Biden says U.S. does not plan to lift Cuba embargo

[G_j]

Source: Reuters

Biden says U.S. does not plan to lift Cuba embargo
Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:10pm GMT

VINA DEL MAR, Chile, March 28 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States would not lift the country's embargo on Cuba.

"No," Biden told reporters at a meeting in Chile when asked if the United States planned to lift the embargo. (Reporting by Reese Ewing, Simon Gardner, Adrian Croft; Editing by Simon Gardner)

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN2829539820090328?rpc=401&

[dbonds]

1. Saying there's no plans to and saying they would not do it are two different things.

Reuter's reporter shouldn't equate the two.

[marshall]

12. There's not many hairs there to split

He gave a one word answer to a fairly specific question.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. I think we are splitting monofilaments at this point. nt

[EFerrari]

15. Or the Reuters story is crap. What are the odds. n/t

[Mithreal]

20. 100% chance that story is weak. nt

[EFerrari]

21. They're the only ones who have it right now. We'll see. n/t

[dbonds]

17. If I asked you if you had plans for your vacation this year and you said no...

does that mean you aren't going on one, or just haven't thought it through yet.

[MADem]

95. It's a way of not answering the question. Obama said he had NO PLANS to run for President.

So did Senator Clinton.

[bemildred]

48. Sort of like "We have no plans to invade Iraq"? nt

[dbonds]

51. Not in concept, but in political parsing.

[MADem]

2. I'd love to see the file that keeps this situation "status quo." nt

[defendandprotect]

8. Old political power, I'd say . . . still in control . . . ????

[MADem]

60. Well, maybe old Fidel DID actually off someone important.

Even though he denies it, as do our people.

It just seems like a long-ass time to remain "unforgiven"--particularly when we've been playing kissy-kissy with the Pootie-poot crowd for decades, now...and the "Missiles of October" belonged to THEM, after all.

Something is "up" with Cuba--I don't know what it is, but it's Not Quite Right.

[defendandprotect]

62. Castro and Cuba are supposedly . . . "The Commies are coming! The Commies are coming!" . ..

Of course, we left Castro little choice than to look to USSR for help --

but, wouldn't it be admitting that Castro isn't and never was a danger to US

if we lift embargo?

Insane as that all is . . . !!!

[MADem]

64. Naaah. It was always the Russkies who were backing him--that was never a secret.

Castro was never a danger standing alone--it was those Russkies and their nukes that were standing behind him that was problematic for us.

It just seems interesting to me that so many Presidents have suggested that they would "look at" lifting the embargo while they are running for office, but then, once they get in and the question is asked again, it seems it's always "Hell, no--not this week, Pancho! Not gonna happen! Wouldn't be prudent!!!"

And all of the Cubans who are sending stuff home, wanting to visit, trying to get around the embargo via Mexico or Canada, are bummed out once again.

There must be something interesting in Castro's file, I'm thinking...

[defendandprotect]

70. No . . . the story was Castro/Cuba were communist . . . still is the story --

Well, otoh, Bush years imposed even more strident penalties --

as you note --

So there is a lot to be overturned --

My opinion is that the right wing never really leaves office --

the threat of their violence . . . but their seeming ability to ignite corporate-press

"swiftboating" may be fading to some degree as Americans wake up, however?

I think some prosecutions would help and the less we prosecute the more of this we're

gonna get!

[MADem]

94. That doesn't make sense, though. We got friendly with the Russkies while they were still commies.

We're pals with China, and they're STILL commies, at least in the way their government is structured.

[defendandprotect]

101. Right, of course . . .

Yes, the Russians -- tho communists -- were our allies during WWII.

Some of the stuff that went on after that -- the contrivances to create a
Cold War --- and the Cold War, itself, look fake.

Same with China -- as they say, only Nixon the great red/pink/Commie-baiter
could have opened China. Nixon appointed Poppy Bush as Ambassador to China
in 1974 . . . but "business" seems to have been going on there a long time.
I lost an interesting link I just had to Prescott Bush, JR. having been very
active in China doing business, as well.

Kissinger and Eagleburger have been in there all doing some kind of business . . .
Evidently supplying arms, if I recall correctly!
It was also rumored at one point that Poppy was big in producing hemp in China from
which you can make Rayon, for one important item. If you've ever noticed, we don't
have rayon here any more, generally speaking!

