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Hillary Befriends Cuba's First Lady!
Newsmax ^ | 6/24/07 | Humberto Fontova

Posted on 06/29/2007 8:29:34 PM PDT by slickeroo

Hillary Befriended Cuba's First Lady

Humberto Fontova

June 22, 2007

Cuba's "first lady," Vilma Espin, passed away last week.

She was Raul Castro's wife, thus Fidel's sister-in-law. But since Fidel was divorced at the time of his communist coup/swindle in 1959, and later kept his wives, concubines, and groupies sequestered from the public, Vilma Espin, as president of the Federation of Cuban Women, has always served as the Stalinist regime's "first lady."

Serving as such, Ms. Espin was Cuba's delegate to the U.N.'s 4th annual Women's Conference held in Beijing in September 1995, where she hob-knobbed with U.S. delegate Hillary Clinton. The Conference was sporadically televised so the ardor and duration of Ms. Clinton's greeting of Cuban delegate Vilma Espin was caught on film.

Those who saw it recall the salutation as involving more than the perfunctory peck on the cheek customary for new or even casual acquaintances.

Given their similar agenda's for "villages and children" and socialized healthcare, given the Clinton regime's later kow-towing to the Castro regime by lending Castro the services of their crackerjack lawyer and friend, Gregory Craig, given the Clinton regime Shang-haing of Elian Gonzalez — given all this, enquiring minds can only speculate about the origin and inspiration for the Vilma-Hillary smoochfest.

With their Vilma Espin obituaries, the mainstream media has adopted its classic Cuba-commentary form. "A champion of women's rights," gushed the Washington Post last week.

" A prominent advocate of women's rights," mourned The New York Times.

Both The New York Times and The Washington Post have reportedly voluminously on Cuba over the decades. "A humanist," gushed The New York Times about Castro as insurgent in 1957. "A man of many ideals, including those of liberty, democracy, and social justice."

Two years later the humanist was in control, firing squads were piling up hundreds of corpses a week, jails were crammed to suffocation and Cuba swarmed with Soviet KGB and GRU agents. Raul Castro and Nilsa Espin (Vilma Espin's sister) had both been members of the Cuban Communist Party's youth wing and had visited the Soviet bloc in 1953.

Here they linked up with Soviet agents, and in 1959 the links were bearing fruit. Cuba was being quickly and methodically Stalinized behind a thin veneer of democratic-socialist humbug which was ravenously (and predictably) swallowed in huge gulps by every "callant crusader for the truth," as Columbia School of journalism heralds its students and alumnae.

The wily and authoritative New York Times claimed to be privy to everything going on in Cuba at the time and again stepped to the fore, informing it's millions of readers that: "This is not a communist revolution in any sense of the word. In Cuba there are no communists in positions of control."

Not to be outdone, America's, most prestigious journalist/commentator of the day and later Washington Post luminary, Walter Lippman, could barely conceal his scorn for lunatics who claimed Cuba was going communist: "It would be a great mistake," he sneered at these right-wing crackpots, "even to intimate that Castro's Cuba has any real prospect of becoming a Soviet satellite."

Exactly one year earlier, Walter Lippmann's Pulitzer prize had highlighted his: "distinction as a farsighted and incisive analyst of foreign policy."

So given their shinning record in this regard, a bit of prudence —perhaps even some actual journalism — might have been expected on the passing of Cuba's first lady.

This expectation was utterly vain. Transcribing directly from press releases issued by a Stalinist regime's Propaganda Ministry still suffices for those "gallant crusaders for the truth."

"She [Vilma Espin] was credited with improving the status of women in a society known for its history of machismo by articulating the need for a more equal environment between the sexes, " rhapsodized The Washington Post last week. "She gave prominent voice to improvements in maternal and child healthcare policies as well as the need for women to educate themselves."

Somehow this "improvement of status" tripled Cuban women's pre-revolution suicide rate and made Cuban women the most suicidal on earth. This according to a 1998 study by scholar Maida Donate-Armada that uses some of the Cuban regime's own figures.

The Washington Post's trumpeted "improvement of status" also saw 35,150 Cuban women jailed for political crimes, a totalitarian horror utterly unknown — not only in Cuba — but in the Western Hemisphere until the Castro regime.

Prison conditions were described by former political prisoner Maritza Lugo. "The punishment cells measure 3 feet wide by 6 feet long. The toilet consists of an 8 inch hole in the ground through which cockroaches and rats enter, especially in cool temperatures the rat come inside to seek the warmth of our bodies and we were often bitten. The suicide rate among women prisoners was very high."

