*Those women are as brave as their encarcerated husbands. They risk losing it all by going to mass. The regime, like all other communist regimes, frowns upon religion. It was only a few years back when the Pope visited Cuba that they loosened the religious reins a bit. It was, I believe, the first time Christmas was "allowed" in many many years.

*Castro fainted? Man, Why couldnt he have just keeled over and died already. Sheesh.

*Doesn't it amaze you that Castro has to resort to name calling when reffering to GW? He has called Bush everything from a Nazi to a Barracuda now.

*I don't think Canada or the European Union give a rats ass about the political prisoners or the human rights situation in Cuba. It all posturing for the sake of looking good while still being able to have those cheap island vacations.

*"Cuba, to justify its initiative, said that RSF protested Libya's chairmanship of the Commission on Human Rights." Does anyone else see the unbelievable absurdity of both Cuba and Lybia being in the UN commision of Human Rights. I mean, doesnt that just destroy all credibilty for that commision?

*What we need to do is stop ALL exports to Cuba. From food to money to travel. Nada. Not a dime or an ort should go to Cuba.

*Lifting the travel restrictions to Cuba will only strengthen the castro regime. What true American wants to go to a country where its leader calls the President a barracuda? Only hypocrites like Danny Glover or Oliver Stone and the like who live like kings here and bite the hand that feeds them by associating with a despot like Castro.

*Any meat sold to Cuba will feed only the tourists. The rest of the population will still have to make do with soy croquetas.

*Amnesty International condemns Cuba every year. This is no big news. Nobody cares so long as the island is available for sunning and funning.

*Hopefully, 2003 will be difficult for the Castro regime moreso than the cuban people.

Sorry Dean, just had to put in my 2 cents worth. Thank you for taking an interest in Cuba. It seems to be the forgotten enemy as late.

Here's my take. It may upset some of the more politically conservative folks:

We should lift sanctions against Cuba. I can't for the life of me remember the original, but Pournelle used to quote someone to the effect that the primary reqirement for the fall of Communism would be the free flow of information. This is the case with Cuba, or am I the only person who's noticed that the only Communist regimes left are extraordinarily isolated countries such as Cuba, North Korea, and China?

Casey,

In an ideal world, you would be right, the free flow of information would lead to at least dissenting views. However, given the regimes recent crackdown on dissidents, whose only "crime" (for the most part) was receiving information and literature offering a different point of view than the regimes, it is apparent the Castro government will not stand for it, regardless of what the international community thinks.

I do not know how long the leaders of China of NK have been in power, but Castro has been the one man in charge for over 40 years. Thats over 40 years of keeping his people on a very tight leash. Most Cubans on the island understand the freedoms they are lacking, however, the regimes hold on them, their repression, keeps these persons from taking any action.

For example, let's say Juan has a job selling tickets at the Hemingway museum (a government job)while his wife is a local seamstress. Juan is discontent with the government situation and gets together with a few friends to discuss possible changes to alleviate the situation he is concerned with. Now, Maria, his neighbor down the street is the Comite house on the block. She keeps an eye out on her neighbors for the regime in exchange for some perks (extra cafe, rice, etc..)and she rats on Juan and his friends. Now the government may not put Juan in jail perse, but they do take away his job; they take away his wifes sewing machine and their meal books. They also inform the school marm about Juans counter revolutionary tendencies and in turn Juans kid is ostracized. This goes on with all the members of Juans direct family; parents, siblings, etc... What can Juan do now? How will he feed his children without either a job or ration books; he is no longer entitled to the "excellent" medical benefits of the castro regime, and his kids will not be allowed to benefit from the wonderful education system in Cuba. All of this because he felt some changes were needed with the present situation. Mind you, he was not plotting on overthrowing castro or anything like that, he was just looking into a few things to perhaps better the living conditions of his family. What's left for him now?

The Communist regime has been in power since 1949. Two men have run North Korea since nearly the same time. The current dictator is the son of the man who started the Korean war.

Problem is, is that the free flow of information is exactly why Eastern Europe fell. After a while, the people in Poland, Chechoslovokia, Romania, etc., realized that their Communist leaders were lying, and that the West really was richer, freer, and (in general) better off...

That, and their economies were falling apart. The remaining Communist regimes are in similar straits, but in those cases (as I said before) the regimes are so cut off that their populations don't really know what's going on in the outside world.

In Cuba's case, if we lifted sanctions, there would be a lot more Americans in Cuba. Including journalists. Which means that the true state of Cuba would get a lot more publicity, to counter all that claptrap that squishy Hollywood liberals have been spouting ("best 8 hours of my life", my ass!).

Also, if we lift sanctions, the Cuban people will see more money, and not just for teenaged prostitutes. And there's the secret: poor people don't revolt; rich people do.

Well, middle class, anyway. Go back and look at all the successful revolutions (as opposed to, say, armed takeovers): they were all by prosperous people.

Also, lifting sanctions shows Cuba we remember them. Have you heard about how the secret police have taunted the rebellious in Iran? "Look! The Americans won't even go after Saddam. Do you think they'll help you?"

Now they know what we'll do, and people in Tehran are joking "But, why did you stop!?"

Right now the people in Cuba have been forgotten. So why make them suffer for an abstract political principal anymore? Besides, it's been FORTY YEARS, and the sumbitch is still there. Don't you think it's time to try something different? Like: something that works?

Casey,

Perhaps your point on the lifting the embargo has some validity. Maybe it hasnt worked as originally intended. However, keep in mind that Cuba's doors are open to every other country in the world. Surely we Americans cant be the only one's to recognize the problems in Cuba?

There are many many journalists in Cuba from all over. Yet the information coming from these journalists is minimal, at best. Why is that? Because the regime has control over them. If a journalist publishes a story that is contrary to the governments line, then that particular journalist is no longer granted access to the island. As long as castro controls what is depicted about Cuba through the media, as well as the media itself in Cuba, having one journalist there or 1 million wont make a difference.

As for having many more Americans visit Cuba, I dont know if that is necessarily a good thing. As long as the Cuban people are not treated as equals with their tourist counterparts, what good does it do them for having more of them come to the island? A cuban person can't shop at the tourist shops, he cant go to a tourists restaurant or hotel. They cant go to the tourist beaches. I, being in their shoes, would certainly begin to harbour some resentment towards tourists. And what good will it do the Cuban people to have more tourists come and spend money there (of which the majority will go to the regime) if they cant legally buy anything with it?

The fact that castro is still in power after 40 years cant be blamed on the embargo solely. Theres a little bit to go around for everyone, including us Hard line Miami Mafia Cuban-Americans. We send money to the tune of 1 billion a year. Seems we are between a rock and a hard place, politically, when it comes to the embargo.