I remember Fletcher Prouty writing that the wealthiest guy in the world at the
time of WWII was Chinese -- and Fletcher Prouty was aware that he was certainly
part of negotiations as WWII came to an end.

The Vietnam "Commies are coming!" thing was also fake. And, we're doing plenty
of business with Vietnam now -- they're producing a lot of our clothing, for one
thing! We were there for tin, rubber, oil -- drugs.
In fact, Fletcher Prouty tells a story in one of his books that as WWII was coming
to an end, the US geared up with all supplies ready to move troops into Vietnam.
The troops rebelled and wouldn't go!

The Cold War seems to have been a necessity -- it had to be created -- but for
exactly what purposes, other than the MIC, who knows? What we do know is that the
CIA was also created around that time with WWII Nazis being brought into America
to found the CIA and also moved into the FBI. Werner von Braun into NASA.
Project Paperclip. While we were publickly condemning Germany for many of its
inhumane projects, we seem also to have been taking serious note and possession
of their records/files and a lot of this stuff has popped up in America's over time.

I've just been reading that we may have found some nuclear material in Germany which
might have been the basis for our own nuclear program - Los Alamos. Certainly, their
research with rockets was important to us. Remember, the moon is "the highest hill,"
as LBJ described it in the late 1950's. Though, the Moon projects themselves may also
have been fake -- and much of the money diverted. Obviously the Russians were ahead of
us in space exploration - way ahead of us.

Obviously, from day one, there is always imperialism and profit -- not much stands in
the way of that!

And I'd include the fake drug war and organized crime/drugs as big money makers for
all these people.

As the woman from Bikini Island said after we dropped nuclear bombs on the islands . . .

"Americans are really smart about really stupid things."

[MADem]

103. It's why I think there's gotta be more there than meets the eye.

I hope I live long enough to learn the full scoop!

[defendandprotect]

113. Keep me posted if you hear anything interesting --- !!!

[Metta]

3. Evil, yes. Humanity, no. Happy karma, Joe.

This is way past wrong.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. yet more change!

:sarcasm:

[earthside]

22. The more things "change" ...

... the more they stay the same.

More war in Afghanistan, more bailouts of the wealthy elite, threats against North Korea, drug war still enforced ... well, we got stem cell research and a 'promise' to close Gitmo.

Beside doubling or tripling the annual federal deficits, where is the substantive 'change'?????

[Flagg]

5. It's time for both sides to swallow their pride

and move on already

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Exactly what is Cuba supposed to do here?

Cuba is not embargoing the US. We can end the embargo any time we want, this is a unilateral action on our part, all we have to do is stop.

[totodeinhere]

76. One thing Cuba could do is allow ordinary Cuban citizens to have Internet access?

What are the Cuban authorities afraid of? Gosh, with Net access Cubans could even read DU.

[arikara]

98. They can't get the computers even if they had the access

my daughter was in Cuba a couple months ago. She used the computer in the hotel to email home and it is an old slow dial up system even for tourists. Cubans are living a 50's lifestyle and getting by with very little other than their ingenuity thanks to the stupid embargo.

[totodeinhere]

116. Maybe Chavez can get them some computers. n/t

[Jimbo S]

118. Fair elections?

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

13. US policy is to punish Haiti and Cuba for demanding autonomy.

When that changes, we'll know we're getting somewhere.

[Mika]

69. Cuba actually has something to be proud of.

The Cuban people have marshaled their meager resources and have done amazing things with very little. Their social stats bear that out.

Just why should Cubans swallow their pride? To placate American arrogance?

Its a shameful imperialist attitude to suggest that Cuba should bow to US imperialism in any way. They have managed OK since casting off the shackles of US hegemony. Plus the people have achieved the social infrastructure they wanted by participation in their system of government - something that Americans haven't done.

