I dont know if the term in the title of this post has been coined before or not, but I think it’s a more than appropriate connotation for “editorial columnist” Jim Defede of the Miami Herald.
Today he has yet another piece about Sgt. Carlos Lazo and his attempts to travel to Cuba to “see his sons” where he rips the Cuban-American community and US Congressman Lincoln Diaz Balart.
However, there is a lot more to this story that Mr. Defede has INTENTIONALLY neglected to report.
So, Mr. Defede, from the humble depths of the blogosphere comes a challenge to the Ivory Towered high and mighty perch you Jabba the Hut upon:
Was Sgt Carlos Lazo offered visas for his sons and family to travel to the US and did Sgt Carlos Lazo refuse said offer?
I patiently await your response, Jim, yet I wont hold my breath as your credibility has about a good a chance of surviving as a pack of HoHo’s in your kitchen.
What amazes me most about Jim DeFede and his “reporting” is that so many people actually take him at his word and see him as a journalist, and not a loud-mouthed propagadist for one side. With today’s “In My Opinion” column — you see, Gansibele? Not news: “opinion” — he once again continues his career-long defense of fidel’s regime.
Being aware of the facts as presented by Val in his post today, and knowing that more information will be released shortly, I think it behooves Mr. DeFede to govern himself accordingly. Because when the facts do come out, his insulting comment about Congressman Diaz-Balart going off for vacation while Mr. Lazo suffers will have to be retracted. Not that DeFede will, of course, since that requires integrity — something which he possesses in microscopic quantities.
Who do the Lazo boys live with in Havana?
OK Moneo, antes de que me sigas colgando el letrerito de defensor de DeFede: My previous post was just to point out that I think deFede asked Alarcon some hard questions. I know he’s an opinion columnist. But he was conducting an interview and followed basic journalistic rules. You disagree. Let’s leave it at that.
Now to the issue at hand:
Even if he was offered a visa for his sons to come and he refused (where is that coming from by the way?) that doesn’t change the fact that he can’t go visit them in Cuba – something that no other political asylee from any other country is prevented to do.
There’s nothing to retract. Diaz-Balart did go on vacation with his family, after making sure no humanitarian exemption was granted to a war hero to see his.
”Now we are behaving no differently than the Cuban government,” Lazo said. “Castro keeps families apart and now we keep families apart.”
Amen.
Jim Defede: Our very own, homegrown “Lord Haw-Haw” of the MSM-fraternity. It would be indeed funny if it weren’t so tragic…but keep pounding away, Val – the truth will come out in the end.
I knew I was doing the right thing when I “unsubscribed” to the Herald a few years back.
The offers to Lazo were made by Lincoln Diaz-Balart’s staff. He said sso on the radio. They were also apparently made on the floor of both the house and senate. The transcipts of the floor speeches and debate are not yet available and probably will not be until the middle of this coming week because of the holiday.
The other thing you are assuming is that Lazo is a U.S. citizen. DeFede parses his words and talks about what U.S. citizens can and cannot do. But we do not know if Sgt. Lazo is U.S. citizen as it’s not a requirement for being in the U.S. armed forces. The logic of Diaz-Balart’s office stands to reason. If you have filed a political asylum petition in the U.S. to gain residency but no find it necesssary to return to the country from which you came, then obviously you feel that your political situation is no longer a problem.
And it matters if he rejected the idea of them coming here to visit because then we see that he doesn’t give a crap about “seeing” them. He only cares about going to Cuba. And even if he is a citizen, he probably said in his application that he was fleeing political persecution. If he returns now does that mean that he no longer fears that persecution? Or perhaps that he never feared it? Lying on citizenship applications is serious and you can lose your citizenship for that.
I can’t believe how these discussions always turn into the U.S. is the bad guy, we’re doing the same thing Castro is, blah blah blah, only it’s worse because we’re supposed to be this great free country. The ONLY question here is why is Lazo wearing an American uniform and not a Cuban one? Why are his sons not allowed to visit? Wasn’t the Elian disgrace about children being with their Father? Who is responsible for families being separated? Why do we have the travel restrictions and an embargo? One fucking word, castro!
Saga of Sgt. Lazo
Much has been posted today on other blogs regarding Sgt. Carlos Lazo’s plea to Congress to lift the travel restrictions to Cuba so he can visit his two sons. In addition, the Herald’s Jim DeFede has a column in today’s paper…his second in seven days….
Something just about everyone here seems to miss is, for virtually all US Armed Forces members, travel to a Communist shithole is forbidden. The ones who do go are usually under strict orders for a very specific military purpose. I don’t think Congress has much to say about that, folks.
Let me repost what I said under another item on this very same problem:
Kids cannot leave Cuba for a visit to a foreign country when they are under military age and when their parents are not going in a high level official kagastroist mission.
When they reach military age and they cannot live Cuba, period. Military age is enforced also on females on the medical profession or who are attending college.
So, the kids cannot come visit their father, even if the American politicians set out to press for it. The tyranical misgovernment of Cuba would not allow such a rule-bending, since it would set a very dangerous (for them) precedent. The reason they do this is to avoid the embarrassment of having kids and young people talking to the press about the conditions of life in Cuba.
Now, the father could petition for them. Then the dictatorship would have to allow them to come tp live permanently in the States or it would risk it all in a case where they can be accussed of false imprisonment and kidnapping.
The interesting thing would be to know why Sgt. Lazo doesn’t petition for them. Or if he did why is not happening. Or to know if those kids want to come or not… Then, we will have the picture complete. Maybe they don’t want to live their mother behind and I am assuming Sgt. Lazo will not petition for her, since they are not probably married. Another possibility is that the Cuban Lazos are victims of blackmail from the government, or maybe the American Lazo is a victim of the blackmail of the Cuban government or its agents here.
In all and any cases, kagasstro considers children as owned by the State. So that puts ALL the responsibility for the separation on his shoulders. Sgt. Lazo cannot visit Cuba for only one reason, he is a member of the military in active. And members of the military in active cannot visit enemy countries in civilian functions. Cuba is an enemy country as per kagasstro’s definition, not as per US definition, because in all official documents (hey, they were written by the 900 pound liberal gorilla) the United States does not recognize any threat as coming from Cuba.
