Port-of-Spain.– U.S. President Barack Obama
offered a spirit of cooperation to America's hemispheric neighbors at a
summit Saturday, listening to their complaints about past U.S.
interference in the region and even reaching out to Venezuela's fiery leftist leader.
While he worked to ease friction between the U.S. and leaders at the Summit of the Americas, Obama cautioned them to resist a temptation to blame all their problems on their behemoth neighbor to the North.
"I
have a lot to learn and I very much look forward to listening and
figuring out how we can work together more effectively," Obama said.
Obama said he was ready to accept Cuban President Raul Castro's proposal of talks on issues once off-limits for Cuba, including the scores of political prisoners held by the communist government.
While praising America's initial effort to thaw relations with Havana, the leaders pushed the U.S. to go further and lift the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo against the communist nation.
To
Latin American nations reeling from a sudden plunge in exports, Obama
promised a new hemispheric growth fund, an initiative to increase
Caribbean security and a new regional partnership to develop
alternative energy sources and fight global warming.
As
the first full day of meetings began on the two-island nation of
Trinidad and Tobago, Obama exchanged handshakes and pats on the back
with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, who once likened President George W. Bush to the devil. In front of photographers, Chavez gave Obama a copy of "The Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent," a book by Eduardo Galeano, which chronicles U.S. and European economic and political interference in the region.
When
a reporter asked Obama what he thought of the book, the president
replied: "I thought it was one of Chavez' books. I was going to give
him one of mine." White House advisers said they didn't know if Obama would read it or not.
Later,
during a group photo, Obama reached behind several leaders at the
summit to shake Chavez' hand for the third time. Obama summoned a
translator and the two smiled and spoke briefly.
Written by: Edward, 19 Apr 2009 6:21 AM
From: United States, Faux News: Unfair Imbalance
I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of the Cuban embargo. Even though I admire Cuba for its revolution I oppose their semi-Stalinist government and I welcome their gradual shift towards a more Democratic Socialist nation. That 19th century Marxist ideology is flawed and I'm glad they're starting to realize it. As for Chavez, even though he says stupid things sometimes I think he's a good man. I don't think he's an enemy of the US. Hopefully this is a sign that Venezuela, US relations are going to improve dramatically.
Written by: pelaut, 19 Apr 2009 7:46 AM
From: United States
"Las Venas Abiertas de America Latina", written in 1970, is a diatribe by someone with a cultural inferiority complex.
It scourges Europe and the U.S. for L.A.'s self-inflicted wounds, ignoring the historical horrors which the North Americans also suffered during their period of exploration and settlement, which they survived without creating the dictators, apalling poverty and venomous class distinctions found in L.A.
The book also ignores the 200 years of Spanish Inquisition visited upon L.A. which, thankfully, the N.A.'s escaped.
A typical blame America for your own failings. And that's Chavez' whole perspective.
Written by: generoso, 19 Apr 2009 8:23 AM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
pelaut
The book written in 1973 is really out of sync like Chavez is. Curiosity of the reading public after
Chavez endorsement brought it up from 60,000 in the Amazon best seller list to #6.
Again Chavez wants to break protocol and barge in the public view with his uncontrollable antics. President Obama should have just shunned him and said, like the King of Spain told Chavez:
Callate la boca....... y sientate ya!
Written by: juanb, 19 Apr 2009 8:34 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Don't confuse shaking someone's hand with befriending them. Obama will prove himself, in spite of the wailing of the right wing conservatives who got the US and, indeed, the whole world into the crisis that we now face. He is a very very smart man.
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
I would go even further than juanb and say that Obama will make many friends with leaders who were hostile to Bush .Obama has already agreed with Germany and France that more financial regulations are needed, a complete change in USA policy , he has told Mexico that the drugs and gun trade there has been of the USA making ,he has totally changed the relationship with Cuba and the USA has been trying to assist Haiti as well as telling Leonel to be a strong regional leader .Now he is trying to build bridges with Venezuela and the whole world will be a better place because of his efforts to build better relations with other countries.
It has been a very very impressive start.