[Oregone]

6. Why?

[BuyingThyme]

9. Gotta guard that perfect record on foreign policy.

[defendandprotect]

10. Fifty years later -- and we're still not lifting the ban? Bush could have done that--!!!

[EFerrari]

11. I wonder what else he said? When has Joe ever answered in a monosyllable?

:shrug:

[rabs]

24. I was thinking the same thing. "No" is so un-Biden-like.

Looking around to see if can find the exact question and the exact answer.

http://www.fotos.emol.com/index.asp?G_ID=9292#

Wake up Joe :spank:

[EFerrari]

25. Me, too. Before we beat Joe up, let's see if Rotters got it right.

lol

:hi:

[rabs]

27. See photo #25

don't know why the whole photo file showed up. Copied properties only for #25. but he woke up in $27

:)

[rabs]

31. The rest of the story ....

VINA DEL MAR, Chile (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday the United States would not lift the country's embargo on Cuba.

"No," Biden told reporters at a meeting in Chile when asked if the United States planned to lift the embargo.

"We think that Cuban people should determine their own fate and they should be able to live in freedom and have some prospect of economic prosperity," he added.

Several South American defense ministers this month urged President Barack Obama to lift the embargo on Cuba, saying such a move was crucial to improve U.S. ties with the region.

"Obama and I made it clear during our campaign that we thought there's a need for transition in our policy toward Cuba," Biden added.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52R1UC20090328

[EFerrari]

32. Can I still hope Reuters got it wrong or should I just accept

that this is neo-colonial cr@p? Hmmm. What to do.

[rabs]

37. Let's wait for the Spanish version (if there is one)

I have to see if the question was asked in Spanish or English and how it was framed. Unsee anything yet on Santiago media.

[lsewpershad]

16. Whether Joe

likes it or not this silly embargo will be lifted sooner than later. It has achieved nothing and makes US look foolish.

[960]

18. God, I love Biden. He is the perfect reality foil to Obama's "change".

[avaistheone1]

30. Sssh.

:hide:

[acmavm]

39. **HEE HEE** Good one.

I've hated Senator Citibank since the three night Anita Hill hearings. And he's never done one damn thing but reinforce my opinion of the guy.

[Mithreal]

19. The embargo is not the only way to ease relations and keep the change promise.

Just saying, but that Reuters story was weak.

1. Have we lifted restrictions on travel of Cuban Americans and remittance to their families yet?

2. Have we taken Cuba off the terrorist list yet?


Sunday 8 March 2009

Obama's proposed Cuba measures would only partly thaw a policy frozen since John F Kennedy tried to isolate the communist state across the Florida Straits. "It would signal new pragmatism, but you would still have the embargo, which is the centrepiece of US policy," said Erikson.

Wayne Smith at the Centre for International Policy, Washington DC, said: "I think that the Obama administration will go ahead and lift restrictions on travel of Cuban Americans and remittance to their families. He may also lift restrictions on academic travel.

"There are some things that could be done very easily - for example it's about time we took Cuba off the terrorist list. It's the beginning of the end of the policies we have had towards Cuba for 50 years. It's achieved nothing, it's an embarrassment."

Wayne Smith, a former head of the US Interest Section in Havana, famously said Cuba had the same effect on American administrations as the full moon had on werewolves.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/08/cuba-obama-administration

[Warren Stupidity]

26. An embargo is an act of war.

Can't we just stop the crap? It has been almost 20 years since the cold war ended. Cuba is no threat to us at all. Instead we are a threat to Cuba, a threat we manifest daily with our embargo against this tiny country. This nonsense serves no purpose other than the political pandering to a dwindling cohort of aging rightwing Cuban-Americans. It is a policy that is the essence of national stupidity.

[davidinalameda]

28. why would Cuba be on the terrorist list?

according to people on here, Cuba is the happiest place on earth

[EFerrari]

29. You're thinking of Guantanamo. n/t

[bitchkitty]

35. Well, with this bonehead policy,

we'll never be able to see for ourselves, will we?

[Billy Burnett]

45. And according to others health care and education has to be forced on an unwilling Cuban population.

Because everyone knows that a government run healthcare system sucks. :sarcasm:

[roody]

56. Except for not having McDonalds! Well the embargo is good

for some things.

[dflprincess]

96. That's what I was thinking

in many ways Cuba is better off without us. I have heard that the time to visit Havana is now - before there's a Starbucks on every corner.

[The abyss]

23. Trial Balloon Story?

Checking the pulse of public opinion...perhaps.

[Mithreal]

33. You betcha. nt

[humbled_opinion]

34. Now is the Time...

Things like this that have been neglected for far too long....