The only way for those kids to come is that Sgt. Lazo claim them for permanent residence in the US. Or that Sgt. Lazo leaves the military and then he will follow in the one visit every third year statute.
I think that Sgt. Lazo should come to this blog to talk about this problem, and to learn who is the only responsible for his separation from his children, in the case he doesn’t know, which I doubt. Also, I am sure that he would love to voice his concerns and ideas in a forum like this. We are waiting for him…
Posted by: CB at July 1, 2005 12:03 AM
I am still waiting for Lazo to come to this blog and so some explaining… I am afraid he will never do that.
Who do Lazo’s boys live with in Havana? Under who’s care?
Lord Haw-Haw !!!
GREAT reference!
Highly recommended research to all cultist and apologists. This prick takes the honor for being the cause of little known bit of USA policy which was drafted during WWII which states (paraphrasing)
“No one can within the soil of the USA disseminate, propagate, publish or distribute any news or propaganda precedent of a country which the USA considers unfriendly”
They had to re-enforce that bit of business in the Patriot Act but it HAS been in the law books since the 1940s
Now, just enforcing THAT law in the USA will send the DeFede’s Luis Ortegas and Max Lesnicks of world straight behind bars.
Hey blame it on Rooselvelt.
Dear Kathleen:
Isn’t it obvious?
It is the basis of ALL communist propaganda (It is actually a very scientific methodology)
The second the enemy (in any way) plays by YOUR rules they immediately become worse than you are because you ARE supposed to be a prick so acting as a prick shouldn?t surprise anyone because your acting as a prick is perfectly justified because YOUR end justifies YOUR means.
But, the same yardstick is not allowed to the enemy (hence you have idiots claiming we shouldn?t lower ourselves to THEIR level) Fuck no , stand there and take it like the world power you are while the scum of the earth goes around blowing up half your cities.
Imagine Kasstro denouncing terrorism AT ALL!
The man who brought Terrorist warfare to the world stage.
How many Cubans died in that plane that was blown up, 72?
How many innocent Cubans were blown up by Kastroterrorism while he was giving interviews to the N.Y.T up in La Sierra ?
HUNDREDS!
Conveniently in the lexicon of the KaSStrists those were acts of patriotism (Blowing up movie theaters where women children and men were unmercifully blown to bits)
The burning of a Sugar cane field is a deplorable act of barbarism if done by anti-KaSStro forces.
And we STILL need to act as if the assholes who subscribe to this, the most hypocritical of doctrines have a point AT ALL.
Gansibele, I hate, loathe, detest, and abhor the use of “moral equivalence” in arguments about Cuba. Your statement assumes, without saying directly, that we are the bad guys because we have a law similar to Cuba’s; the difference is we are a republic and if we have a law we think unjust then we have ways of changing them. Not so in DeFede’s wonderland if Cuba. To attach a moral equivalence between our laws and the “laws” of the government of Cuba is detestable, reprehensible and disgusting. We are still the good guys, regardless of what Lazo and his cheap $2 crack whore DeFede claims.
Once again, I ask the question Val has asked that NOBODY has answered: why can’t the sons come here freely to meet with their dad?
Why can’t the sons come here? Because hijo de puta won’t let them. Especially now that they are fodder for his anti U.S. propaganda machine. Hey, with a little bit of coercion aimed in the right direction, the NYT, Dodd, Jackson, Rangel, Jennings, etc. he might be able to turn this into another major international media event like Elian.
Killcastro said: “And we STILL need to act as if the assholes who subscribe to this, the most hypocritical of doctrines have a point AT ALL” Yes, because if ignored, they’re like cock roaches, you get up, turn on the light, and they’re all over the place.
Why not do like other folks do?
Go to Cuba through a third country.
Any Cuban American been incarcerated
for going to Cuba through Mexico. Bahamas etc?
Dear GuestAgain,
He doesn’t go to Cuba through a third country because he what he’s really interested in is changing U.S. law so as to favor Fidel Castro. Otherwise he would have accepted visas for his sons to visit him here (which he could have accomplished without a publicity tour). Besides he’s a member of the armed forces. If he were caught violating federal law he’d face a courtmartial and a dishonorable discharge.
Mendel,
Presumably the boys live with their mother (Lazo’s ex-wife).
Conductor,
Thanks.
Not being a BIG fan of Diaz-Balart nor Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (what?s with these people and the hyphenated names? I gotta eat crow and applaud Diaz-Balart standing in this issue. Way too easy to yield to KaSStro?s whims, The USA has been doing it for 46 years. About fucking time it stopped!
Call the USA whatever the fuck you wanna call it, there IS a law and the law can not be bent just to accommodate one man (however HEROIC). Imagine us in NYC doing that with the NYFD and NYPD after 9/11 , hell they would?ve had the run of the city and they did not! They TRIED , but did NOT.
As far as ?humanitarian? reasons. We ALL have one (or can easily come up with one). Them the brakes Sgt. Lazo, deal with it!!!. Now, the fact that Lazo does not want his kids to come to the USA, sounds rather suspicious to me. Maybe it is NOT the kids he wants to see, they just make a god damn good excuse.
At any rate, his tones have become rather anti-heroic and self serving. At this point I would?ve retrieved any visas granted to the kids and make sure that if Lazo makes it through a 3rd country, he stays in Cuba.
And for the COUPLE of cultist that linger here under the guise of ?impartial, unbiased? commentators; Let us remember Kasstro?s handling of heroes like Hubert Matos and General Ochoa.
Had Lazo been one of KaSStro?s heroes his ass would?ve been already in jail or 6 feet under.
Should we stoop to THAT level?
When you try to fix a sewer, SOME shit is gonna get on ya.
Moneo, when you say “we are still the good guys” you are making a “moral equivalence” argument right there – and an absolutist one at that. You are saying the US is better no matter what they do, because against Castro anything is justified. That’s like saying if I’m the police I could shoot murderers on the spot, because I’m not a criminal, hence morally superior. In the real world, not “neverland”, that would make me a murderer.