Written by: Username, 19 Apr 2009 9:55 AM
From: Dominican Republic
I am afraid even to think what will happen to DR if Americans are allowed to visit Cuba, and even more scary thing is if Cuba allows foreigners to by property. DR will not be a 3rd world country but a 10th world country. Number of visitors will drop drastically, first the Americans will be going there for the curiosity, then when they see Cuba DR will be left and forgotten like a bad girlfriend.
From: Dominican Republic, calle A.Portes
Username ...yes when Cuba is opened up more for investment and also for tourists , the DR will need to lift it´s game significantly ..I can imagine many Cubans living in the USA wanting to place money into Cuba ..But looking at it all positively, if the DR eventually gets the road to Bavaro completed and can get the roads in the west a little better then this island has many great drives with a variety of beautiful scenery. The DR now is the main golf destination in the Caribbean but all the courses need to work together rather than compete against each other to be more appealing ..something like having a 7 day golf course pass.
I see the new Cuba as a great opportunity for the DR to take the last step away from corruption and mal administration and to be as good as Cuba and Costa Rica ...but if we stay the same here we are doomed, as usarname says, to continuing as a third world country
Written by: juanb, 19 Apr 2009 12:07 PM
From: Dominican Republic
When Cuba is open to American tourists, would the last person leaving the DR please turn out the lights? Oh that's right they're always out anyway.
From: United States
Obama is smooth and slick ,
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 1:34 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Juanb
have you been to Cuba before. Doesn't sound like you have trust i been there twice there 85 percent of dirty laundries hidding in there. You will find out is not as a good the situation there as we were thinking. Cuba got major ecological problems but i don't expect people who never been there to know. Why do you think Fidel expend so much in the medical field. Ending the embargo will bring good thing also bad thing remember you will end up putting 11 million people from 1950 to 2009 in one day that by itself is going to create major problem. like drug,prostitution,political corruption,botellas, and all other good thing that follow it. All this stuff coming in at once and 11 million people ready to jump on a boat or plane to go to florida but now if they commit a crime they can also go.this same thing happened to DR in 70s and early 80 and up till now still happening by now DR is experienced on how to handle this situation but Castro can barely deals with the current.
From: Dominican Republic
Obama said NOTHING ON HELPING THE CARIBBEAN TO STOP THE DRUG TRAFFICKING! How about getting help from the U.S. Navy to intercept maritime shipment of illegal drugs?
How about the tariffs on Tobacco products? Or the agricultural quotas? Shipment of nuclear waste in Caribbean waters? What about SUCKING INVESTMENT OUT OF L.A. by China/Vietnam? What about the defamation of L.A. by the U.S. press (as drugs points and fountains of violence) that mitigates tourism to L.A.?
To Pelaut
The colonies conquered N.A. for a period 180 years and during that expansion new land, new water sources, new minerals, wood, crops, slaves, and trade filled their lifes! Initially they were governed by a Kingdom and later they put their Republic and not one imposed dictators on them like the U.S. did to L.A. in the early 1900's!
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 1:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
After the embargo drug trafficer are going to be like why fly this drugs into DR if we can now go to Cuba and be closer to the target.
From: Dominican Republic
as usual the "sheeple" are being misled. Wake Up People! Obama is a tool. He will say anything, do anything to feed his ego & that of the others in his "freak show" of a cabinet. He couldn't give a rat's @$$ about Chavez, Republica Dominicana or anything other than padding his parties' & friends bank accounts. When are you going to learn to "follow the money trail"
His policies are the same ol same ol, with a slightly different spin.............
From: Dominican Republic
I'll bet Obama's knees are really sore after all of the bowing & kneeling! We should call him kneel & bob.
From: United States
President Obama leaves his ego at the door. unlike his predecessor.
He would not be there if he did not want to understand.
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 2:59 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Obama was and still is the best for this position thats why he is there. Mccain/Palin aka MS Know Nothing did make the cut" just didn't give me any confidence.
From: Netherlands
Like those DICTATORS in Latin-America and elsewhere, OBAMA has something EVIL in HIM TOO!!
From: Netherlands
Obama is a FAKE AMERICAN! Or else he wouldn't be loyal to EVIL REGIMES.
