Al Neuharth: Why is China OK, but Cuba 'enemy'?

USA Today ^ | February 22, 2002 | Al Neuharth, USA Today founder

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In Beijing, Bush called China our ''partner.'' Cuba officially is our ''enemy.'' Why?

Because a small number of powerful exiles in South Florida cow our politicians into keeping the crazy Cuban policy. That was designed to castrate Fidel Castro and has failed for more than 40 years.

[GuillermoX]

It's been maintaining itself for 43 yrs, without the help of the US. You obviously have missed my point that the Embargo has done NOTHING, ZERO in loosening Castros grip on power. In fact, it has STRENGTHENED it.

Again, where do you get this absurd notion that if the Embargo is lifted, we will be forced to subsidize Castro with tax dollars???

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In a communist state nobody has property rights. Let me ask you something. Were you claiming that we should steal Elian from his father or not? I'm just curious how consistent you are regarding property rights.

They also don't have parental rights. Elian's mother lost her life in her bid for their freedom and Al Neuharth's LIBERAL media, the Bill Clinton administration and a lot of uninformed Americans and angry pissed of ex-husbands made sure Elian was sent back into slavery. I'm sure they're feeling oh so much better about themselves and their situations because of this "noble" deed.

[Demidog]

No. Elians father owned Elian. And when his father decides that he is old enough and responsible enough to take care of himself he will send him out in the world the proud owner of himself. That's the way that works.

[GuillermoX]

Man, your reading comprehension skills are poor today. I said that those numbers were my OPINIONS. You said I didn't know what I was talking about. Well, if you say my numbers are wrong and that I have no idea of what I'm talking about, the burden of proof is on YOU to prove it.

[Congressman Billybob]

Good afternoon, my friend.

Go get 'em.

And thanks for the call on Radio Free Republic last Thursday.

Congressman Billybob

New column up: "The Un-Music Man." You'll like this one a bunch.

[Demidog]

Elian had a father. The US, by disrespecting parental rights and conforming to Cuban law rather than US law and the constitution would be no better than Cuba. As it stood the US thugs in the federal police force still made themselves out to be Cubans but the legal issue of who is entitled to make decisions about their family was properly decided. The parents decide.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Elian had a father.

He has an owner, his name is Castro. He owns Elian's father too. He doesn't own Elian's mother anymore.

[Cardenas]

The embargo was not successful because the rest of the world has been financing Castro’s tyrannical rule. Six billions dollars of economic help from the Soviet Union every year for more than three decades and forty-three years of business relations with the West did not bring prosperity or freedom to Cuba. The failure to restore freedom, democracy and prosperity to Cuba is not a product of the U.S. embargo, but rather the Western world’s complicity with Castro’s brutal exploitation of the Cuban people.

Cuba is an economic black hole thanks to Castro’s adoption of a brutal Stalinist regime that does not allow any kind of freedom, personal or economic, for 43 years he has maintained “Socialism or Death” without any room for compromises or changes. Castro brought a country that enjoyed one of the highest standards of living in Latin America down to the level of Haiti.

President Bush is a man of his word who says what he means and means what he says. We are in a worldwide war against terrorism and he is absolutely right when he affirmed that if we are going to win that war we must take it to the states that harbor and support terrorism. Cuba, at 90 miles of Florida, is the main base and haven for international terrorism in this hemisphere, and that must be the first place to start the war on terrorism in this hemisphere. Counting with biological, chemical and cyber warfare capabilities and a leader with an evil mind who has an irrational hatred towards the U.S., we must not underrate Castro’s capacity to attack us.

Furthermore, Castro never pays for whatever he purchases, he not only defaulted in all his debts but he also encourages other Third World countries to do likewise. It is not necessary to go back too far to figure out that this small country is not a good credit risk. Last year, it was reported that France canceled a grain shipment of $160 million due to Cuba's non-payment and that South Africa and Thailand stopped providing credits to the island. Eastern European governments have tried unsuccessfully to get payment on their Cuban debt. Cuba has one of the worst credit ratings in the world.

The ending of the embargo will allow Castro to raid our treasury as a result of giving Cuba access to the International Monetary Fund, and all the International Banks that are funded mainly by the U.S. taxpayers. Once the credit gates are open, then Castro’s powerful lobby in the U.S. will begin to push for riders, postponements and exclusions from the law on humanitarian bases. Do not allow to be fooled by politicians’ promises. In the end, Castro never has paid any debts and the American taxpayers would end up footing the bill.

Those businessmen, legislators, governors, and media pundits are acting as lobbyist for the Cuban government lured by promises of huge profits, although, those who tried before them, found out those dreams were mere mirages that in Cuba always end in nightmares. Those unscrupulous merchants in the slave trade are, in fact, undermining President Bush war against terrorism and endangering the security of the U.S. When you deal with the devil, you always end loosing your soul and your fortune.

[TLBSHOW]

It is time we attack Castro and over throw his commie 2 bit country because they are making chemical agents and weapons to kill us with.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Elians father owned Elian."So then, since parents "own" their kids, it's OK to sell them, right?

[Demidog]

The laws somewhere else don't give you the right to act like the someone else. I suppose then that when a mother comes here from Afghanistan, rather than use the laws we have to decide her fate we should take on the laws of Afghanistan and the Taliban. Good call.

[Toddsterpatriot]

There is no taxpayer cost to trading with Cuba other than the goods and services that they might purchase.

That is exactly the cost. If Castro purchase goods and servces and then does not pay, the US government would be on the hook for the money owed.

[GuillermoX]

I agree with just about everything you say except for this: The ending of the embargo will allow Castro to raid our treasury as a result of giving Cuba access to the International Monetary Fund, and all the International Banks that are funded mainly by the U.S. taxpayers.

I don't think this is necessarily true. The IMF will not be forced to lend them a cent. This could not possibly be a condition to the US lifting the Embargo. If a private business wants to undertake the risk in dealing with Castro, let them.

[Gumption]

Congressman Billybob said : You've outdone yourself in stupidity -- a stunning achievement -- to say the Constitution gives no power to Congress to regulate, tax or prohibit any form of international trade.

Demidog said : I didn't say that. Hope that helps. And even the most dense of people in our government understand that interstate means trade between the states.

The Constitution says (Article 1, section 8) :

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

I say : What's the problem here?

[GuillermoX]

WHY would the US Gov't be on the hook if Castro screwed a private comnpany out of a payment?? Where do you get this idea from??? Is this a law???????

[Demidog]

So then, since parents "own" their kids, it's OK to sell them, right?

The Bible says it is. But that's a fair question. I think that with ownership comes responsibility especially if it is a child. Can you sell it? We already do when we send way for social security numbers so that we can "deduct" them on our tax forms. My daughter will probably thank me one day when she learns that I, rather than sell her to the government, refused to claim her as a deduction of it meant getting her numbered.

Of course the other option is that the State owns you and your children in the manner you claim to disdain in Cuba.

[GuillermoX]

Don't hold your breath.

[Toddsterpatriot]

You aren't familiar with US govt guarantees for firms exporting goods?

[Demidog]

The problem is that CB can't read or is purposefully mangling my words. He claims to be a lawyer and so should easily grasp what I originally said which was the the Congress was never given the power to prohibit me from trading with anyone. Regulation cannot be construed to mean prohibit. If so, then the regulation of that activity comes to a halt.

[GuillermoX]

Apaprently not. But I don't think a firm has carte blanche to export to whomever they please and if they don't get paid, the US will foot the bill. If this were true, exporting firms would be granting unlimited credit to everyone on earth, outside the USA.