I’m not an absolutist. I don’t believe things are black and white. I agree that the leisure tourism and the mulas had to be stopped, but enforcing the laws already on the books, not coming up with new restrictions on an electoral year to pander to the hard line Cuban community. Yes, we are a republic and we can challenge laws and that’s exactly what Lazo is doing, what was defeated and you all are celebrating. Fine. The margin of votes wasn’t that big. Time will come when we, the ones who still have family in Cuba and believe family is above politics, will become citizens and vote in strong enough numbers that our voice will matter, just wait and see.
Henry, you are assuming that Lazo asked for political asylum. I’m not sure that’s the case. But even if it were true, the fact still reamins that there are NO LAWS that prevent political asylees to retur to their countries, be it North Korea, China, whatever. This is not about political asylum. The restrictions apply to everybody.
You also say he’s interested in changing the law to “favor Fidel Castro”. I say he just wants to see his family without breaking the law. I say he’s doing things the honorable way, instead of being selfish and giving up once his individual problem was resolved. I say Diaz Balart offer of visas for his sons, if true, were just his usual grandstanding and an attempt to shut him up. Lazo is just too good a symbol of why the restrictions are unjust.
Let me ask you all a question – since the new restrictions were in effect: is Castro any weaker? Is the demise of the regime any closer?
G,
I don’t assume he asked for asylum. I said in my post that IF he asked for asylum then it was because he couldn’t return to his country for political, religious or other reasons as required by INS. Otherwise everyone would simply ask for asylum regardless of their situation. So if he had reason to fear a return to Cuba back in 92, why isn’t he afraid now? One of the reasons this travel was restricted was because people were making a mockery of our immigration system. People would come here, get their papers and start going back to Cuba every year. You ask me what these restriction have done to remove fidel. I ask you what did travel to Cuba do to remove him during all those years that it was legal? Many of the opponents of the travel ban say it’s counterproductive to the goal of ending the regime. Those aren’t my words, they’re Lazo’s. So I ask again during the Carter and Clinton years what did the weaker travel restrictions do to weaken castro?
Now I’ll answer your question. Cuba’s purchases of U.S. agricultural products are down. Many see this as a reflection of Cuba’s lack of hard currency since they must pay the US in cash for such purchases. The pipeline of US dollars to the regime has been crimped. At the same time, Castro is using cheap oil from Venezuela to try buoy his economy. In other words there are a lot of variables at play.
You talk about grandstanding, but Mr. Lazo seems to be the one grandstanding. My beef is with the media. I want to know more about this guy. He left his family behind in 1992 and saw them in 2003. How about the interim? Did he care enough to go see them during that time or does he just want to make point. Liberals everywhere criticized the Republicans that tried to save the life of Terry Schiavo because they were using the legislature to settle an individual case. Well Mr. Lazo and his supporters are just as guilty. They are trying to influence the foreign policy of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA by giving some sad sack’s example and they aren’t giving us all the information to even figure out if the guy is full of shit. I could bring you an example of somebody who got caught on the “wrong” side of some law or policy for virtually any issue. That doesn’t mean the law or policy is bad or that it should be repealed.
Actually, the similarity between the Lazo and Schiavo cases is that in both politicians are using family issues to pander to narrow-agenda constituencies.
Having been there when it happened, I can tell you that travel of Cuban Americans to Cuba has done a lot more to weaken Castro’s regime than the embargo ever did. It allowed generations, starting in the 70s with los viajes de la comunidad, to see that Miami Cubans were not the monsters that Castro depicted. It’s hard to quantify the enormous counterpropaganda effect those trips had. Without “la comunidad” there’s no Mariel, no dissidents, no balseros. Without money remittances, there’s no alternative economy, no dollar legalization in the 90s, no cuentapropistas, etc. Isolation wouldn’t have accomplished any of those changes.
Lastly, laws have to be evaluated against the effect they have on people. That’s exactly how the system works. He’s not the only one being affected and you know this.And why does it matters Lazo’s exact history? You just want to question his motives? He could be the most rotten father in history and still have the right to see his sons, until he loses custody or visitation rights.
A couple of clarifications. DeFede just says he “last saw his boys in 2003” not that he didn’t see them between 1992 and 2003. And the one who assumed Lazo asked for political asylum (if he in fact isn’t) was Diaz Balart, acording to the article.
Ok, I might be confused. But if he wants to go to Cuba, why doesn’t he just go to Canada and fly from there? Maybe he wants official US approval to his going, but why? So he can be some sort of martyr when he’s arrested? (I dunno, draft evasion charges or something, especially if he isn;t a citizen yet)
Does he have some loony fantasy of getting tossed into a Cuban jail and the US military will see him as a remember the Alamo type battlecry while they’re storming the shores to rescue him?
The whole thing just doesn;t make any sense. If he wanted to go, he could go. But he chooses not to, unless he can get official US permission.
Unless like I said I’m just confused.
First of all, Mr. Lazo is a US citizen (since 2003).
Second, If you make a law, the law is for everyone. It may be painful but having a bronze star doesn’t exempt you from following the law.
Third, he cannot go via Canada, as a member of the military that’s simply impossible.
I don’t know if I agree with the three year rule as long as people can still send money to Cuba. I understand that frequent visits to Cuba have not always been for the sake of family left behind. Too many Cuban Americans go there and party. You want exceptions? I guess just about anyone can come up with a sick relative or an important quince in no time. Impossible to control.
Mr Lazo may suffer because of the law but so do many others. When he left Cuba in 1992 he could not be sure whether he would EVER see his kids again.
And yes, I read about 20 articles about the case now and no journalist seems to ask why the boys can’t visit Mr Lazo.
We know why, don’t we?
Gansibele, you are hopeless.
tell mr lazo to join the pastors for peace. then he can every year!
