followers or making his ‘tweets’, does little to indicate any “genius” as you claim, certainly his linguistic talents appear limited. But, love blinds all!
You speak critically of “unfettered capitalism”, so that must include your beloved President?
My purpose in contributing to discussion in Havana Times is to fully describe the reality of Cuba and its political system which not only imprisons Cubans physically, but attacks even their human right of freedom of expression and thought. I care not a whit whether Americans or others prefer to address the sins and errors of Donald J. Trump. To me in these discussions he is largely an irrelevance.
Finally, you deceive yourself by suggesting that Cubans under a totalitarian dictatorship would be able to pursue the Trump “formula” and have “prosperity for the masses”. Such comment demonstrates ignorance of the reality that faces Cubans daily.
Carlyle, I did address the issues relevent to the article, but apparently you didn’t read past the second sentence. Read onward, and then respond, you missed the primary point I am making. Are you that blinded by hatred, that you can’t get past the names of “Casrtro” and “Trump”. The treasonous aberation here was Obama and the Clintons, but thankfully they have been deposed. The opportunity for prosperity for the masses in the USA is being restored. The proof is in the results, and it’s undeniable, unless you lie to yourself. Follow the formula, and you will see opportunity for prosperity for the masses in Cuba too.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings! Anyone who “admires what I am seeing in Cuba” ought to be obliged to live under the repressive regime for just one year on the average Cuban income. To suggest that Cubans are even able to engage in a “serious intellectual debate” demonstrates ignorance of the way of life enforced upon Cubans.
There is one very obvious difference between Raul Castro Ruz and Donald J. Trump(f). Raul has succeeded in being a dictator, Donald although envious, has not and will not. US citizens are protected by being a democracy with Donald being a temporary aberration, Cuban citizens have no such protection and are subject to the permanent iron grip of Communist dictatorship and the repression that is inherent with it. So, there is no valid comparison.
All that is going on with the comments of NomaN, Nick and Michael Davis Sr/Captain Deufuss is endeavor to divert discussion of the evils of communism in Cuba and Raul Castros support for similar repression in Venezuela and Nicaragua onto gripes about Trump(f). It doesn’t work fellows! Why not address the article?
Obviously nobody here understands Trump, can follow his lightning speed, or recognize his genius. Therefore he must be a fool, racist, Islamaphobic, homophobic, idiot, etc., etc., etc., adnauseum. Face it, you just hate the man because he exposes the real fools and idiots for what they really are. Socialism/communism is the true fools game, it has always produced the same failure rate, and created gross poverty for the masses, while enriching those in power and control. But, unfettered capitalism is guilty of it’s own evils as well. So, let’s face the truth about both failed systems, and have a serious and open minded debate. Or just stuff it in a deep stinky hole where the sun don’t shine. Raul Castro was really trying to make changes to benefit the productive and motivated workers, but He wasn’t perfect, wow what a revelation. I admire him, and Donald Trump.
You are right NomaN.
trump has tried to reverse all the normalising policies of his predecessor. This has a negative effect on Cuba.
But where his policies could potentially cause more problems would be places such as Iran.
He is labelled a mysoginist and a racist.
On his recent European Tour he managed to grossly insult the female leaders of Germany and the U.K. and also London’s Muslim Mayor in his usual childish and boorish way thus confirming the labelling to be correct.
Cuba will deal (or fail to adequately deal) with its own issues in its usual lethargic way and will no doubt continue to plod along long after trump’s gone.
OK, off the top. Trump is an idiot. But he has only been in office 18 months. The Castros have been in control of Cuba for nearly 60 years. The problems facing Cuba have nothing to do with Trump. In fact, in a weird way, Trump has actually helped Cuba more than Obama did. Obama, through his late attempts at rapprochement threatened to expose the Castro dictatorship for its true flaws. The Castros recognized this and beginning with Fidel’s “Reflection” denouncing Obama’s efforts to restore relations, the Castros resisted nearly every positive step Obama took at great political risk to himself. With a buffoon like Trump in charge, the Castros have their bogeyman back. When all else fails, blame it on US policy and Donald Trump. Ortega and Maduro won’t be around much longer and Cuba will be isolated. At least with Trump around, the Castros will have somebody to blame their economic failures on when they are forced to go begging door-to-door throughout the rest of Latin America and Europe. They may find a sympathetic ear or two based solely on the possibility that by helping Cuba, you will possibly be able piss off Trump.
As I wrote Nick, it is the pot calling the kettle black. Raul Castro is endeavoring to divert world wide condemnation of his communist allies in Venezuela and Nicaragua on to the US. That endeavor to divert has been pursued for almost sixty years. Shortages of anything have been attributed to the embargo along with all criticisms of the managerial and economic incompetence of the regime. It just doesn’t wash. Venezuela and Nicaragua are endeavoring to emulate the supposed success of the Castro’s in Cuba. They just haven’t yet managed to kill as many people as the Castros did in Cuba, nor have they been successful in preventing demonstrations, so they still have a bit to learn. Raul is trying to help!
Well Nick, he might be right about the Liar-in-Chief currently residing in The White House having “disrespect, aggressiveness, interventionism and the crude manipulation of historical truth”, BUT that’s not specifically directed towards Cuba. This Liar-in-Chief is doing his best to treat the whole world like that! How someone so incapable of global politics can be elected as president??
Raul Castro mentions “disrespect, aggressiveness, interventionism and the crude manipulation of historical truth.”
If he is referring to the Liar-in-Chief currently residing in The White House, then he has clearly hit the nail square on the head.
As usual Raul Castro is full of contradictions.
In talking of the US laying siege, he is not referring to a military action, but to an economic one. So why not just ignore the US and be content to have the non-capitalist “socialist” world as allies? The answer is of course that Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are actually dependent upon the capitalist world and are incapable of operating without it.
As Havana Times noted, Raul reverted to his military togs, abandoning his habit of the last two years of trying to appear diplomatic by wearing expensive hand tailored suits, white shirts and silk ties. I wonder if there is now going to be yet another change in his portraits hanging in the public offices, back to the old ones of him in uniform. As for the four rows of ribbons, in which countries did he serve to earn those?
It is laughable that Raul accuses the US of “disrespect, aggressiveness, interventionism and the crude manipulation of historical truth.” The pot calling the kettle black!
However, coming from the mouth of a totalitarian repressive communist dictator, nothing that Raul Castro Ruz says is actually funny. The Castro regime lives in the Stalinist version of the19th Century Marxist/Leninist past, dismissing any opportunity for the people of Cuba to look forward to a better future of liberty and the freedoms that people in the imperfect capitalist world enjoy.
I am a citizen of the USA, and I am embarrassed with the political debate in my country. There isn’t a real intellectual debate here, it’s just violent and ignorant fools playing a “resistance” game. I admire what I’m seeing in Cuba, because you are having a serious intellectual debate, and most peaceful. I hope and pray for the best outcome of freedom and prosperity for the Cuban people. Continue fighting, debating, learning, and growing peacefully. The world is watching you.