Castro criticizes Obama plan to keep US embargo

HAVANA — Former President Fidel Castro says Sen. Barack Obama's plan to maintain Washington's trade embargo against Cuba will cause hunger and suffering on the island.

In a column published Monday by government-run newspapers, Castro said Obama was "the most-advanced candidate in the presidential race," but noted that he has not dared to call for altering U.S. policy toward Cuba.

"Obama's speech can be translated as a formula for hunger for the country," Castro wrote, referring to Obama's remarks last week to the influential Cuban American National Foundation in Miami.

Obama said he would maintain the nearly fifty-year-old trade sanctions against Cuba as leverage to push for democratic change on the island. But he also vowed to ease restrictions on Cuban Americans traveling to Cuba and sending money to relatives.

He repeated his willingness to meet with Raul Castro, who in February succeeded his elder brother Fidel to become the nation's first new leader in 49 years.

Castro said Obama's proposals for letting well-off Cuban Americans help poorer relatives on the island amounted to "propaganda for consumerism and a way of life that is unsustainable."

He complained that Obama's description of Cuba as "undemocratic" and "lacking in respect for liberty and human rights" was the same argument previous U.S. administrations "have used to justify their crimes against our homeland."

Castro, 81, has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency surgery in July 2006, but he often publishes columns in state newspapers.

Obama's calls for direct talks with Cuban leaders differ sharply from a more hardline policy favored by current President Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, whom Castro also has criticized.

Castro's column came three days after a prominent dissident group wrote an open letter to Obama suggesting that his idea of talking directly with Cuban leaders could help win freedom for prisoners.

"We have great hope that you can contribute to the immediate, unconditional liberation" of prisoners, wrote the Ladies in White, a group formed by relatives of people jailed in a government crackdown on political opposition in 2003.

Comments

[rollingdivision]

So, Castro endorsed Obama as the "most progressive" candidate. Yet another stinging endorsement of Obama from a despot who even though he says he knows “Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor,” but still cannot help himself since he, Castro, likes Obama so much and endorses him anyway. "He (Fidel Castro) also is full of opinions, and on Monday he gave Senator Barack Obama an endorsement of sorts, calling him “the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency” while also berating him for his plan to continue the trade embargo against Cuba. “Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries an enormous favor,” Mr. Castro said. “I have therefore no reservations about criticizing him.”"

[MRb1000]

OLD PEOPLE NEED TO LET THE YOUNG TAKE OVER. WE ARE TIRED OF THE THESE OLD FIGHTS.

[sharonh]

There is a reason the voting age is restricted. In a perfect world, by the time a person is of voting age, he/she would do diligent research before making political decisions. However, first-year drivers have the most accidents and I would say this analogy certainly works here. The core of Mr. Obama's base is the young idealist who has never voted before. They think that because of the color of his skin, he will bring something different to Washington. If they would just look at the issues that the people care about in an analytical way, he surely would lose his base. Before you start howling, do not accuse me of being racist. It is not true. I wish Hillary was a woman of color. Would she still be the same woman? You bet.

Enough with outcries. Let the candidates speak for themselves, if one of them can.

[BLinCincinnati]

ee, the problem is, you are being racist, as well as condescending and assuming. You clearly are a Clinton supporter, so your talk about issues is clearly disingenuous. Clinton and Obama have the same positions on nearly all issues. There are very few differences. So even your assuming that the 18-35 crowd hasn't bothered to look at the issues is not a logical argument because Hillary's positions aren't really any different. So if they aren't going to like Obama's, as you say, they won't like Hillary's. So what kind of argument is that? Oh that's right... it isn't.

Color of his skin? Please, show me anywhere that is the reason people are voting for him. Nearly all the people that say race mattered in their decision voted for CLINTON.

Research? Please. Show me any significant accomplishments of Hillary Clinton that she did on her own. No sponsoring bills, no voting for, but actual own her own accomplishments. Something she's written and passed, or accomplished.

[Jess27]

Ummm.... too bad people judge him in the issues, not his skin color. If people judge on skin color and not on the issues, Jessie Jackson would have won the nomination in '88.

I did not prejudge any of the candidates when they first started campaigning. I listened. After months of listening, I made my decision. It was not based on what the news was saying about the candidates, it was about what they were saying in debates and speeches.

On a side note, relating first year driver's accidents to first time voters is just asinine.

[Ariesjill]

Fidel was never even close to stupid. HE gets who our next President will be and some people here actually do not. Fascinating.

[sharonh]

I agree that Fidel is not stupid or even close to it; however, I would question how he could have knowledge of the possible outcome of this election. You are projecting.

[BLinCincinnati]

Because most of us live in this fantastic place called Reality. You should join us some time.

[HowietheScreamer]

One of the main reasons the Cubans in Miami don't want the embargo lifted is because doing so, and normalizing relations would END THE CUBAN EXCEPTION in Immigration law. As it stands now any Cuban that makes it to dry land gets an automatic green card... just for getting here. Normal relations mean that GIFT ENDS. We can't have that now can we. Being treated like any other illegal? Heven forbid.