Written by: Username, 19 Apr 2009 3:44 PM
From: Dominican Republic
belly51 i have been to Cuba and the ecological problem you talk about does not exist. The beaches are clean that they could not be any cleaner, unfortunately that is so because the Cubans are forbidden to go to the resorts, and public beaches are clean too. The Cubans and the GOV know what they have a they take care of it. As far as golf goes i am 100% sure if Cuba opens up they will build many many 1st class golf courses. Any way you look at it economically this is bad news for DR. As far as the drugs go, as you know Fidel and the GOV control and know everything, and they are as anti-drugs as they get. Many cartels have tried to break into Cuba and establish a base there but none had succeeded, Fidel does not want it on his island and that's end of the story, no matter what Miami Herald says. That is a known fact. He knows money is power and he does not want anyone in Cuba to be able to get that rich on his own.
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 3:51 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
scheermesje,
Obama is a FAKE AMERICAN! Or else he wouldn't be loyal to EVIL REGIMES.
Otro que decubrio a america. I didn't know there was such a thing as Fake or Real American. You need to stop watching Fox News and Bill O'relly thats not good for your mental health. Who gave you the right to question or say who is Fake or Real American. In America you have the right to freedom of speech but not to dictate others right of freedom of speech. Man up and say Republicans lost and that's it don't look for excuses for their failure to put somebody worth voting for. Mccain/Palin was not a better choice than Obama/Biden thats the end of the story what are you going to say next that you HOPE HE FAILS. Where are all these ignorant coming from DT i think we clean up the site. O como decimos nosotro "Limpiar Arros". I thought the recession in the world was only a lack of money going around but i guess is also a lack of Brain Cells too include in this one. Oh boy is worst than we excpected
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 4:19 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Username
i have been to Cuba and the ecological problem you talk about does not exist.
As far as golf goes i am 100% sure if Cuba opens up they will build many many 1st class golf courses.
Just by reading this 2 lines i can tell the places you went to Cuba. the beach and a golf course. by the way I'm in Texas i don't read the Miami Herald. Have you heard of oil spill,river contamination and that if the embargo goes away Fidel and his brother could go away with the too. I don't need to explain the big picture to you cause you just won't understand it. But next time you are in Cuba don't just go Downtown Habana go to Yaguajay, Moron and Nuevitas and you will get a total different stories.
From: Dominican Republic
Written by: Edward, 19 Apr 2009 6:21 AM
From: United States, Leominster, Massachusetts
I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of the Cuban embargo. Even though I admire Cuba for its revolution I oppose their semi-Stalinist government and I welcome their gradual shift towards a more Democratic Socialist nation.
(What? You admire Cuba for its revolution? Are you insane? It ws a prospering nation with a great future until they turned into a prison camp and a nightmare)
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 7:07 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Is hard to express what freedom feels like. I would rather be broke than not free.
Written by: Username, 19 Apr 2009 8:58 PM
From: Dominican Republic
And the Americans are free? If they are free how come they can not go to Cuba, their GOV prohibits them freedom of movement. LOL.
Written by: belly51, 19 Apr 2009 11:44 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Francisco y Houston,TX
Username,
1st quote: belly51 i have been to Cuba and the ecological problem you talk about does not exist.
2nd quote: And the Americans are free? If they are free how come they can not go to Cuba, their GOV prohibits them freedom of movement. LOL.
and you believe they don't go to Cuba Hahahahaha thats funny. and you are the same guy that told me you been to Cuba and you didn't know they don't get their passport stamp when entering and exititng the country. American do whatever their freedom wants even if the law permits it or not. Now before posting that you should have read your earlier post.
From: United States
I only read the first half of that book and found it rather interesting as regards the attitude, greed and backwardness of the Spanish empire in LA. After that the whiny tone did become a bit much, but I'll wrap it up eventually...the first half at least is informative.
Written by: Benstein, 20 Apr 2009 9:40 AM
From: Israel
Obama is a great visionary leader and everything he does shows that he is not only different but also better! He ran his campaign in a revolutionary format... Now, he is reversing the big mistakes of former US leaders like the Bush's.