If not now When?

There will never be a better opportunity then Now.....

Those are the answers and mantra that this administration should follow. It saddens me to think that the real progress not just fixing Bush's screw ups but the real progress that needs to happen in this country is possible it is within our grasp but our leaders are afraid....

yes I said afraid, there is no other reason that you would not actively pursue ending the Cuban Embargo.

[EFerrari]

36. If it is blocked, it will be cloaked in the fake language of "human rights"

but the endgame is to get hands on a resource, either the $ from Miami anti-Castro Cubans or maybe even the oil off the Cuban coast.

[The abyss]

38. Oil – go for the oil.

My vote, anyway.

They can not go after Chaves, rifles behind every blade of grass.

Plus allow for US domestic control – find an enemy, domestic or foreign, it makes no difference.

[antimatter98]

40. China and Venezuala can make Cuba into a Dubai..and then, watch how fast the US drops sanctions..

so that 'bidness' investment and banks and oil companies can get a piece and establish once again
a beachhead in Latin America.

Cuba can become the Dubai of the Caribbean Basin, while the US watches. Again, if this
happens, watch how fast Biden et. al. change the tune overnight. Our collective memory in
the US is about two years anyway.

[lostnotforgotten]

41. Change - Didn't I hear An Awful Lot About Change We Can Believe In?

Let me see maybe the change is in my pocket somewhere?

Oh, just forgot that I am flat broke.

[GreenTea]

42. Ridiculous-Lift the fucking embargo already-US Corporation are doing business with Communnist China

Why is Cuba singled out?

[Amonester]

73. Why is Cuba singled out? Because, political bribes... uh... contributions

R top priorities and well above any (spare) change.

Change the way political parties (and politicians...) get $$$, and "change we can believe in" will happen.

Until $$$ come from the Treasury and are closely monitored, forget it.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

[rollingrock]

85. Because Communist China is more than willing

to turn their country into a nation of cheap labor slaves for corporate America.

[SpartanDem]

43. From the article:

Obama has made clear he favors relaxing limits on family travel and cash remittances by Cuban Americans to Cuba, although he has said the U.S. trade embargo should stay in place to press for democratic reforms.

I have to agree I don't think it's unfair to ask Cuba for human rights reforms in order for the embargo to be lifted.

[bluestateguy]

44. I want those angry elderly Cubans in Little Havana voting Democratic

It's kind of a priority for me.

[monmouth]

46. You're right and they are a very influential and heavy contributing sect.

They are aging and their kids think it's stupid. My old boss came here from Cuba when she was 14. Her wealthy father lost everything and she was very adamant at the time about no lifting of the embargo, etc. Her daughter and she argue constantly about it...

[bluestateguy]

47. If we win Florida, Republicans will never win another election again

nt

[monmouth]

49. That's for sure. What do you think of Charlie? I'm not at all unhappy

with him and think he's a great improvement over Jeb.

[EFerrari]

58. How can those people still even be on two feet? It's been fifty years.

I'm so disappointed. But, it's not only them. Every time a Latin American country moves toward democracy, a wave of right wing nutcases decamp and moves to Miami. (There must be an @sshole magnet there, somewhere.) Since Cuba, we're talking about Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras and lately, El Salvador.

Poor Miami. :scared:

[Judi Lynn]

66. Not long ago Bolivia foundGonzales "Goni" Sanchez de Lozada there and attempted

to get him returned to Bolivia to face trial for killing over 90 protesters, and his Defense Minister, who thought it up, and his oil minster. They are still under U.S. protection. You remember James Carville's group created "Goni's" last Presidential campaign, before he killed all the protesters.

You may also remember several years ago they located two high-ranking officers from some Central America for their part in mass murder.

Last year, someone named Telmo Hurtado from Peru was found there, a man who'd participated in a mass execution in Peru.

It would make an interesting book listing all the war criminals who live/lived in the Miami area. It must get pretty damned crowded around there! Remember, they named a STREET for former CIA operative, Cuban "exile" bomber/mass muderer, Orlando Bosch.

The FBI also named Miami "America's Terror Capitol" years ago, at the height of C-4 bombings, fire bombings, car bombs, etc.

[depakid]

50. Events may well drive policy here

[elleng]

52. That ain't no story.

.