[Daly]

I take is a a positive that Castro would say anything because he does see that there may be a new day coming remember that Mc spoke and even 80 year old Castro could tell that it would be more of the same. Yes! Castro has been a disaster however he sems to recognize the possiblity of dialogue.

For the mis informed

[KBAR]

Where are the "changes"?: More police brutality against the dissidents

HAVANA (AP) Raul Castro's police violently broke up a dissidents' meeting, leaving at least two people in need of medical treatment, opposition sources said Monday.

At least 30 people were detained briefly after a weekend raid on the home of well-known dissident Jorge Luis "Atunez" Garcia Perez in the central city of Placetas, opposition leader Martha Beatriz Roque said in a communique sent to journalists by fax.

"This is the most violent police action we have seen in many months," said Elizardo Sanchez, head of Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation

[CaptainSunshine]

Get a grip dude. Do you not think that the same thing happens in Mexico? We have normal relations with them, don't we? People need prosperity to move forward.

Heaven forbid that we should create another Zimbabwe by supporting someone like Robert Mugabe who comes to power on the backs of poor people claiming to be a champion of Democracy.

[Poohnc]

Great - now in addition to his terrorist and racist links Obama has Castro endorsement.

Superdelegates need to end this circus now by supporting Senator Clinton, who won majority of the popular vote anyway.

[paganmist]

The title says "Castro *criticizes*" Obama. If by endorsement you mean criticizes and does not endorse, well then I guess you're right.

(It helps to read the article, Pooh. Otherwise you just come off as an idiot.)

[Poohnc]

Here you go - from Castro himself: ttp://www.granma.cu/ingles/2008/mayo/lun26/Reflections-26may.html

"...this man who is doubtless, from the social and human points of view, the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency?...I am not questioning Obama’s great intelligence, his debating skills or his work ethic. He is a talented orator and is ahead of his rivals in the electoral race. I feel sympathy for his wife and little girls, who accompany him and give him encouragement every Tuesday..."

[sharonh]

Looks like YOU only read the headline. Hey, aren't you the same paganmist who got upset because I called you a "nuthead", and here you go calling somebody an "idiot". Well, I guess your magnanimous personality is only one-way.

[RobtBrock]

Obama: SSDD.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

The embargo needs to end. This is ridiculous. China is a communist country and we manufacture nearly all our goods there. The only reason the embargo is still going is because of Floridian ex-Cubans.

It would benefit Cuba and America to end the embargo.

[darthmaul]

If the rich guys could make as much money from Cuba as they do out of China, it wouldn't make a bit of difference about the Cubans in Florida. It's all about the money.

[foreverleft]

It would seem that landbased missles so close to our mainland perpetually changed the way our politicians view this now innocuous little place, a mere ninety miles away.

As we continue to choke ourselves materialistically, the Cuban people may have the better for it.

Poverty is relative. Politics is perverse.

[sharonh]

Hunger is not relative.

[foreverleft]

Hunger? Did I mention hunger?

We are the world leader in terms of obesity.

Hunger, for many, is a state of mind.

[111]

The embargo makes no sense. We are doing business with Viet Nam for goodness sake! People are vacationing in Viet Nam! We didn't tell them they had to do anything - still a communist economy. Same government that we fought with.

I don't guess we will ever know the truth about why we are so po'd at Cuba. I do know there is a very long history with us, that we invaded and occupied Cuba, kept it as a kind of territory, that there was some kind of connection with Cuba and heroin coming into the US and there was a lot of graft and corruption. Then there was the revolution .... But why have we reconciled with Viet Nam without preconditions and won't do the same with Cuba???

Time to let it go...

[lornejl]

Lets see here, we have 3 candidates left that are Pro Cuba Embargo, and Pro Israel ( whatever the hell that means ) .

[lornejl]

There are some extremely powerful capitalists that want this embargo to continue, its a shame they have never had to explain themselves, all they ever had to do is say " commie " , and that lets them get away with murder.

[jenserlos]

Don't you love it that Castro is responding to the next President of the United States. Excuse me I must go donate.

[Marichu]

This is a policy that is so old that I don't think the US government even remembers why it was instigated in the first place and what purpose it was suppose to fulfill. We have taken the most drastic measures imaginable against a country that poses virtually no threat to us. This ridiculous policy needs to be wiped off the book.

[watchingthings]

When Castro finally dies, they'd better dig him a deep hole and cover him in it with concrete to make sure he stays put. Even from his deathbed he keeps issuing orders. Poor guy forgot he handed over power to his brother. Maybe, soon, his brother will give in and let the people have some say in their government.

[awcbuddy8]

It's just hilarious you people see this as America's fault when it would be just so easy for Castro to step down. The suffering of the Cuban people is on his hands, not ours.

[sharonh]

Whose hands it is on is not the point. Stopping human suffering, when it is within your capacity to do so, is our duty as fellow human beings, one and all.

[paganmist]

Well, it'll be in Obama's capacity to do so when he's President. Expecting him to be able to just fix this right now, and then holding him accountable for having not already done so, is a bit absurd.

[awcbuddy8]

He can get his help from Chavez. Those Cubans not willing to wait can try for Miami.