Many of the mean & negative comments that will hopefully be removed remind me of growing up in the holocaust as a kid. We had a brutal and negative Captain with the name of Scheermesje who was the worst of the worst Nazi's. Like the Rush Limbaugh many so called good Americans want our US President to fail (but he is succeeding beyond expectations). Once the world and US economy recovers then maybe in 2016, Jeb Bush can run for President and pick up where his father & brother left off....destroying the American economy, the family home & US jobs...
As a kid in Nazi Germany, I always thought Captain Scheermesje was on drugs ... it really distorts clear thinking.
Written by: Bailarin 
, 20 Apr 2009 10:39 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Yes , boy Hugo has a mouth much bigger than his leftist left stone , but like the rest of the GRINGO HATING world , his problem is much more with the imperialist George W. than it is the U.S.. After all ,when one trys to force or impose thier ideals by sanctioning another , are they not just as bad and hypocritical for promoting the same system as the ones thier condemning ? You know the saying about getting more flies with honey than vinegar. As A CHRISTIAN , and one who lives in a country that claims to founded on biblical values and principals , I love what Jesus says about loving your enemies . '' if your enemy is hungry , feed him , and it will be like pouring hot coals over his head,,,Wow , Im sure many of you WOULD RATHER see the Castro boys wearing hot coals on thier heads then a useless embargo.lol. Say what you want about Fidel , but at the very least you have to admit the old man has more stones than any butt cheeks to have ever sat in the oval office...
Written by: Bailarin , 20 Apr 2009 11:05 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Clearly this is the beggining of the end of the Cuban embargo . Praise God ! IF IM NOT FREE TO TRAVEL WHERE EVER I WANT IN THIS WORLD , IM NOT TRULY FREE . Nobody appreciates thier God given freedom to spout off my big mouth more than I do and never was I more grateful for that freedom than when I stood on Havanas malecon looking out at the ocean in amazement that the cradle of democracy was only 90 miles away ..What a contrast ! Yes , for anyone who has been there concealed from uncle Sams radar , you know its A BAD SCENE for those poor Cuban people . Ive spent the last two years of my life living in the Dominican Rep. and what is even more of a disgrace is that when the roulette wheels start spinning again in the streets of Havana and Fidels paste maker finally stops pumping , the majority of Cubans will be just like the majority of Dominicans ..Dirt poor with maybe nothing more than the freedom to bitch about it ..
Written by: Username, 20 Apr 2009 12:09 PM
From: Dominican Republic
belly51 what exactly is your point, if there is any? So you agree with me, the Americans are NOT permitted to go to Cuba, and those who want to go there must do so ILLEGALLY, and the only reason they can pull it off is because the Cubans don't stamp the passports. Truly "land of the free". LOL.
Written by: xwill7, 20 Apr 2009 12:43 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
username,
you can arrive in Cuba as an American if you travel from Canada or Mexico.
Written by: Bailarin , 20 Apr 2009 1:15 PM
From: Dominican Republic
For the record , Its not illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba with a specific license , its only illegal for Americans to spend money there because under the ''Trading with the enemy act ''.., in the eyes of Uncle Sam you would be supporting a communist regime considered a threat to our country ..You may have to pay off immigration in some third party country as I did , but there are many ports of departure.. Cuban officials will not stamp your passport but you must specifically tell them not to and since very very few of the 200,000 AMERICANS that do go illegally every year never return through Miami , it would be hard to detect even if they did stamp it.
Written by: Belly, 20 Apr 2009 1:53 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Username,
I'm not even going to answer to your statement because you didn't know all about the enviroment problems in cuba but you been there and didn't know about USA laws and what it really says about the embargo. Do you even know what the embargo is what is in it.
Written by: xwill7, 20 Apr 2009 3:25 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
username,
are you anti- American???
Written by: Username, 20 Apr 2009 4:24 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Anti-American? Not really, more anti double-standard and hypocrisy.
Cuba has "environment problems". LOL and another LOL. Bunch of BS.
Written by: xwill7, 20 Apr 2009 4:47 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I will never travel to Cuba. Dominicana has everything, there is no need to travel to Cuba.