[grillo7]

53. It's one of those annoying, pragmatic choices...

Obama supported lifting the embargo while a Senator, and opposed it while a presidential candidate. Therefore, it's obvious--as several of you guys have already pointed out--that it's solely a re-election based decision.

I really hate things like this, but I guess it's worth the trade-off. I would much rather ensure another four years of Obama than to have Sarah Palin in the White House in 2012.

[harun]

100. If he doesn't lift the embargo he will lose re-election. You can't run as the "Change"

candidate then keep everything the same just to win re-election.

He doesn't improve relations with Cuba I won't fucking vote for him again.

[grillo7]

105. More of a second term issue...

I agree that he should, but it makes more sense to address it in his second term. Pushing through health care reform, the stimulus, green energy, etc. takes enough political capital as it is.

If we pushed for normalization with Cuba right now, we'd not only stir up moderate Repugs everywhere, we'd risk losing Florida, and the rest of our agenda with it.

As it were, he's already planning to make same changes to existing policies.

[harun]

107. If he moves it significanty in the right direction I will be happy. And I think he can

do a lot and still not have electoral issues.

[KoKo]

54. It's better if they don't lift it. The Repugs didn't lift it because it gave them votes...

Obama can't lift it because he's a Democrat and that would give the Right and those oldie Cubans a way to go AT HIM.

So...he's being pragmatic. When Nixon opened up China to the Weat it was considered an incredible act of Courage against his Republicans...but if Obama opened Cuba ....it would be like giving Israel to the Palestinians in the minds of some of the RW "Think Tanks."

Obama has to tread carefully because the 2010 Elections are coming up and we are going to need those Repug votes lest the House goes back to them.. And, the Senate is so close we might not even have Franken be a Senator in two years so we gotta figure "Coleman is Da'Man."

:shrug: It's just the way politics works.

[IndianaGreen]

55. And why not, you frakking old man?

It is the US that should be on its knees apologizing to Cuba for all the crimes it committed in that island, from the US Marines being used to put down a strike by tobacco workers early in the 20th century, to the Platt Amendment, the stealing of Guantanamo, the support of dictators, the training of torturers, the support of death squads, and the inhuman embargo.

[Swagman]

57. did Cuba actually do anything to the USA ?

Do the Cuban people deserve to always suffer because of their leaders..no matter who they are ?

when you leave a vacuum of friendship others will fill the gap.

why are there no sanctions against China, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia or even Thailand ?

[EFerrari]

59. Because their expat rightwing nutcases don't live in Florida?

:(

[rollingrock]

84. The Vietnamese rightwing expats live in CA and TX

the Vietnamese expats were and still are quite rabid in their anti-communist, anti-normalization rhetoric. Yet somehow they failed to prevent the normalization process between the US and the People's Republic of Vietnam. They see it as some kind of liberal/communist conspiracy. To this day they're still attempting to reverse it, believe it or not.

[The abyss]

61. Not to the United States people, instead to the US "government".

Castro took down Batista.

The US government also didn’t like his speech at the UN in 1960.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2794

IIRC the US governmnent offered him a support deal during this visit. Castro didn’t buy. Hence they are the “enemy”.

PS and by the way: The US government would also spend a few billion or so in pursuit of Che, his demise would only result in becoming a poster on every dorm room in the Americas.

Talk about pissed off. The US machine will always hate Cuba, Castro, and the revolution they inspired.

Edit for sentence sense.

[killbotfactory]

72. They resisted our attempts to control their country

And the ability of our corporations to rip them off.

[harun]

99. They did things their way.

[L0oniX]

63. Sad. n/t

[AlphaCentauri]

65. US Vice President: no plans to scrap Cuba embargo

Source: AP

VINA DEL MAR, Chile (AP) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday that the United States is not planning to lift its trade embargo on Cuba.

Biden, who was in the Chilean resort city of Vina del Mar for a summit of center-left leaders from Latin America and Europe, replied "no" when asked by reporters if Washington plans to scrap the decades-old embargo.

He and President Barack Obama "think that Cuban people should determine their own fate and they should be able to live in freedom," Biden said after taking part in the Progressive Governance Summit.