G,
I know the policies affect the people. In a way that’s kind of the point. All of the dollars that go into in Cuba act as a sort of anesthetic. I haven’t seen travel change anything in Cuba. You’re right, I wasn’t there. But I did see el maleconazo when the people were desperate. I don’t want to see people suffer needlessly but like it or not this is a war of sorts. Just like any war it’s not always fair and some people get caught in the middle. Lazo chose to cross lines in this war and now he’s upset because he can’t just travel back and forth. The law that OFAC enforces is called “The Trading with the Enemy Act”. Let’s not forget Cuba’s acts of aggression toward the US. Many of which we didn’t find out about until the collapse of the USSR. They had a spy in the goddamned pentagon for the love of pete!
Lastly, with regards to the embargo, and any other policy of this country towards Castro’s Cuba, I’M for ANYTHING that Castro is against! And I’m against anything that Castro is for. That’s not hard to understand is it? Castro is no fool. We all know that. Anything he’s in favor of is because he perceives it to be an advantage to him. And if you don’t think we’re at war, listen to him. He seems to think so. And just like islamofascists that have been attacking us for 25 years it only takes one side to believe a war is being waged for the conditions of war to exist.
I for one cannot criticize Lazo as I don’t have all the FACTS. Nor can I support him because I do not have all the FACTS. I think what many are forgetting that in spite that we hate castro many others are being hurt. I’m not sure how many have relatives in Cuba as I do. I assume that there are many that in spite or their family in Cuba do not support remittances. I also assume that there are many with family in Cuba that do support remittances. We can try, but we cannot walk in each other’s shoes nor tell each other how to walk in them. I support the embargo for the embargo’s sake although it hasn’t and won’t work, but because I understand that we are stuck with it because to stop it would be a political victory for castro. But I don’t agree with the travel ban and remittances “for Cubans”. Yet I have a great deal of respect for those who do agree with it. Yes there are many abuses by those who want to party it up in Cuba. And they are scum and low-lifes in my opinion yet I cannot let their abuses dictate life for others. We cannot use the argument that many left Cuba only to go back a few years later as a good reason to keep someone from seeing and feeding their relatives. I see it as common human decency and the Cuba I remember was a place where family took care of family. Will castro take advantage of that? Of course he will. As a previous poster said “he is against what castro is for” and visa versa. Castro knows that too and will continue to eat away at us in every area until we destroy ourselves. I will not allow him to destroy my family as it would be a win-win situation for him. Lets face it the only fix for cuba is a castro-less cuba. The embargo, travel restrictions, stopping remittances, etc. will never change that. Killcastro is one of the few who recognizes what will. If we are not careful castro may dictate every area of our lives from 90 miles away. Sound crazy? Then examine what we “Cubans” are arguing about, we are attacking other “Cubans”. All the while castro sits back and laughs because Cubans in exile are doing his job for him. They are dividing the opposition by having target practice in a circle. How about we focus on a solution instead of chasing the bone in the back yard thrown by the burglar so he can walk into the front door. castro keeps throwing bones and we keep chasing them. Helping family may seem like helping castro, but so does not doing anything constructive to remove him. So does attacking other Cubans.
Below is article found in LaNuevaCuba.com which shows castro has never had any regard for family reunification and just uses the issue to divide Cubans everywhere.
EL CASO MEDICO
QUE DOBLEGO LA IRRACIONALIDAD
DE FIDEL CASTRO
El m?dico Ram?n Mart?nez Mart?nez debi? esperar siete a?os
para volver a ver a sus hijos.
Cont? en Radio 10 que uno de ellos no lo reconoci?
y que la experiencia fue “dur?sima”
Infobae
Argentina
Infosearch:
Jos? F. S?nchez
Jefe de Bur?
E.U.
Dept. de Investigaciones
La Nueva Cuba
Julio 4, 2005
Ram?n Mart?nez Mart?nez se reuni? el s?bado con sus dos hijos despu?s de 6 a?os y medio. Dijo que se sinti? “el hombre m?s feliz del planeta”.
A las cinco de la ma?ana, en Ezeiza, vio a Ram?n Alejandro, de 12, y a Yilena, de 17, que no lo reconoci?. El cirujano pl?stico de 43 a?os se fue de Cuba a fines de los 90 para pasar un mes de vacaciones en la Argentina.
Para poder viajar, tard? m?s de un a?o para conseguir permiso de las autoridades cubanas para ir de vacaciones, m?s precisamente a Villa Gesell, donde un paciente lo hab?a invitado a pasar unos d?as.
Mart?nez Mart?nez decidi? quedarse en la Argentina, pero el gobierno cubano le impidi? volver a Cuba, as? como tambi?n prohib?a a los chicos de su primer matirmonio viajar a la Argentina.
El m?dico explic? en Radio 10 que vivi? una experiencia “irracional” y cont? la experiencia que vivi? al reencontrarse con sus hijos en Ezeiza.
“Mi hija mayor no me reconoci?. Yo la abrac? y ella me daba palmaditas como si se tratara de un simple conocido. Fue algo dur?simo”, narr? Mart?nez Mart?nez.
El r?gimen de Fidel Castro impide que los m?dicos que viven en el extranjero vuelvan a Cuba, como si fuera ilegal o “disidente” vacacionar afuera de la isla o emigrar por un tiempo.
Mart?nez Mart?nez no tuvo respuestas de la Embajada de Cuba durante cinco a?os. Finalmente, un arduo trabajo de la Canciller?a y de una ONG logr? el encuentro.
Destacaron que el caso de la m?dica Hilda Molina lo ayud? a que el suyo tomara otro sentido y le dio esperanzas. Lo llamaron de la Embajada de Cuba para informarle que institu?an una “excepci?n” para que los chicos viajaran al exterior de vacaciones.
Mart?nez Mart?nez vive con su esposa Lysbet, y su hija de ese matrimonio, Lauren, de nueve a?os, con quienes vive en San Clemente. Este grupo familiar tambi?n debi? venir a la Argentina con meses de diferencia, por disposiciones del gobierno cubano.
“Cuando decid? quedarme en Argentina fue para estar mejor, ese es mi derecho a elegir. Nunca pens? que por esa decisi?n nos pod?an separar tanto tiempo. Si lo hubiera sabido, no lo hubiera hecho. No me imagin? que Cuba iba a violar los derechos de los ni?os que tanto defendi? en el caso de Eli?n, el ni?o balsero”, resumi? a la prensa.
