Fidel Castro Says Changes Don't Go Far Enough To Overturn "Cruel" Embargo

HAVANA — Fidel Castro said Tuesday that U.S. rules allowing unlimited family travel and remittances to the island are "positive, although minimal."

The ailing 82-year-old ex-president saluted the U.S. rules changes announced by the Obama administration in a column posted on a government Web site Tuesday.

But he wrote that "we need many others" including the elimination of the "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy. Under that rule, Cubans fleeing the island who are apprehended on the high seas are returned home while those who make it to U.S. territory can stay.

Earlier, Castro wrote that the changes did not go far enough. "Of the blockade, which is the cruelest of measures, not a word was uttered," Castro said in a column posted online Monday night.

Castro, who has been unusually prolific in recent days, lambasted the Organization of American States Tuesday afternoon in his third essay in a little more than 24 hours.

"Does the OAS have the right to exist?" the headline read.

Cuba was expelled from the OAS in 1962 after member nations said its communist regime went against the hemispheric body's principles. Cuba's possible return to the OAS is expected to be among topics discussed at the Summit of the Americas opening Thursday in Trinidad.

Castro reacted angrily to a recent news story quoting OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza as saying the group still insists that all members "adhere to democratic principles."

"He knows that we don't want to hear the infamous name of that institution," Castro wrote. "It has not provided a single service to our peoples; it is the incarnation of betrayal."

Comments

[HallStyle]

I agree with Castro. What is the meaning of this embargo anyway? You mean to tell me that we will deal with Communist China Thousands of Miles away, but doesn't want to deal with Cuba only about 90 miles away? Tell me who is the bigger threat to US national Security. China or Cuba? Cuba is weak and defenseless. We could take that country in a day. China is strong and powerful. Dare I say they are almost as powerful as the US. And WE ARE THE ONES MAKING THEM STRONGER!

http://www.hallstyle.blogspot.com

[Ira7]

He wants the embargo lifted. Then he'll want reparations. (Just watch.) Then he'll want credits/loans and joint ventures with U.S. companies--which he'll expropriate on a whim. Then he'll raise the currency exchange tax from 20% to 30%.

And democracy will still not come, people will still have no rights, will still be languising in prison, and it will still be an impoverished hell-hole of a country.

He has the whole world to do business with, and he's STILL blaming all of his problems on the U.S.

Communism--a chicken in every pot, once a month.

[VivaZapata]

capitalism: no health insurance, GFY

[Ira7]

Still longer life expectancy, and better healh care than in Cuba.

[panchovilla]

Weird that no link is given to Fidel's own blog. Read him directly and not as interpreted by AP.

http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/reflexiones/reflexiones.html

[Ira7]

Wow, that guy has a lot of reflections.

All of them distorted.

[panchovilla]

Wow. You read so fast. Or are a liar.

[liminal67]

I can't wait to goooo... to Cuba...

http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/

[adamsmith3]

Fidel, you're lucky you get to di.e an old man instead of by a fir.ing squad like so many during your sei.zure of people's private property. You can help your people by taking you and your brother and seeing how far you can swim across the Atlantic.

[devanate]

One step at a time buddy. It's been 60 years and this is a big step. Be patient.

[mazzetta]

I'm at odds with many American people attitude to judge other countries and trying to force other government in doing what's their idea of the right thing
It's not something Europeans ignore, but there are dozens of countries in which the government is influenced or actively adversed, meaning USA gives money and weapons to their opposition, or rises embargoes and so on

Despite Cuban situation is not the best one, there is a whole bunch of worst dictatorships relying on American support and tutoring, far bloodier than Cuba
And don't forget US' governments have ruled the whole South America supporting dictatorships for decades.

It's fairly astonishing reading about the missiles crisis of about 40 years ago as a talking point, US' governments have menaced and damaged Cuba in any way, since well before Castro's appearence, as any colonizer US' should pay damages and beg cubans pardon, since American (as Europeans elsewhere) just looted and damaged Cuba and Cubans

I guess that if Baptista was ruling instead of Castro, there'd be no embargoes, no sanctions and nor fingerpointing.

[TLaw]

Saved me a lot of typing. Excellent comment!

[VivaZapata]

Cuba has off-shore oil.

[citizensrus]

It is a cruel embargo. Castro has not been less cruel. Who is he to speak of cruel? There has to be some compassion from him for his people too.

[HallStyle]

Castro was trying to hold his country together while the US has been trying to tear it apart for the last 50 years! Lets realize that WE (THE US GOVERNMENT) set up the institutions that lead to CUBAs current situation.

http://www.hallstyle.blogspot.com

[rosiebond007]

Obama takes some significant first steps - guess what - it's never enough.
Give a little bit - they want more NOW.

It's called negotiating - dialogue - compromise - patience

Let's now see what Cuba will do apart from complaining - something positive maybe ?

[Montgriz]

The entire boycott is stupid. For 50 years, the US has maintained its position on Cuba in the meantime maintaining relations with China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, and a host of places far worse than Cuba when it comes to human rights....­Castro made the mistake of fighting for poor people who were being used by the rich land owners and oligarchs that now live in South Florida...­.He isn't perfect, but look who just left our White House in disgrace..­..

[who38]

I totally agree with your post. When Castro came to power it was because Bautista was ruling Cuba with an iron fist. He was a dictator who exploited the population. People were glad when he was overthrown. Now, those same oligarchs and/or their descendents will be allowed to return to Cuba while the rest of the US population is still denied that right. Is this to give the Floribans a head start on exploiting Cuban offshore oil and rebuilding the casinos of yesterday? While I am happy that Obama is at least taking a baby step to change our policy re/ Cuba, I am also disappointed that the influence of Mel Martinez and a small group of grudge-holding people should continue to control my choice to visit that country.

[aercolini]

Castro doesn't like the embargo he's got the keys in his pockets. There are so many special interests right now, with the exceptions of American Corn and Sugar, who are pushing for a lift on this embargo. Lawmakers are practically tripping over themselves to lift it. It's a big pool of consumers and companies can making a killing in terms of tourism, gambling, investment, you name it. Dependancy theory failed Castro, he should just make the neccesary political concessions. I'm sure they won't be that dramatic, America has after all worked with dictators before. It's good for everyone, Americans and Cubans.

[longtimegone]

One of the bravest and most misunderstood leaders of his time.perio­d. Hate him all you want; I guess it's a way for liberals to earn some kind of merit badges from their conservative alter egos.

[CT26]

"one of the bravest and most misunderstood leaders of his time"

Longtimeago, what is the reasoning behind your statement? I don't know about you but a firing squad and torture is pretty blunt.

Bravest? BRAVEST? You mustn't read much history.

[serindipity803]

Does age remove one's own memory? Castro is a culprit in every way - he has been a beggar his entire reign and has purposely compromised the Cuban people - the act is unfair and must stop. Here, we work for it! USA 's prior campaigns in Cuba were a shamble -- the best we can do is reach out and let the Cubans help the Cubans. Leadership on both sides has been wanting for almost a century. Get real, let's move on.

[TallyLass]

What nerve! no POTUS since Kennedy has given an inch and he b itches about the inch, when he previously had zippo. Geez.

[InfinteShibumi]

How about starting with the inch before proceeding to the mile?