Written by: Belly, 20 Apr 2009 4:51 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Username,
Ok you won and i lost happy now. But remember this when the Embargo gets lifted you wil find out a lot of things you didn't see when you "went to Cuba".
Written by: Username, 20 Apr 2009 8:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I hope the embargo is lifted and the Americans can freely go to Cuba and see things for themselves. Either they will love the capitalism even more and see how the communism has "destroyed" Cuba, or they will see that Castro is not the evil the Miami Herald portrays him as, either way they should be able to see Cuba with their own eyes.
Written by: Vivacuba, 20 Apr 2009 8:22 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I for one wish the situation (embargo) would remain status quo (for the wrong reasons of course). There is nowhere left for the northern Gringos to go to escape their godforsaken dominating controlling emipiaralist owner, the US Government. Before you know it, McDonalds, Crime, drugs, drunks, and all of the rest of the cr*p in the USA will be down in Cuba causing trouble and starting Diplomatic chaos between the two governments shortly after it is underway. Currently an occasional gringo slips in and is able to enjoy the country in its 'natural state' unaffected by what is about to come.
Written by: Vivacuba, 20 Apr 2009 8:27 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I unfortunately was born in "America" and as such now pay the price daily to be "labeled American" everywhere I go in this small world,and "yes" I am ANTI -US Government. I love the American people, but their government needs to go crawl up somewhere the sun does not shine and begin to get a clue as to what the founding fathers had in mind in the year 2009! God bless the American people ...not the government that extorts them. So there!
Written by: Belly, 20 Apr 2009 8:32 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
All i have to say is not everything that shines is gold. o No todo lo que brilla es oro.
Written by: Username, 20 Apr 2009 8:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic
I think the funniest thing now would be if Cuba prohibits entry for people with US passports, like some Arab countries do with the Israelis. LOL.
Written by: Belly, 20 Apr 2009 8:50 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Username
Cuba is a third world country so banning American from coming in would be a disaster if continued because if the embargo gets lifted and Castros do this to who they going to blame they total failure because for all this time they have blamed on the embargo but when thats gone they gonna have to face the reality that other presidents in Latin America are facing that is not as easy as it looks to get off the ground. Lets not forget that Cuba is got a 40 billion dollar external debt and Russia want their money back thats why Castro is being friendly to them.
Written by: Bailarin , 21 Apr 2009 8:58 AM
From: Dominican Republic
No reason to travel to Cuba ? oh please .....How about eduction my friend ? how about for no other reason than to experience how blessed we are to be able to open our pie holes the way we do and not get locked up for it.. How about to find out the truth for your ignorant self instead of buying all the imperialist B.S that uncle Sam and W. have been selling you about the big bad wolf. No ,Cuba is not the D.R and it should not try to be BUT IT IS STILL ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS ive traveled to and the history and culture are very rich..( incidently ,so are the women )... Very few things can educate a person the way travel does and probably nothing else will cure some red neck yankee of his '' God is an American '' arrogance ..so why not try a 3 day all inclusive vacation in Cuba for your next daring attempt to discover a gift shop xwill7 .. If you show them your adventure live strong bracelet , they might not stamp your passport..lol..were #1. were # 1..lol
Written by: Bailarin , 21 Apr 2009 9:58 AM
From: Dominican Republic
CabereteWilliam , Im in agreement with your thoughts ...I am in no way a fan or supporter of oppressive tyranical dictators like Castro , nor do i support thier ideals , but at that very least , I have a great respect and admiration for the mans courage ..If the guy truly had the best intrest of his people at heart , he could go down in history as a hero ...Wow , what a remarkable story about how the revolution was started .everyone should read it before they start spouting off thier opinions about Cuba....Intrestingly enough , most people ( including Cubanos) dont realize that the Battista puppet regime that Castro overthrew was worst than the one thats in power now and they speak as if Cuba was so much better under the old system ....As you said , its very clear that democracy and socialism are going to be sleeping together very soon in much of the free world as we know it , and like it or not , it may not be such a bad mix given the fact that both have failed independently .