The vice president said a "transition" is needed in the Washington policy toward the communist-ruled island, but that he was in Chile "to talk about the economy, not Cuba."



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jOx_jj0G88_HWAAXu9i7xiK1g-hwD977E4G80

---

So what he means by:

"The time of the United States dictating unilaterally, the time where we only talk and don't listen is over," Biden said in Santiago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hJr9sa7qKHBvRHSmyFR4F2QrLwqw

[martymar64]

67. More change you can believe in

:argh:

[Mika]

68. The sanctions on Cuba have nothing to do with Cuba.

It has everything to do with the US political campaign fundraising system.

No embargo = no pro and con embargo campaign dollars.

Both "sides" of the issue (a mix of pro and con repugs and Dems) benefit from the status quo.

Money pours in from pro sanction interests to politicians claiming to be pro sanctions from the various interests that benefit from sanctions.

Money pours in from pro trade interests to politicians claiming to be pro trade from the various interests that benefit from trade and travel.

If the issue were to be resolved (the sanctions and embargo ended) then the campaign cash cow would come to an end.

Status quo rules (for money).

America's political system is filthy and corrupt - to the core.

[G_j]

71. well said

yes, it is all about American politics and elections.

[AlphaCentauri]

75. There is a contradiction on Biden statements

on one hand he said: "The time of the United States dictating unilaterally, the time where we only talk and don't listen is over,"

[EFerrari]

77. Thanks for pointing that out. I did a search on the Cuban Five

who just got the most "friends of the court" briefs ever submitted in one case to our Supreme Court and there is a media blackout on the story. But, both of Biden's stories were there, in all their contradictory glory.

[EFerrari]

78. Biden says Cuban should be able to "live in freedom" while condoning

a policy that oppresses both us and them. By the same logic, China should have embargoed us for the eight years that Bush stole in two elections.

[Judi Lynn]

79. Finally something popped out, but not from our corporate media, you can be sure!

Massive Legal Mobilization in Support of the Cuban Five
Sumud | 03/10/2009 - 05:37» Sumoud Newsfeed, US Political Prisoners
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT WORLDWIDE URGING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW THE CONVICTIONS OF THE “CUBAN FIVE”

In a previously unheard of twelve separate briefs, array of supporters worldwide – including ten Nobel Prize winners who have championed human rights (including East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta and Irish peacemaker Máiread Corrigan Maguire); the Mexican Senate; and Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland – today filed amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs imploring the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Miami convictions of five Cuban government agents, the so-called “Cuban Five.” Those participants in the briefs were joined by hundreds of parliamentarians from the European Parliament and other parliaments around the world, including two former Presidents and three current Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, as well as numerous U.S. and foreign bar associations and human rights organizations.

This is the largest number of amicus briefs ever to have urged Supreme Court to review a criminal conviction.

This extraordinary support for the Cuban Five’s case arises from widespread concern in the United States and around the world that their trial was conducted in an atmosphere tainted by prejudice against agents of the Cuban government and fear of retaliation, which amici say prevented the jury from fairly evaluating the charges against the Five. Among others, the United Nations Human Rights Commission has condemned the Miami trial of the Cuban agents, marking the first and only time in history that that body has condemned a U.S. judicial proceeding. Citing a “climate of bias and prejudice” in Miami, the Commission’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions concluded that the “trial did not take place in the climate of objectivity and impartiality that is required to conform to the standards of a fair trial.”

The amicus briefs filed today ask the Supreme Court to review the fairness of trying the Cuban agents to a Miami jury. “The trial and conviction of the Cuban 5 is a national embarrassment,” explained Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the Nobelists in filing their amicus brief. “Our clients, ten Nobel Prize winners, acclaimed for their efforts to advance human rights, believe the trial was an international embarrassment as well. This was a trial that should have never occurred in Miami. There was no way a jury from that Miami, with is history of violence and intimidation against the Cuban government, could have reached a verdict free from retaliation by the anti-Castro community.”

Several of the amicus briefs filed by U.S. organizations also ask the Supreme Court to review the prosecution’s striking African-Americans from the jury. The prosecutor used seven of nine “peremptory challenges” (where no explanation need be given to strike a juror) to strike black jurors. The Court of Appeals ruled that no inquiry need be made into the prosecutor’s motives because three other black jurors, a minority on the 12-person jury, were seated. Amici maintain that this is allows prosecutors to mask their manipulation of the racial make-up of a jury.