Thousands upon thousands of Cuban women have drowned, died of thirst or have been eaten alive by sharks attempting to flee the Washington Post's dutifully transcribed "improvement of status."

On Christmas eve of 1961 a Cuban woman named Juana Diaz spat in the face of the executioners who were binding and gagging her. They'd found her guilty of feeding and hiding "bandits" (Cuban rednecks who took up arms to fight the Stalinist theft of their land). When the blast from that Communist firing squad demolished her face and torso, Juana was six months pregnant.

In Aug. 7, 1961, Lydia Perez was eight months pregnant and a Cuban political prisoner. She somehow annoyed a guard who bashed her to the ground, kicked her in the stomach, and walked off. Both Lydia and her baby were left to bleed to death.

In 1962, a Cuban Catholic nun named Aida Rosa Perez was overheard saying things about Fidel Castro and Che Guevara similar to those Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton routinely say about George Bush. Sister Rosa Perez was sentenced to 12 years at hard labor. Two years into her sentence, while toiling in the sun inside Castro's Gulag and surrounded by leering guards, Sister Rosa collapsed from a heart attack.

The Cuban Archive project headed Mrs Maria Werlau and Dr. Amando Lago has fully documented the firing squad executions of 11 Cuban women in the early days of the regime. Another 219 women died from various brutalities and tortures while in prison. The Taliban has nothing on the Castro regime.

"Ms. Espín became an international figure in the struggle for women's rights," hailed The New York Times last week. "She could have been a simple society girl, but her formation, combined with her own emotions and personality, made her a revolutionary leader."

In 1995 Hillary Clinton seemed absolutely delighted to hob-knob with this Stalinist "leader."

Humberto Fontova is the author of the newly-released "Exposing the Real Che Guevara and the Useful Idiots Who idolize Him."


TOPICS: Cuba; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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I think it was David Bowie's Song "Fame" that asked ; "is it any wonder!?"'
1 posted on 06/29/2007 8:29:34 PM PDT by slickeroo
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To: slickeroo

2 posted on 06/29/2007 8:35:47 PM PDT by VR-21
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To: slickeroo

>>>Hillary Befriends Cuba’s First Lady!
>>>Cuba’s “first lady,” Vilma Espin, passed away last week.

Let’s reunite these lovely ladies.


3 posted on 06/29/2007 8:38:14 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: VR-21

What on earth is that about?


4 posted on 06/29/2007 8:38:44 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: slickeroo

I’ve got to ask...did they ever.......?


5 posted on 06/29/2007 8:38:57 PM PDT by Baladas
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To: doug from upland; ALOHA RONNIE; LucyT

ping


6 posted on 06/29/2007 8:39:30 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: slickeroo
Good post.

Do you happen to know Hillary's D.C. mailing address, in which building her office is located? Thomas has shut down individual webpages. I want to tell this race-baiting woman of the blooper I heard her say last night - something to do with "if a White woman died of AIDS ..."

7 posted on 06/29/2007 8:40:46 PM PDT by lakey
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To: Calpernia

It’s Madonna and Brittany Spears at some awards (Grammys I think) banquet. When I saw the headline that picture came to mind. It’s been a tough week. Perhaps I should just go putter in the garage.


8 posted on 06/29/2007 8:42:04 PM PDT by VR-21
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To: slickeroo

yeah, i remember reading that espin article in the nyt.

they really like commies at the nyt.


9 posted on 06/29/2007 8:42:21 PM PDT by ken21
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To: VR-21

THIS makes you think of Brittany Spears and Madonna?

I think you have puttered in the garage with the car running :P

10 posted on 06/29/2007 8:47:44 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia

No it doesn’t. Neither does Hillary. Like I said, it was the headline that brought the pic to mind. I just got an indignant FR Mail about it too. No offence meant, but I’ve seen the same pic several times before on FR, in fact that’s where I copied it from.


11 posted on 06/29/2007 8:55:38 PM PDT by VR-21
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To: VR-21

I got it immediately!

Hilarious!


