Refocusing
by tdaxp ~ August 25th, 2008
Is there any reason (aside from politics, obviously) why Cuba is on the list of state sponsors of terrorism but Russia is not?
It seems that Cuba does not publicly sponsor terrorists, but Russia does. Most recently, Russia has been arming and funding the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from South Ossetia by non-state actors who use organized violence against civilians as a means of achieving political objectives.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2 008/06/19/the-foreign-polic...
August 25th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
It has been a long time since Cuban soldiers were causing trouble in Africa, Central America, and South America.
The bets thing the US could about Cuba is end the embargo, open up relationships, and let democracy, trade, capitalism, tourism and culture take their course.
The next prez should about Jeb Bush as amabassador to the gov or Cuba to deal with that level.
He should also appoint Gloria Estafan or Gov. Arnold Schwatzenwhatever as Ambassador to the people of Cuba.
A totalitarian Cuban gov doesn’t stand a chance against that.
Cuba should be a good trading partner (goods, services, culture) not a “problem” to deal with.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Hey Dan,
While you are at it, maybe you should take this time to contrast the two main presidential candidates positions on Cuban relations.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:18 am
It may not be a good idea to start labeling Russia as a “State sponsor of terrorism” when we are guilty of the same thing? We supported the KLA in Kosovo and are now currently supporting groups in Iran that are on the State Dept list of terrorist groups.[1] [2] I must say that its disturbing watching you mutate from a rather objective thinker and blogger to a information-war operative.
[1] http://www.counterpunch.org/andrew05022008.html
[2] http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/04/05/protected.terrorists/index.html
August 26th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I don’t give any credence to Andrew Cockburn (Counterpunch) for factual information or neutral analysis. He is an automatic “skip over” when I am reading.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
PS,
Well said.
If we examine the further developments in the international recognition of the now-ethnically-clean [1] regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia [2], we see that Mexico and Indonesia have joined the ranks of those criticizing Russia — Iran has joined Kazakhstan in not supporting Russia — and the only states that have supported Russia (if not so far recognized those fake countries) are Venezuela and Belarus.
Fidel Castro may have been the Hugo Chavez (the regional Vladimir Putin) of decades past, but Raul Castro does not seem to fit that mode.
Jeffrey,
Good point. However, economically integrating Cuba in a meaningful way may be more challenging to Obama, as he joined other Democrats in standing against central American and Caribbean trade. [4,5]
Seerov,
No need to be disturbed. Simply seperate objectivity from equivalence.
Terrorism is a tool, as is war. That we “export security” by limit their use by others does not imply any obligation not to use those tools.
This point was implicit in my attack on war. [6] It was in Tom Hobbes’ book [7], as well.
(Barnett fans will note the title.)
[1] http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12009678
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/08/27/mapping-the-core.html
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Abkhazia_and_South_Ossetia_independence
[4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2005/07/07/americans-against-central-america.html
[5] http://obama.senate.gov/news/050630-why_i_oppose_cafta/index.php
[6] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/08/14/war-is-bad.html
[7] http://www.amazon.com/Leviathan-Penguin-Classics-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950
August 30th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
[...] my Thoughts: Cuba I posted this at TDAXP a few days ago: It has been a long time since Cuban soldiers were causing trouble in Africa, [...]
August 30th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
[...] my Thoughts: Cuba I posted this at TDAXP a few days ago: It has been a long time since Cuban soldiers were causing trouble in Africa, [...]
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
“Good point. However, economically integrating Cuba in a meaningful way may be more challenging to Obama, as he joined other Democrats in standing against central American and Caribbean trade.”
Oh Dan, why do you continue to not differentiate trade tariffs and embargoes.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Jeffrey,
Be careful in analyzing the situation. You mention that Obama supports scrapping the embargo. This is true.
My goal is economic integration, something beyond that.
Merely upgrading Cuba to a seam state between the core and the gap is not my goal. There is no reason is cannot enjoy American levels of prosperity.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 am
“Merely upgrading Cuba to a seam state between the core and the gap is not my goal. ”
I am not saying that is your goal, what I am saying is that for Obama to take the position of ending the U.S. embargo is not a contradiction to his previous trade policies, as you tried to make it out to be.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 am
Obama has never, as far as I know, contradicted himself on Cuba.
Rather, he aspires to a suboptimal state of affairs.
This is part of his do nothing, try nothing, change nothing style of politics [1].
I’d rather Hope for real Change with McCain.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/09/03/meditation-on-biden-and-palin.html
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
“I’d rather Hope for real Change with McCain.”
So, what did you mean when you said that your blog was not about getting people elected like Red State and DailyKos?
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Not sure how your question relates to the quote you provide.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Quite simple.
You told me that this blog is about your better understanding of things in general, not getting people elected such as DailyKos and Red State.
So, are you therefore asserting that this quote isn’t advocating the election of McCain?
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
If you disagree with my understanding of who the best man to elect as President is, tell me why, help me understand better.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Well, for starters, because videos like this show McCain’s willingness to pander towards Bush’s popularity and unpopularity, depending on where the political wind falls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnb2IrsU1Cg
Oh, and this one is classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GBdyws5YU
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
BTW, it isn’t that I think your support for McCain is a cardinal sin or something, it is just that if you are going to promote candidates, be honest about your intentions of doing so.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Jeffrey,
The first link you give is irrelevent. The second is an example of gotcha politics [1]. Niether makes a case, though I support you at least bringing up evidence.
If you disgaree on my understanding of the candidates, explain why.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/17/gotcha-politics.html