The U.S. government’s brief in opposition is presently due April 6. The Court is likely to decide whether to grant review before its summer recess in June.

The amicus briefs, along with a complete list of the amici, will be posted on SCOTUSblog (www.scotusblog.com) as electronic copies become available today.

Additional background on the case:

More:
http://sumoud.tao.ca/?q=node/view/1233

[EFerrari]

80. Great find, Judi Lynn!

Thank you so much!

[Judi Lynn]

82. It's a total national disgrace, absolutely, that our own corporate stenographers have REFUSED

to share any of the news on these guys from the very first.

Lying by ommission.

Where would the people go to overcome deliberate stonewalling like that from the only news sources we've had? They've blocked public awareness of the whole ordeal, and they've blocked public knowledge that an appeals court overturned the original trial, and the _Bush administration refused to free the men, kept them in prison, and that much later they found ANOTHER court to condemn them all over again.

This is a total perversion of justice.

[The abyss]

81. Judi, you are the “good” researcher.

[Judi Lynn]

83. We get a lot of crap thrown in here by the opposition, don't we? Holy smokes! n/t

[The abyss]

87. You, and untold others cut through so much of that bullshit!

That is why I ghosted this site for years, this is why I stay around.

I am sure that we will never agree on all topics, but when it comes to “points south” I will always look to your work.

Hang in here. Fight the good fight!

[Judi Lynn]

89. We're finding out some of what we should have been taught long ago,

and what the rest of the world already knew.

Very glad you've taken the leap and joined D.U.

[lunatica]

74. This issue shows the insanity of political expediency

There is absolutely no viable reason to continue the sanctions. None. And it disappoints me that Obama's administration is continuing this failed policy and continues to do this just when Russia and China are making inroads in South America.

This would be the perfect moment to cement our friendships in our own hemisphere.

[Judi Lynn]

86. There's a poisonous heritage which goes back a very long time.

That needs to be cleaned up first before any true trust and respect is possible. Here's a view of how it went over with people in Venezuela in 1958 when Vice President Richard M. Nixon graced their fair country with a visit:

http://imagecache.allposters.com.nyud.net:8090/images/pic/LIFPOD/1219974-8x10~Men-Kicking-Car-of-Vice-Pres-Richard-Nixon-South-American-Goodwill-Trip-Venezuela-May-26-1958-Posters.jpg

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org.nyud.net:8090/us-relations/nixon-caracas.jpg

[G_j]

88. amazing photos!

"Week of world tumult"

[Judi Lynn]

90. Your comment pushed me to look up the riot. It wasn't the only one on that trip!

I never knew this until a moment ago!

April 27, 1958 In Latin America trip, Nixon faces anti-Nixon riots in Lima, Peru, on May 8 and in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 13.

http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/html/timeline.php?id=37

Good grief! Our policies have been hated in Latin America far longer than I knew! This opens a whole new window for more reading!

We do know Eisenhower had overthrown Guatemala's very popular President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, by the time Nixon made his triumphal sweep in South America. Apparently he wasn't doing a lot of OTHER people any good, either.

This is going to be something to look into when time allows.

On edit:

Nixon was harassed by law students in Montevideo, Uruguay, stoned by university students in Lima, Peru, and assaulted by a mob in Caracas, Venezuela. The U.S. had been losing the hearts and minds of Latin America’s young intellectuals, who disliked U.S. support for repressive regimes and were blaming the United States for Latin America’s social ills, including imposing tariff barriers against the importation of products from Latin America. The riots against Nixon were seen as the threat of communism risen anew. Vice President Nixon described the demonstrators in Caracas as having been led ‘”without any doubt” by Communists. That the protesters chanted the same slogan “was absolute proof,” he said, that the demonstrations had been “directed and controlled by a central Communist conspiracy.” Business leaders in the U.S. looked for a better explanation. A new policy was formulated. Writes Rabe, “While publicly blaming Communists for the attacks on Nixon, the administration knew it needed a new approach to restore public confidence and to assuage the Latin Americans.” Vice President Nixon helped enunciate this new policy, declaring that there would be “a formal handshake for dictators; an embraso for leaders in freedom.

http://thenewnixon.org/2008/05/13/after-caracas/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 13, 1958

Vice President Nixon is attacked
During a goodwill trip through Latin America, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by an angry crowd and nearly overturned while traveling through Caracas, Venezuela. The incident was the dramatic highlight of trip characterized by Latin American anger over some of America's Cold War policies.