12 posted on 06/29/2007 8:59:53 PM PDT by Stallone (Liberals are the world's unwitting court jesters.)
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To: Calpernia

Serving as such, Ms. Espin was Cuba’s delegate to the U.N.’s 4th annual Women’s Conference held in Beijing in September 1995, where she hob-knobbed with U.S. delegate Hillary Clinton.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At that conference is where Hillary said: Violence against women is not simply cultural; it is simply criminal (apparently her husband didn’t hear the speech)


13 posted on 06/29/2007 9:04:56 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: doug from upland

>>>apparently her husband didn’t hear the speech

I personally think all of these ‘feel good’ groups are just fronts to route foreign monies into deep pockets.


14 posted on 06/29/2007 9:10:01 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia

First Lady And Raul Castro
The essay “First Lady and Raul Castro” speaks about Vilma Espin, currently First Lady of the Cuban Dictatorship since 1960. She is one of the most important public figures in the government of Castro’s family. Since Fidel Castro’s accession in the 1960s, she has been President of the Cuban Women’s Federation.

Different from the People’s Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vilma Espin Guilloys is the only Cuban woman that has participated in government affairs in Cuba. She has been described as the most powerful woman in the Cuban Revolution. Little information has been published in the international press about her life. Early reports indicated that her health has declined since 2000.

She was member of the Cuban aristocratic in the 1940s and 1950s. Her father was vice-director of the Bacardi Run Company. She speaks Spanish and English very well. Her mother’s French ancestry. Vilma enjoy reading and watching sports. Like member of Castro’s family, she lives in luxurious residences. She is famous because is wife of Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz. Currently Raul Castro is acting president of Cuba. Furthermore, he is first Vice-President of the Council of State, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Vice-Secretary of the Politburu and the Central Committee of Communist Party of Cuba.

After completing her education as chemical engineering in her country, she went to the United States to attend at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the best engineering schools in the United States. During the civil war she returned to La Havana. Vilma had known Raul Castro when she was leader of the Cuban Women’s Movement. In 1959, guerrilla forces captured Havana city, the Cuba’s capital. Batista regime was deposed by Fidel Castro.

During the Cold War, Fidel Alejandro Ruz is as dictatorial as his predecessor. The country’s politics is gradually dominated by Castro Ruz family. The new dictator maintained control over the population thought his secret police organization. Castro regime became notorious for human rights violation and anti-American politics. Since 1961, the Island emerged as the first Socialist State in Latin America. After Vilma Espin made herself President of the Cuban Women’s Federation (FMC) and she assumed full control of the Cuban woman.

Like Maria Lucia Hiriart de Pinochet (former First Lady of Chile: 1973-1990), Alicia Raquel Hartridge de Videla (ex- First Lady of Argentina: 1976-1981) and Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez Marcos (ex- First Lady of Philippines: 1965-1986), Vilma Espin cooperated with one of the six worst dictatorships in the World. After Cuba became Socialist Republic, Soviet Bloc economic and military aid to Revolution Cuba’s increased. Ms. Espin immediately began a number of reforms, including human development programs and sporting projects. She built many schools, hospitals, museums, libraries, and stadiums. But she support human rights abuses by national government.

During the 1960s and 1970s Cuban intellectuals, as Lezama Lima, Heberto Padilla, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, and Reynaldo arenas, called for more freedom of expression and many women renewed their efforts to gain recognition for human rights. Certainly, strict control of the lives of the families emerged. Under her leadership, the abortion was declared legal and the “Marxist Education” has received emphasis in the schools, Institutes, academies and universities.

Ms Espin has carried out major diplomatic missions on behalf of the Cuban dictatorship. She was selected by Soviet World to become anti-American activist in the United Nations World Conferences on Women ( Mexico-75, Denmark-80 and Kenya-85).After Cuban government broke off diplomatic relations with Chile, Vilma Espin became an outspoken critic of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. Certainly, she won popularity in the Socialist Universe. From 1960 to 1990, she went to the USSR, East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and other nations. As First Lady of the Cuban revolution, she established good relations with the Third World states.

In 1976, she introduced “The Family Code”, a project about the social equality between men and women in the Island. Ironically, internationals reports which Cuba has the lowest proportion of ministers and congresswoman in its government, exceeded by Liberia, Seychelles and Mozambique.

She is an outspoken critic of capitalist society, but the prostitution is growing in the Island. For many opportunities, Cuba has been compared to Thailand. the prostitution contributes more income to Cuba’s economy.

Vilma Espin de Castro has been called “the facto First Lady of Cuban revolution because she is not Fidel’s wife. Certainly, Dalia Soto del Valle is the real First lady of the Cuban Revolution because she is married with Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz since the 1980s.