Written by: Bailarin , 21 Apr 2009 11:06 AM
From: Dominican Republic
BELLY , now that Raul is once again going to have his old SUGAR daddy uncle sam lighting fat Cuban cigars and blowing the smoke in the face of Che's statue , it doesnt matter if the Russians or Hugo send collection agencies in to Fidel sugar cane fields .. .. He can tell them all to go to hell lol ...
Written by: Belly, 21 Apr 2009 11:26 AM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Bailarin
We must remember uncle Sam is broke so i would not go that far since Russia its got a lot of oil and if they get it their way with the artic and canada they are going to have a lot more. Chavez is no thread to any body he is just running his mouth. Also even if the embargo gets lifted most investor are not just going to jump in because they already know what Fidel did back then and they are not going to take a chance unless the Castros are out which is going to take a while for that to happen.
Written by: Bailarin , 21 Apr 2009 11:50 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Nothing that chopping down a few more trees wont fix ...Anyone who lends out a trillion benjamins to bailout greedy executives responsible for destroying the capitalist system doesnt look like thier going to miss a meal any time soon . Wow, broke ? you could of fooled me .......for your learning Belly , the investors are already there in Cuba and even if Fidels pastemaker isnt ready to stop pumping , Raul has finally realized that if his country is ever going to be recognized as a serious contender instead of nothing more than living proof that survival is for the fittest , Cuba must open its doors ,'' sell out '' and welcome back the same demons it once exiled ...
Written by: Belly, 21 Apr 2009 12:07 PM
From: United States, Seattle, W.A.
Bailarin
Would you care to name a few of those investor that are in Cuba because as late as 2004 Fidel was still seizing properties from foreigners. A new currency is already o the works so chopping trees and printing more dollar is just not an option USA wants now because when the new currency settles in we are going to find out what the dollar is really worth. If you think uncle sam is not broke then i just don't think i need to argue with you because that tells me you are not looking at any numbers any ways. let me give you one figure for you to look at. Just the 786 billions dollar bailout is going to cost 1/2 million dollar to each US family to pay back and when you add the 10 trillion dollar deficit how much you think that is to each family. Do the math and let me know what you come up with. it will take many generations before USA is out of debt but most people refuse to accept it. anyways no hard feeling against you
Written by: Bailarin , 21 Apr 2009 12:34 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Yawn ! The bailout isnt costing me a cent my friend ..jUST AS I CAN ASSURE You THAT WHEN I WENT TO CUBA , FIDEL DID NOT GET TO EAT ONE HAPPY MEAL BECAUSE OF MY PRESENCE ...But your right , other than all the Europen based corporations who keep the island from becoming a Louisiana swamp, there are no investors other than the ones who are sitting on Capital Hill and the rest are sipping Mojitos on South beach AS WE SPEAK...waiting to trade thier rafts in for cruise ships . ...Man , I HAVE to figure out how I can lend out a trillion dollars and still be standing in a bread line at the same time ....They never taught me that one ..
Written by: hvargas, 21 Apr 2009 6:27 PM
From: Dominican Republic
The U.S. is no dummy, its economy is NOT IN A CRISIS and its expenditures domestically and externally is growing while its profits are on the increase. The previous now retired Ex-President Bush, like or not gave the U.S. or added to the U.S. two more countries to digest. Another accomplishment was the establishment of another National Security or Home-Land security. The U.S. Armed Force during his termed in office was guarantee a more sustantial budget and an increase budget as well. 911 was seen as a blessing to the U.S. Armed Forces and to the U.S. as a whole. A situations which was view by most politicians as something to take the most advantage of. Most rich and super-rich became even more rich. Yes, there is a high unemployment and many had taken advantages in cheating and corruptions which affected many but the overall situation is one that applauds Mr. Bush. Like it or Not. I work moving people, I see those who gain and those who had lost. Mr. Obama needs to top Mr. Bush.