Los hijos de Mart?nez disfrutan de la Argentina los bifes, la programaci?n de los canales de televisi?n y algunos otros “detalles” que en Cuba, claro, no existen. Ahora tienen dos meses para disfrutarlo.
Better yet, tell Lazo to get “The Reverend” Joan Brown Campbell and Greg Craig involved. I’m sure they’ll be able to arrange a flight to Cuba since they did it so ably five years ago…
I’M for ANYTHING that Castro is against! And I’m against anything that Castro is for
Ahhh! The sweet sound of a succinct agenda.
Thank ya Conductor.!
Quote from “gansibele”
Let me ask you all a question – since the new restrictions were in effect: is Castro any weaker? Is the demise of the regime any closer?
Why do YOU ask? do YOU know the answer? Or is this just one of those rhetorical open ended questions that noone can answer so you feel that you have made a point and won an argument ? Cause NO ONE besides KaSStro himself can answer that.
So again, you little Orwellian minion; Your spaghetti logic just makes you sound petulant, silly and actually not very bright AT ALL.
Yeah Kill, you are a real Socrates. I’m humbled by your superiority.
Instead of insulting, want to try and answer? Or are you afraid because in your heart of hearts you know that the new restrictions have accomplished NOTHING?
Moneo, the feeling is mutual. Feel free not to answer me anymore.
Conductor, you must be against the embargo then. Because you know that Castro doesn’t actually want it lifted. It serves his purposes and we are just playing into his hands. Why do you think every time there’s a push fo a change of policy, he ups and does something to reverse it (downing of Brothers to the Rescue planes, incarceration of the 75 dissidents, etc)?
I think is about time the US government stop the policy of treating all Cubans as political refugees because it is a fact that the mayority coming to the US since the 80’s are economic refugees and by his actions mr Lazo is one of them.
G,
You say Castro wants the embargo. That it’s part of his master strategy. I guess you have some sort of insight I don’t. Every public statement he makes about the embargo, he blames it for Cuba’s woes. Publicly he’s against it. Since I’m not the amazing kreskin I can’t read his mind. As far as his doing things to stir the pot with the US, this has always been his M.O. especially with Democrats in the white house. Coincidence? I think he downed the BTTR planes because he couldn’t stand the fact that they were dropping leaflets, especially so since Cuba was in the height of the “special period” and his position was getting weaker. And he knew he’d get away with it. He was right.
By the way G, you’re not going to lure me into one of our classic debates. Those days are over!
Oh, intellectually I can kick your ass from here to Guanabacoa and BACK! (And I am NOT THAT bright!) ’cause I don?t buy into this “pose” of yours and deep inside whatever that is we can loosely refer to as your “gray matter”, you know damn well your arguments are just an extension of your pathetic convoluted little life and a public display of semi-informed rhetoric screaming to the WORLD ?LOOK AT ME PLEASE, ARENT I CLEVER??
Ma?m , go back to reading Vanidades ?cause you will never go beyond a slight shadow of a Kasstro light.
?Classic debates? , really ?
I find them sophomoric, idiotic, without foundation, self serving and full of holes.
But hey that is just me.
I happen to know Gansibele personally. And she’s a he. And he’s a good guy. He turned me on to this blog. But he is a Democrat and as such he is often at odds with what I believe. We’ve gotten into big arguments about policy (and the arguments are usually not about Cuba). He has a different perspective since he grew up in that system and he has close relatives still there. So I respect his opinions, though I don’t agree with them especially the shades of grey moral relativism that most liberals are guilty of. By the way he’s the most well-read guy I know.
Just because you’ve read a lot of books doesn’t mean you know how to think clearly. That comes from intellect.
Jeje, I’m not luring you into anything. I’ll wait until Hillary 08.
It’s actually a theory shared by many people. He likes the embargo because it gives him something to blame for all the problems. It plays very well internationally. Everytime the EU, the Pope, or anyone asks for changes he says “we are at war, we are in a state of siege, we can’t do anything until the embargo is lifted, these are emergency measures” and guess what, everybody buys it. He doesn’t give a shit whether or not the Cuban people suffer, since he and his circle are well provided for. We have talked about this. Back when he was on the Russian tit it was the opposite, he used to make fun of the embargo in speeches, it was all a big joke. All of a sudden the rethoric changed.
I don’t think is a coincidence he shot the planes at a moment when there was a swell of support for the idea of ending the embargo, and Clinton wasn’t going to renew Helms-Burton. BTR had been leafletting before with no consequences. It didn’t make sense to shoot them down at that time. With the dissidents, same thing, it came at at time when several congressmen were pusing for easing back the restrictions, to allow food sales (inclusing credits). He’s very smart and has a long history of manipulating events to his advantage.
I’m still pro-embargo though, for two reasons. First; I don’t want credits extended to Castro to buy US products, for the simple reason that he’s a deadbeat who has never paid back a debt. As soon as the sanctions are lifted, you’ll see all the agricultural and industrial (mining, etc) interests pressuring the government to guarantee (effectively subsidizng) the loans, and when he defaults, the taxpayers will be left holding the bag. Second; because without the embargo I can see American companies investing in Cuba and creating an economic system similar to China’s – and so far the economic transformations in China, which nowadays is communist in name only, have not brought fundamental liberties to the Chinese people. Everybody is too busy making money to worry about political freedom. I don’t want that for Cuba.
Kill, pay no attention to me, OK? I’m not worthy of your time.
Thanks man. I’m blushing over here.
I enjoy this blog because I think Val is a very good writer and presents arguments very clearly from his perspective, which is not always black and white. It has also given me a real perspective of whet was like growing up a Miami Cuban. I admire the way Cubans have kept our culture alive (in many cases more authentic and more rooted in tradition that what you’ll find in Cuba itself – gastronomy being an example) and passed it on to second and third generations. I have read almost the whole archives and to me it has been as pleasurable as reading a good book.
I also respect everybody’s perspectives and opinions, intellectually it’s what makes it interesting, as much as we may disagree. I much rather come here and hear different opinions than mine, instead of going to Huffington’s post and read the same blahblahblah – where’s the fun in that?