REFERENCES:
-Bourne, Peter. Fidel: A Biography of Fidel Castro, Dodd Mcad, New York, 1986.
-García, Magali. “Recorre Consuelo Gonzáles de Velasco, en compañía del Comandante Fidel Castro, la Escuela Secundaria Básica en el campo Batalla del Jique de La Habana, Granma, La habana, 25 de febrero de 1973
-Gasparini, Juan. Mujeres de Dictadores, Ediciones Península, Barcelona, 2002
-Granma. Discurso de Vilma Espín: A las mujeres chilenas, hermanas de lucha en la causa antiimperialista, les reiteramos desde este combativo acto de solidaridad firme e inquebrantable de las mujeres cubanas, La Habana, 17 de septiembre de 1973
-—————”23 de Agosto, 17° Aniversario de la Federación de Mujeres Cubanas”, La Habana, 4 de septiembre de 1977
-—————”Intervención de Vilma Espín, Presidenta de la Federación de Mujeres Cubanas”, La Habana, 23 de septiembre de 1976
-Grogg, Patricia. “Debora”, Cuba Internacional, La Habana, diciembre de 1988
-Guevara Onofre, Alejandro. Historia de la Mujer de los Estados Unidos, Cecosami, Lima, 2002
-Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano 1995: Género y Desarrollo Humano, PNUD, Nueva York, 1995
-Rodríguez Calderón, Mirta. “Comenzará a regir el próximo 8 de marzo, Día Internacional de la Mujer, el Código de la Familia, según Ley 1289 recién dictada por el Consejo de Ministros, Granma, La Habana, 2 de marzo de 1975

By alejandro guevara onofre
Published: 2/27/2007
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/first-lady-raul-castro.html


15 posted on 06/29/2007 9:10:49 PM PDT by endthematrix (a globalized and integrated world - which is coming, one way or the other. - Hillary)
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To: Stallone
Humor was my intent. Perhaps it was a bit raw though.

I've no wish to be offensive to others on the forum, so I'll think a bit harder before I post.

16 posted on 06/29/2007 9:14:11 PM PDT by VR-21
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To: All; slickeroo

.

HILLARY RODHAM & WILLIAM CLINTON’s supporting Communist North Vietnam’s push to take over a then Free South Vietnam during the Vietnam War ended up giving us to sadly see in the End:

Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts

http://www.JourneyFromTheFall.com

.


17 posted on 06/29/2007 9:15:09 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com))
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To: endthematrix

>>>Little information has been published in the international press about her life. Early reports indicated that her health has declined since 2000.

I think times are changing here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1858230/posts
F.B.I. Monitoring; a Nazi Artifact; the Weak Dollar; and More

(snip)

From 1940 to 1975, the F.B.I. carried out an intense campaign of covert surveillance against the National Lawyers Guild, an organization founded in 1937 and long associated with the labor movement and liberal causes. As Colin Moynihan reports in The Times, the F.B.I. turned over copies of some 400,000 pages from its files on the group under a 1977 lawsuit. In 1997, the copies were donated by the guild’s lawyers to the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University with the understanding that they could be made available to the public this year.


NLG Cuba Subcommittee
Send an email to nlgcuba-subscribe@topica.com. Contents of this site:. Archived News Stories. The Right to Travel to Cuba. Reports from past NLG trips to ...
www.nlg.org/cuba


18 posted on 06/29/2007 9:17:34 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: ALOHA RONNIE

POWs tortured by the “Cuban Program.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1209454/posts?page=201#201

Cuban War Crimes Against American POWs

During the Vietnam War*

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1209454/posts?page=202#202

Cubans piloting MIGs in North Vietnam

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1209454/posts?page=203#203

“Fidel”, “Chico” and “Pancho” torture and murder American POWs

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1209454/posts?page=204#204


19 posted on 06/29/2007 9:25:24 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: slickeroo
The Castro fan club runs deep throughout higher education today. The photo below is Fidel with Comrade Sandra Spanier, wife of Penn State University President Graham Spanier, on one of her visits to Havana in 2002.

In addition to being the wife of the president of Penn State, Doctora Spanier is a professor of Womens Studies.


20 posted on 06/29/2007 9:28:10 PM PDT by StopGlobalWhining (Only 3 1/2-5% of atmospheric CO2 is the result of human activities. 95-96.5% is from natural sources)
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