Written by: hvargas, 21 Apr 2009 6:28 PM
From: Dominican Republic
One last thing, so far Mr. Obama is following the same program as Mr. Bush as far as external politics is concerned --- mainly the war in Irak. Latin America has been and will continued to be what the U.S. had wished to be and that is a subject to the will of the U.S. and all the Latin America Leaders do is --- Hi, Mr. Obama will show care to donate some pocket change into this bucket. Thats whar each so called Leaders had done at the Summits -- they are all beggars that got no shame and no respect for their respective nation that they represent. Cuba has suffer with dignity but as yet has no become a beggar. I don't agree with its system of government and I don't agree with this one either. One wrong does not make another right.
From: United States
To: Benstein,
Touche!! You are right on the money about President Obama. The republicans are just plain pissed that they lost. As for the comment about Jeb Bush, perish the thought. NO MORE BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE, 2 OF THEM WAS ENOUGH.
PEACE....
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It scourges Europe and the U.S. for L.A.'s self-inflicted wounds, ignoring the historical horrors which the North Americans also suffered during their period of exploration and settlement, which they survived without creating the dictators, apalling poverty and venomous class distinctions found in L.A.
The book also ignores the 200 years of Spanish Inquisition visited upon L.A. which, thankfully, the N.A.'s escaped.
A typical blame America for your own failings. And that's Chavez' whole perspective.
The book written in 1973 is really out of sync like Chavez is. Curiosity of the reading public after
Chavez endorsement brought it up from 60,000 in the Amazon best seller list to #6.
Again Chavez wants to break protocol and barge in the public view with his uncontrollable antics. President Obama should have just shunned him and said, like the King of Spain told Chavez:
Callate la boca....... y sientate ya!
It has been a very very impressive start.
I see the new Cuba as a great opportunity for the DR to take the last step away from corruption and mal administration and to be as good as Cuba and Costa Rica ...but if we stay the same here we are doomed, as usarname says, to continuing as a third world country
have you been to Cuba before. Doesn't sound like you have trust i been there twice there 85 percent of dirty laundries hidding in there. You will find out is not as a good the situation there as we were thinking. Cuba got major ecological problems but i don't expect people who never been there to know. Why do you think Fidel expend so much in the medical field. Ending the embargo will bring good thing also bad thing remember you will end up putting 11 million people from 1950 to 2009 in one day that by itself is going to create major problem. like drug,prostitution,political corruption,botellas, and all other good thing that follow it. All this stuff coming in at once and 11 million people ready to jump on a boat or plane to go to florida but now if they commit a crime they can also go.this same thing happened to DR in 70s and early 80 and up till now still happening by now DR is experienced on how to handle this situation but Castro can barely deals with the current.
How about the tariffs on Tobacco products? Or the agricultural quotas? Shipment of nuclear waste in Caribbean waters? What about SUCKING INVESTMENT OUT OF L.A. by China/Vietnam? What about the defamation of L.A. by the U.S. press (as drugs points and fountains of violence) that mitigates tourism to L.A.?
To Pelaut
The colonies conquered N.A. for a period 180 years and during that expansion new land, new water sources, new minerals, wood, crops, slaves, and trade filled their lifes! Initially they were governed by a Kingdom and later they put their Republic and not one imposed dictators on them like the U.S. did to L.A. in the early 1900's!
His policies are the same ol same ol, with a slightly different spin.............
President Obama leaves his ego at the door. unlike his predecessor.
He would not be there if he did not want to understand.
Obama is a FAKE AMERICAN! Or else he wouldn't be loyal to EVIL REGIMES.
Otro que decubrio a america. I didn't know there was such a thing as Fake or Real American. You need to stop watching Fox News and Bill O'relly thats not good for your mental health. Who gave you the right to question or say who is Fake or Real American. In America you have the right to freedom of speech but not to dictate others right of freedom of speech. Man up and say Republicans lost and that's it don't look for excuses for their failure to put somebody worth voting for. Mccain/Palin was not a better choice than Obama/Biden thats the end of the story what are you going to say next that you HOPE HE FAILS. Where are all these ignorant coming from DT i think we clean up the site. O como decimos nosotro "Limpiar Arros". I thought the recession in the world was only a lack of money going around but i guess is also a lack of Brain Cells too include in this one. Oh boy is worst than we excpected
i have been to Cuba and the ecological problem you talk about does not exist.
