POLITICS: Cuba Refuses Hurricane Aid from the U.S.

Fidel Castro, leader of the hurricane battered island of Cuba, said he appreciated but refused $50,000 offer in aid made by the United States. Castro refuses to accept any American aid as long as the trade embargo remains in place. At least 11 people died on the island and hundreds of homes were destroyed due Hurricane Dennis.



Castro stated he would only accept aid from friendly nations such as Venezuela, which Venezuela is providing. It is a shame that the Cuban people will have to suffer due to Castro's policy, but it is also understandable the position in which Castro stands. His pride will not allow him to accept U.S. aid.

The man obviously cares more about his politics than his people. As long as there were no strings attached, I would take money from the devil to save the lives of people under my care.

(Let the comparisons to Bush and the devil begin )

[edit on 7/12/2005 by yadboy]

but what do you do when the devil comes to collect

and he always does....

What did happen to Cuba to get a trade embargo against them? been reading up on it, but google want give me anything i shall continue my search

did they no do something that warrented JFK to threaten them with nuclear or similar weapons. Maybe its a step down from that.

Originally posted by infinite
What did happen to Cuba to get a trade embargo against them? been reading up on it, but google want give me anything

i shall continue my search

Here ya go infinite: en.wikipedia.org...

Perhaps Castro is not too keen on American Military choppers and personnel getting too close to whatever installations he may have. Also,
I doubt he would relish the widely broadcast CNN and Fox scenes of U.S. soldiers in fatigues handing out goodies to the kids in the Cuban boonies.

Indonesia had problems with that too, didn't they? Something about aid being tied to politics somehow...correct me if I'm wrong.

Since 1960, Fidel has only cashed one of the pittance rental cheques of $5,000/yr the U.S has paid for 45 sq miles of land (a 1903 treaty renewed in 1934). Info here

He's not likely to accept any kind of handout from the U.S. because he doesn't trust the U.S.

You know what, can't say as I blame him.

I definately think Castro, would be ticked if the Americans helped him out. They do think Americans Are Evil

Or maybe they should remove the trade embargo? So Cuba can begin to prosper once more instead of stopping it and doing more harm then good.

All this is, is a way of the American Government seeming good when in fact the Policy of isolation is doing more harm to the people then it is Castro. But I guess after failing to kill him what 5 times now the best they can do is hurt the people...

Perhaps if the Cuban economy was allowed to function without needless restrictions imposed by the U.S., such charity would not be necessary. Cuba would be much more prosperous if it was allowed to sell its produce to the American market.

worldwatcher mentions Castro's "pride" - clearly American pride is also an issue here. Pride and stubbornness are what keep the trade embargo in place, it has no practical advantage and serves no purpose, as Cuba is not a threat to the U.S., and its government does not suppress its own people to the same extent as many nations with which America still trades. Yet while this anachronism of an embargo is maintained, the U.S. is still willing to give aid money to Cuba, which strikes me as a bit of a contradiction...

The aide could always be sent through a 3rd party like the Red Cross if troops on his soil isn't an option. While I agree that the trade restrictions should be lessened if not done away with, that no reason to let people suffer. Hopefully the countries he will accept aide from will be able to supply all thats needed. If not, he really needs to get over it and take what he can get. If he began to act like a leader with his peoples best interest at heart, it might be a step towards showing he has become a leader to be trusted (which I doubt) rather than a dictator to be restricted.

Although Castro will probably be dead before an end to the restrictions will ever be considered.

Castro always refuses aid from the US as a matter of policy. Cuba has largely gotten along on its own since this embargo began, and has functioned realiativly well.

I think it is just a way he can stick it to the US and make a point, otherwise, no one really pays attention to what he says. I personally would favor a removal of the embargo. But this is another lesson in on of our former allies completely taking over and keeping power for themselves.

Hopefully once Castro dies ( hes 79 ) things will improve. Plus, the business opportunities for an open Cuba would be huge. An automobile industry alone would be a practical mint. They are still driving around vintage cars from the 50s, and newer pieces of junk from Russia.

Yes definate buisness opprotunities there, i just want a cigar

Since when is the economy of one sovereign nation completely and unequivocally dependent of another? Castro has had 40+ years to develop his country without the internal meddling of us American capitalist running-dogs. And where has it got him? Destitution and decay - those are the best two terms to describe the communist-socialist paradise that Castro has cultivated. His internal policies and wretched management (a la Soviet Union style) of his own natural resources are to blame to his country's abject poverty. In fact, if it were not for the multi-billion dollar per year aid that Cuba received from the former USSR on an annual basis, their economy would have probably collapsed a long time ago.

The simple fact of the matter is that Castro and his cronies decided a long time ago to make the US his enemy. No one made them do this. They stole our property, kicked us out, and then promptly invited our worst enemy over for dinner, who then proceeded to install and aim first-strike nuclear weapons at our backyard. And to this day, they are unapologetic. Too frickin bad, Cuba. You made your bed, you lay in it. Yup, that there is a grudge, and we are gonna hold it until Castro is dead and buried. If the Cuban people are suffering, well, thats partly their decision as well. The day they decide that a vibrant economy and capitalism is more important than the socialist utopia surrounded by poverty, then maybe they will rise up and throw out old Fidel.

Originally posted by Pyros
Since when is the economy of one sovereign nation completely and unequivocally dependent of another?

The embargo denies Cuban exporters access to a market of 300 million people with plenty of disposable income, less than 90 miles away from their country. Opening up that market would undeniably make an enormous difference to the state of the Cuban economy.

Originally posted by Pyros
The simple fact of the matter is that Castro and his cronies decided a long time ago to make the US his enemy. No one made them do this. They stole our property, kicked us out, and then promptly invited our worst enemy over for dinner,

Ever remember Native Americans?

I'll get Castro to give you that land back, if you get the U.S. Government to give them their land back.

Fair deal?

If Cuba is such a Utopia and a great place to live, why are there so many Cubans that end up in Florida?

Fidel Castro has his pride, that's maybe the biggest reason for the refuse of aid from some countries, not just the USA, I saw on TV when he said that if Europe would made an offer like that it will be also refused, so it was better not made the offer.

Maybe his pride was also the responsible for the continuation of the treatment of some the Chernobyl victims when the USSR no longer existed and Russia said they did not have the money to pay the treatments.

And do not forget that he is a polititian, so its normal that he says such things, in those "short" speaches of 6 hours.

Didn't he fall or passout in the middle of a speech 6 months ago or something. i think he banged up his knee pretty bad.

[edit on 12-7-2005 by Dyzan]