Will Obama Attend Fidel’s Funeral in Cuba?
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Obama has less than two months to go in his administration and president-elect Trump appears less than supportive of the current administration’s overtures with the island.
Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands for the first time at the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa back in December 2013. The gesture sparked considerable speculation and expectations about the relationship between the two historical antagonists.
A year later when Obama and Raul Castro announced a resumption of diplomatic relations we learned that for well over a year behind the scenes talks had been taking place between the emissaries of the two governments with assistance from the Canadian government and the Vatican.
The subsequent thaw in relations, the opening of embassies, the weakening of some aspects of the US embargo on Cuba (still in force), a sharp increase in visitors from the US, and then the Obama trip to Cuba in March 2016 followed.
In subsequent days, the motive behind the Obama visit to Havana was sharply criticized by Fidel Castro who saw it as only a new strategy to dominate Cuba and destroy its revolution.
Why?
In his speech of 21 March at the Alicia Alonso Theatre in Havana, Obama offered the olive branch by saying that he thought it was time to discuss the end of the embargo, but there would have to be some reciprocation. On March 28th, Mesa Redondo on 4 of the 8 TV stations at 7.00 p.m read a 10 minute long letter purportedly written by Fidel Castro – but more probably by the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of Cuba and titled “The man Obama” which can only be described as vitriolic. The following day, Bruno Rodrigues Carilles the Foreign Minister said in a speech that there would be no reciprocation.
Barack Obama’s endeavor was for naught – but the Castro regime got its chance. Now they will have to deal with Donald Trump!
Get hold of the facts Martha! I heard it all – I was there!
Have all the prisoners in Barlinnie and Peterhead been released?
Your problem Peter is that rather than examining the reality of fifty seven long weary but frightening years of Castro dictatorship and its oppression, you are yacking about another Cuban Dictator who has been a long time dead. Do you talk about Wendy Wood – or don’t you remember her leading the Scots Nats?
Nothing has changed in Cuba – it is a repressive Police State with all the active tools of communism including the CDR (which is modelled on the infamous East German Stasi) on every block in every village, town and city, to report to MININT about who is meeting with who, what their activities are and a full annual report is made upon every citizen. Your imagination is running riot. Castro did not give Cuba back to the people of Cuba. He took and kept all power and control to himself.
You live in an alternate universe? Fidel was a Dictator who imprisoned or killed all opposition to him and made the people poverty ridden virtual slaves. Obama was only President for 10 months when he was awarded the Nobel Peace prize, a gesture the Prize Committee has come to regret. Do your research on both.
Ah! The voice of truth and reason! Kudos!
If your family had suffered under Castro tyranny as has mine, you would be “hot on the topic of Fidel” as well.
Boy, you’re really hot on the topic of Fidel. I think you should go have a nice lie down and the have some lunch.Everybody knows that Fidel saved Cuba,and that the people
there are immensely better off than they were in 1960 in every way. Freedom of speech isn’t all that important when you’re starving and the Yankees are raping your daughters and sons. I hope Barack will attend. Hopefully it will go a bit to restoring friendship between the countries. It’s what he was given the Nobel Peace Prize for.
Fidel gave Cuba back to the Cuban people, against the pillage of Batista and his cronies, who did ZILCH for the Cuban people. May Cuba now move forward into a new era, remembering the pillage and political manipulation prior to Castro regime and support the BASIC honesty of that Fidel has left them. Good Luck Cuba. ps When are the GUANTANAMO prisoners going home to the country of their jailers???
I certainly hope that he goes and offers his condolences to the country and leave his presidential, legacy as a gentleman.
He needs to attend!
Obama will go and he will meet with Fidel
I hope that Obama DOES NOT attend the Castro funeral. The appropriate attendee would be the sub-secretary of State for Latin America. At most, the Secretary of State.