As far as golf goes i am 100% sure if Cuba opens up they will build many many 1st class golf courses.
Just by reading this 2 lines i can tell the places you went to Cuba. the beach and a golf course. by the way I'm in Texas i don't read the Miami Herald. Have you heard of oil spill,river contamination and that if the embargo goes away Fidel and his brother could go away with the too. I don't need to explain the big picture to you cause you just won't understand it. But next time you are in Cuba don't just go Downtown Habana go to Yaguajay, Moron and Nuevitas and you will get a total different stories.
From: United States, Leominster, Massachusetts
I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of the Cuban embargo. Even though I admire Cuba for its revolution I oppose their semi-Stalinist government and I welcome their gradual shift towards a more Democratic Socialist nation.
(What? You admire Cuba for its revolution? Are you insane? It ws a prospering nation with a great future until they turned into a prison camp and a nightmare)
1st quote: belly51 i have been to Cuba and the ecological problem you talk about does not exist.
2nd quote: And the Americans are free? If they are free how come they can not go to Cuba, their GOV prohibits them freedom of movement. LOL.
and you believe they don't go to Cuba Hahahahaha thats funny. and you are the same guy that told me you been to Cuba and you didn't know they don't get their passport stamp when entering and exititng the country. American do whatever their freedom wants even if the law permits it or not. Now before posting that you should have read your earlier post.
Many of the mean & negative comments that will hopefully be removed remind me of growing up in the holocaust as a kid. We had a brutal and negative Captain with the name of Scheermesje who was the worst of the worst Nazi's. Like the Rush Limbaugh many so called good Americans want our US President to fail (but he is succeeding beyond expectations). Once the world and US economy recovers then maybe in 2016, Jeb Bush can run for President and pick up where his father & brother left off....destroying the American economy, the family home & US jobs...
As a kid in Nazi Germany, I always thought Captain Scheermesje was on drugs ... it really distorts clear thinking.
you can arrive in Cuba as an American if you travel from Canada or Mexico.
I'm not even going to answer to your statement because you didn't know all about the enviroment problems in cuba but you been there and didn't know about USA laws and what it really says about the embargo. Do you even know what the embargo is what is in it.
are you anti- American???
Cuba has "environment problems". LOL and another LOL. Bunch of BS.
Ok you won and i lost happy now. But remember this when the Embargo gets lifted you wil find out a lot of things you didn't see when you "went to Cuba".
Cuba is a third world country so banning American from coming in would be a disaster if continued because if the embargo gets lifted and Castros do this to who they going to blame they total failure because for all this time they have blamed on the embargo but when thats gone they gonna have to face the reality that other presidents in Latin America are facing that is not as easy as it looks to get off the ground. Lets not forget that Cuba is got a 40 billion dollar external debt and Russia want their money back thats why Castro is being friendly to them.
We must remember uncle Sam is broke so i would not go that far since Russia its got a lot of oil and if they get it their way with the artic and canada they are going to have a lot more. Chavez is no thread to any body he is just running his mouth. Also even if the embargo gets lifted most investor are not just going to jump in because they already know what Fidel did back then and they are not going to take a chance unless the Castros are out which is going to take a while for that to happen.
Would you care to name a few of those investor that are in Cuba because as late as 2004 Fidel was still seizing properties from foreigners. A new currency is already o the works so chopping trees and printing more dollar is just not an option USA wants now because when the new currency settles in we are going to find out what the dollar is really worth. If you think uncle sam is not broke then i just don't think i need to argue with you because that tells me you are not looking at any numbers any ways. let me give you one figure for you to look at. Just the 786 billions dollar bailout is going to cost 1/2 million dollar to each US family to pay back and when you add the 10 trillion dollar deficit how much you think that is to each family. Do the math and let me know what you come up with. it will take many generations before USA is out of debt but most people refuse to accept it. anyways no hard feeling against you
Touche!! You are right on the money about President Obama. The republicans are just plain pissed that they lost. As for the comment about Jeb Bush, perish the thought. NO MORE BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE, 2 OF THEM WAS ENOUGH.
PEACE....