Gansibele, don’t count on it. I’ll respond every, single time.
Ok, nothing like the smell of a cryptoliberal in the morning to invite me to deconstruct him (even though it’s just a pointless excersice)
On books, they should come with the following warning: “owning a book, or reading it, doesn’t guarantee that the owner, or reader, is going to be permanently cured of ignorance or stupidity. All sales are final”.
Well read and were articulated were che guevara, kagasstro (I love to talk about him in the past)Hitler and his gang of overgrown daschhunds, Lenin the princess killer, Ho Chi Mihn the failed chef, and Mao, the Anti-Elvis. They even wrote some “books” that I recommend for both idiots and stand up comedians.
On being an atheist, refer to list above. It does give enough laughig material as well.
On logics, thwarted logics as defined by the luminaries of the Demo-rats do not count as such. Don’t look up at Dollar Bill the AntiCurry Clinton (very well read too, with the first presidential library with an adults-only section)Al “Internet” Gore or Ted DUI Kennedy. Look at the cleverest of the bunch. John Kerry-Heinz, whose grades were lower than W’s. He passed as a very articulated guy too.
Well, some people own too many mirrors, I guess. And they like the sound of their own voices too much. Having the last word. Well, if what you have is an empty word, please wait till you fill your voice with something of substance! If not, well learn how to sing and maybe you can join AudioSlave. The che t-shirt is free!
Conductor, Kill:
If you always do the opposite of Castro you are leaving the thinking to him. If you always do what Castro says you are been manipulated by him; but if you always do the opposite you are been manupilated too. It doesn’t seems to be a good idea to leave the thinking to others… particularly to Castro. Don’t you think that he knows the emotional response he provokes in the exile? I surely know he does and uses it to his advantage…
That is only my pov, of course
Gansibele,
If you are a political asylee you are not supposed to go back to the country you asked protection for. If you go back you may loose your status. Most Cubans are not political asylee as they apply to adjustment status using the Cuban Adjustment Act that is a totally different animal.
Regards
I’m not a big fan of Lazo. But I found he is indeed a citizen now. So regardless of what his immigration status was, he now has all the rights and privileges of a U.S. citizen. Which means something even when he travels to Cuba. When he gets a license to go to Cuba, he’s registered with the interests section there and that gives him a certain degree of protection. Meaning, that though he may have had a fear of reprisal at the time he emigrated, his US citizenship status may have alleviated that fear.
He still had the chance have them come here.
As far as my succint policy on Castro. I’m also an economist (at least that’s what my degree from UF says). So it’s not so simple but I wanted to get a point across. I’m going to be posting about what I predict for Cuba’s economy in the near term on cubanamericanpundits.com soon. I should have said that my goals are opposite of Fidel’s. If his goal is to have hard currency, mine is to deny him of it. Cuba’s economy is a mess and getting worse not better. Nothing runs efficiently and the only net positives for him right now is tourism, remittances, and Venezuelan oil.
By the way for those of who seized upon my note about Gansibele being well read. Save it. He’s a brilliant guy, who does great work in his chosen field. He’s capable of having a debate without insulting people (something he has to be able to do because in south florida a lot of people don’t agree with him). That doesn’t mean he’s right. But he’s not some idiot posting about things he doesn’t “understand”.
Roberto:
if you are a political asylee, you can return to your country if the circumstances that caused you to request political asylum change. In the case of Cuba, there’s a 5 year “statute of limitation” of sorts, for the crime of “illegal departure” (this is generally applied to defectors, not rafters). That Cuban law has been accepted in US Immigration cases as proof of the risk of political persecution and is used by many Cubans who enter the US ilegally from third countries without a visa or with false papers and not having been in the country for one year, are ineligible for the CAA. For them, after 5 years, you could argue that they will not be subject to prosecution. By then they should have applied under the CAA, which invalidates the political asylum status anyway.
This is part of a larger debate which it’ll be interesting to have someplace sometime – are we ready to admit that many Cubans are economic and not political inmigrants and why? Or is the dicotomy economics-politics impossible to separate in Cuba’s case?
Thanks again C. Debates among Cubans are nothing compared to the ones I get into with my ultra liberal American friends. At least we can always agree that Trespatines is funny as shit.
Moneo, in the words of Bush: “Bring it on”.
One of the great insults that liberals throw at conservatives is that we are not “nuanced” and that we should see the “gray” instead of “black & white” and so on, and so forth.
It is instructive to remember just what it is that the “nuanced” have given us:
–“Nuanced” people gave Hitler a pass and gave him Czechoslovakia, and a ticket to start a world war.
–“Nuanced” people allowed Pol Pot to murder a third of his population.
–“Nuanced” people allowed the famine in the Ukraine to happen.
–“Nuanced” people allowed the genocide in Rwanda to happen.
–“Nuanced” people were responsible for selling high-tech secrets to the Red Chinese in exchange for campaign contributions.
–“Nuanced” people wear che shirts.
–And it was “nuanced” people in the State Department and The New York Times who praised castro as great man, and not as the murdering terrorist he was.
So please, don’t feed me that line of bullshit: I am sick to death of it.
We need less “gray” and more “black & white” so we can see the world as it really is, and not as the idiotic, utopian fantasy of the “nuanced” among us — including Jim DeFede and others of his ilk.
Off-Topic: If you haven’t tried Google Earth yet do it! http://earth.google.com
The “nuanced” people allow themselves an infinite gamut of tints & shades to camouflage their true agendas (if they even have one) and ALWAYS a sliver of convoluted logic to backpedal their way out of any major judgment fuck ups.
So “nuanced” people are to me as trustworthy as the guy selling $50 Rolexes on Madison Ave. Oops no actually LESS cause the guy selling the $50.00 Rolex we all know is a shyster.
Take a fucking stand, go BINARY on SOMETHING. Now THAT shows the TRUE fiber of a human being.
Hey Roberto:
You just gotta respect someone’s POV.
However, my policy on KaSStro has not failed me ONCE in 46 years, so I will stick with IT..
if that is okey dokey with ya.