By 1958, relations between the United States and Latin America had reached their lowest point in years. Latin Americans complained that the U.S. focus on the Cold War and anticommunism failed to address the pressing economic and political needs of many Latin American nations. In particular, they argued that their countries needed more basic economic assistance, not more arms to repel communism. They also questioned the American support of dictatorial regimes in Latin America simply because those regimes claimed to be anticommunist-for example, the U.S. awarded the Legion of Merit medal to Venezuelan dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez in 1954; Jimenez was overthrown by a military coup early in 1958.

This was the atmosphere into which Vice President Richard Nixon arrived during his goodwill trip through Latin America in April and May 1958. The trip began with some controversy, as Nixon engaged in loud and bitter debates with student groups during his travels through Peru and Uruguay. In Caracas, Venezuela, however, things took a dangerous turn. A large crowd of angry Venezuelans who shouted anti-American slogans stopped Nixon's motorcade through the capital city. They attacked the car, damaged its body and smashed the windows. Inside the vehicle, Secret Service agents covered the vice president and at least one reportedly pulled out his weapon. Miraculously, they escaped from the crowd and sped away. In Washington, President Eisenhower dispatched U.S. troops to the Caribbean area to rescue Nixon from further threats if necessary. None occurred, and the vice president left Venezuela ahead of schedule.

The riot in Caracas served as a wake-up call to U.S. officials in Washington, alerting them to America's deteriorating relations with Latin America. In the next few months, the United States increased both its military and economic assistance to the region. However, it was not until communist Fidel Castro's rise to power in Cuba beginning in 1959 that the United States truly realized the extent of discontent and rebelliousness in Latin America.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=2666

[G_j]

91. yes, there is a whole lot of history there

and I thought an egg hitting Bush's limo was a first!

Obama will not succeed with the new Latin American leadership, until he truly follows this history.
(and closes the SOA)

[Mika]

92. There was never any real reason to sanction Cuba in the first place.

There was EVERY reason for the Cuban people to kick out the US blood soaked oligarchy. It (the Revolution) has paid bountiful dividends, as their world class social stats bear out - especially considering the situation (sanctions, terrorist attacks, military attack, loss of its primary trade partners) Cuba has been enduring for 50+ years.

[goforit]

93. Keep up this backward agenda.

[harun]

97. Good grief, who is running this country?

[conspirator]

104. The same people as always. The rich families that control the federal reserve

and the Military industrial complex. If you have big guns and you can print all the money you like, then no one is above you.

[harun]

106. No kidding. If they are going to run things this way why even have the facade of

elected officials? Why not just let them appoint their king so we know who to fight.

[tama]

102. Obama is no disappointment

never expected anything worth-while from his administration. The White House survival garden has been a positive surprise, must give that to them - or rather the movement that made them do it.

[ima_sinnic]

109. the WH garden is just some stupid bone he can throw to the masses

to show how "supportive" he is of our struggles. It's nothing but a PR move. It makes him "look good."

[tama]

111. Of course

But as a publicity stunt, it's good and usefull - for the people.

[Name removed]

108. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dysfunctional press]

110. apparently they don't want to give fidel the satisfaction and official recognition...?

and are perhaps waiting for him to die first?...:shrug:

WHATEVER the actual reason- it's been way past silly for far too long.

[tama]

112. The saddest part

Opening to Cuba (keeping America closed to Cuba, not Cuba closed is the purpose of this) and Cuba's experience of surviving Peak Oil equivalent and learning from it could save Americans. But they don't care, except for their petty power games.

[MellowDem]

114. Stupid nt

[Eric J in MN]

115. Maybe Congress needs to get the ball rolling. NT

NT

[Blue_Tires]

117. uh... wouldn't normal trade relations give both economies a boost?

don't we as americans need every opportunity we can take advantage of to reverse this mess?

and no one has EVER given me a logical reason why we have open trade with China and even less savory nations and not Cuba