If you’re a member of the democratic party, then you have chosen the path of Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Charles Rangel, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, Oliver Stone, Michael Moore. If you’re not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem. That’s how I see it. We all have a choice.
Kathleen,
I think it goes without saying that he has no problem with any of those people. That’s not an insult to him any more than saying you have chosen the path of Tom DeLay, Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh or any other effective leader of OUR party. That’s what having a two party system is all about. I’m a big fan of it.
Don’t forget Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter.
Kathleen, you are flat wrong. Under both parties there are a variety of people with different agendas and beliefs. I have no problem saying that Oliver Stone is a paranaoid conspiracy theorist whose movies (technically brilliant) are mostly fiction, with the exemption of Platoon and The Doors. The HBO Castro documentary was a piece of propaganda. Its been proven that Michael Moore manipulates facts and timelines and his films to me always seen too basic, too melifluous. Plus I do get the impression he’s a dick. Charles Rangel is no santo de mi devoci?n either.
I know there are plenty Republicans who disagree with leaders of their party, which doesn’t mean they don’t agree with the basic tenets the party stands for. Or maybe they think is the lesser of two evils.
For a one party system, look no further than Cuba.
G- No I am not wrong. If you agree that Oliver Stone and others are propagandists, how can you vote with their party. At this point in time, the left controls the democratic party and they vote as a bloc in congress. So if you are voting for democrats, that’s who you are supporting. Yes, I’m not in total agreement with all the republicans stand for either, but I do know that when I cast my vote I’m not voting for part of the agenda. You are casting your vote with cagastroites. It’s your choice. No one said anything about a one party system. Conductor I aprreciate your respectful attitude, but this country is at war and we cannot afford to be “nice” to people who support our enemies.
“At this point in time, the left controls the democratic party and they vote as a bloc in congress.”
And the right doesn’t control the Republican party and they don’t vote as a bloc.
“Yes, I’m not in total agreement with all the republicans stand for either, but I do know that when I cast my vote I’m not voting for part of the agenda.”
How is that different from what I do when I vote Democrat?
G-By voting republican I accept and endorse their policies. What you were implying was that even though you know your party is controlled by immoral, anti American leftists who have an agenda that will destroy our country; you have no problem voting with them because you agree with some of that agenda. What I’m saying is you cannot separate the party from its agenda and if you vote democratic that is what you are supporting. I know that when I cast my vote for a republican I am accepting and endorsing the party platform, all of it. I may disagree with some of it, but I don’t find it morally reprehensible and it doesn’t make me feel like puking. I don’t understand how you can accept and vote for the unprincipled castro collaborating agenda of the democrats. You are a relativist. You are saying that either point of view is equally acceptable. In your gray clouded mind you cannot see the moral difference. It’s not the same thing.
“What you were implying was that even though you know your party is controlled by immoral, anti American leftists who have an agenda that will destroy our country”
I’m not implying that at all. Those are your words, not mine. I don’t agree the Democratic party is controlled by anti-American leftists. I don’t think Michael Moore wants to destroy this country anymore than you or me. I said before that dissent makes the country stronger, not weaker.
Out of respect for Val, I’m not going to say what I’d really like to at this point. Michael Moore and his ilk would like this country to become a socialist state. That would destroy our country. If you have any doubt about the lefts agenda you really are naive. I won’t argue with you anymore because I’m waisting my breath. You stated it correctly to CB and Killcastro, you’re not worth it.
Hi Kathleen,
I see tghat you are very passionate about your opinions and I don’t want to irritate you but I have a couple of questions. You said that we cannot be “nice” to the ones that support our enemies. Who, in your opinion, these people are, the whole Democratic Party, the 40 something % that voted for Kerry, who? And question number 2: What do you think should we “do” with them?
I should say that I voted Republican (I am not a registered Republican) in the last election (that wasn’t a difficult choice btw) but I am kinda dissapointed right now. The SS modification is going nowhere (even without private accounts!), the Government expending is enormous and growing and the Republicans, with majority in the House and the Senate aren’t capable even of approving some decent judges… just sad.
Regards
Roberto, I am so far beyond irritated at this point, you have no idea. I hold the politicians accountable and those who voice support for them. I hold the MSM accountable. There should be an enforceable standard of truth where they’re concerned. As for what I’d do with them? Post castro I’m hoping that his collaborators will be held accountable as were the nazis. I don’t have an answer for that policy wise. Some of them should be tried for treason. Jane Fonda should have been decades ago. I truly believe our country is fighting undeclared civil war between those who uphold our traditional values of democracy and the communist left. Between those who support freedom OF religion and those who would deny religion any place in our society. As far as domestic issues are concerned, right now I don’t care about them. I care about winning the war against terrorism and that includes getting rid of castro. Our social security fund problems mean nothing if Ben Laden and his allies win.
Kathleen, I’m no relativist anymore than you are an absolutist, a fundamentalist or a fanatic, if you will. The name calling doesn’t get us anywhere. I have very well defined beliefs which you obviously don’t share. But first among those is my belief that your opinion is as valid as mine. The 51% that voted with you, the 49% that voted with me – we all make up this country, like it or not.
I won’t bother you again.
G:
You give up quite easily. That makes my hopes stronger for 2008… 🙂
Quite easily? Cmo’n man, you must be kidding! I’ve been called every name on the book from idiot to agent provocateur, my intelligence doubted, my masculinity mocked, my patriotism questioned, challenged to a boxing match (I think, maybe it was a duel?), not to mention the threats coming in my email. Can’t say it hasn’t been fun!
I’m just being respectful of Val’s house, like you rightly reminded me.
Kathleen,
I’m a registered Republican. My ideology is closer to libertarian than conservative. There’s a couple of issues I go against the flow on. I’m against abortion and against capital punishment because I believe in life not death. I believe the Fed Gov. has gotten way too big and fat and GWB hasn’t done a thing to stop it and in fact has made it worse (medicare drug boondoggle). What I don’t understand is why you are so ANGRY. Republicans have been beating the crap out of the Dems in every meaningful election. The MSM is losing all of its power to influence thanks to new media. The MSM’s bias is obvious and laughable. In short, we’re winning. Be an optimist, that’s what Reagan would have wanted.
G:
I liked the ring match idea given the propper attire…
Gansibele has as much right to express his opinions (without fearing for his safety!) as the rest of us do. The future free Cuba we all want to see ASAP, can only be great if we Cubans learn from our mistakes and respect all Cubans’ right to freely express their views; exactly what castro has denied us all for 46 years. We all agree that getting rid of castro is the #1 priority even if we don’t agree on the best way to do that.
Conductor- fidel is still there and the world does nothing. This doesn’t make you angry?
And I still taking bets, and will team up with like minded spirits to sell food and drinks, proceeds going to the political prisoners families in Cuba.
I will wear proper attire, my oponent probably will wear a tutu and a che t-shirt or maybe the hammer and sickle.
Thanks Jose. Don’t worry, perro que ladra no muerde.
Fear me not, Chiburaska, that we need to put a good fight up, I expect at least two rounds from you before you break down in tears and chicken out like any good Demo-Rat. You are not mouse enough not even for my Republi-Cats
Oops, sorry, I got the cartoonish character wrong, you’re not Chiburaska, you’re Gansibele!
Yes that makes me angry, but that’s why I blog on CubanAmericanpundits.com and why I comment here. But I know how to tolerate dissent and I was talking specifically about the ideological wars between Republicans and Democrats(that we’re winning) not Castro. Some of the biggest opponents of the embargo are Republicans. And here’s another reason to be happy:
Did Rangel, Lee, or Davis have their amendments pass? No. Why because we did our jobs and kept the pressure on congress to keep the screws tight on Castro.
They failed, even with the willing help of the MSM.
Again, we’re winning. Castro is going to lose. There is no doubt in my mind.
The glass is more than half full.
Smile
😉
Conductor, I have no problem with informed dissent. I do however fail to see any value in stating a goal and then trying to twist opposing rhetoric to support it.
The reason our hearts first went out to Carlos Lazo was because his story was a truly difficult one. We understood that this man was paying a real price for an abstract policy that doesn’t affect most of our daily lives. Since then my opinion on him has changed because it seems that he had alternatives that he simply chose not to pursue. But you have to understand G, comes from a different place than us (metaphorically speaking). I don’t want to give too much info about him because he has not volunteered it and it’s not my place to. But if you had close family like a sibling or a parent in Cuba, the decision is not so easy. Remember not everyone in Cuba who wants Fidel’s regime to end is not necessarily interested in coming to the US. As crummy as it is, some people have lives that they don’t want to abandon. I’m not talking commie government types either. Should one not help a relative in that situation? After all $100 here is nothing but in CUba it’s a lot.
G, is a progressive or liberal Democrat. While that’s not what I believe in, I respect it. I think G, himself said that people like Stone and Moore are harming the case of true liberalism (in the classic sense of the word). That doesn’t mean he up and abandons his party. Just like I don’t abandon my party because Trent Lott makes a stupid and insensitive remark. He certainly did not help our consevrative cause when he did that. But that doesn’t invalidate conservatism. There have been great Democrats like Harry Truman, FDR and Scoop Jackson and there have been crappy Republicans like Ike. Kennedy screwed the whole Cuba/USSR thing up, but it was Ike that let it get to where it was by January 1961.
You are still speaking in relative terms Conductor and I just don’t buy it.
Conductor- Where’s the consensus of “our hearts went out to him” regarding Lazo? I think most of us questioned his motives right from the beginning. Speak for yourself.
Kathleen
Listen the “consensus” was what I thought there was when Val made this post: https://www.babalublog.com/archives/001900.html
We thought the boys wouldn’t be allowed to come here and thus my heart went out to him. Perhaps yours didn’t. It wasn’t until I heard that he had been offered visas for the oys and refused them that I became skeptical of him.
On the other stuff. fine, you are right. You win. Whatever. Your way is the only way. The world according to Kathleen…
Conductor,
I have family in Cuba, and my sources and many of my dear friends who don’t want to come to the US NOT BECAUSE STUPID ANTIAMERICANISM, just because Cuba is their country in which they believe as people in spite of having a monster like kagasstro at the helm by sheer force.
That doesn’t make me into a cowardly asshole like Gansibele. I was active in Cuba in things that I bet you my right arm he would not dare to do in his stupid empty life of a liberal, and much less make me want to sent Elian back or spewing poison here. He is, as far as I am concerned, an agent of the tyranny since he subscribe to the agenda of its helpers. You don’t need to out him, he doesn’t need to be outed or to out himself. That’s not the point. The point is that he is an enabler of the liberal agenda, and those guys represent kagasstro and his interests in the US.
PERIOD.
You know what CB, I’ve had it with you. I’ve been biting my tongue because of Vals’ request. I’m not going to match your insults because I’m above that, but:
IF YOU ARE SO CORAGEOUS, PICK UP A GUN, BOARD A BOAT AND GO FIGHT IN CUBA. WHO’S STOPPING YOU?
Otherwise all you are is an alardoso with a keyboard.
I did it in CUBA, already. AND DID MY TIME FOR THAT TOO, IDIOT. So shut up go back to the liberal latrine where you belong asshole. When you were trembling like a leaf fearing el COMITE I was there risking it all to give COWARDS like you a chance in life. But you’re a pichon de comunista as you said yourself. DON’T BITE YOUR TONGUE. YOU DID THAT IN CUBA ALREADY IMBECILE. WHENEVER YOU WEREN’T A G2 CHIVATO, that’s your kind, you have all the markings.
Now, seriously, you will know when I am in Miami. I will kick your ass, that’s guaranteed. To the delight of many. If this get’s edited or erased, well, too bad.
I bet that you were Militante de la Union de Jovenes Comunistas (the Communist youth) and all… It won’t come as a surprise. No “gusano” that respects him or helself will come here to talk the massive amount of bullshit that you talk.
Guys, I am going to close the comments on this post. I do not want Val to close ALL comments because some of you are having a virtual fistfight. I know I can get angry and emotional when I write, but I agree with Val that we have to keep the disagreements within a certain range of civility. Believe me when I say I will tone down my rhetoric as well.