Originally posted by generalissimoIt was bad that we supported the first dictatorial regime, and puzzling that we bitterly oppose the second. Especially since the second was a great improvement over the first. It is even worse that we help overthrow democratically elected governments elsewhere and help impose dictatorial regimes in their place.
It was good that they overthrew a dictatorial regime, however it was bad that they replaced it with another.
Originally posted by rwingettIt's no wonder we opposed the second- Castro's regime got rid of the clubs and gambling Americans loved and gave the boot to American agricultural corporations in favor of nationalizing their agriculture (and trying to keep the profits home).
It was bad that we supported the first dictatorial regime, and puzzling that we bitterly oppose the second. Especially since the second was a great improvement over the first. It is even worse that we help overthrow democratically elected governments elsewhere and help impose dictatorial regimes in their place.
I've seen many early films of Fidel- he cites the US Constitution, FDR and the New Deal/WPA repeatedly as major influences and labels what he is trying to create a a "socialist democracy". Most of this was during the fighting and in the very early days of the revolution's success.
As soon as the US placed an economic blockade on the new Cuba (and threatened any country that dealt with them with sanctions as well), it seems Cuba had little choice but to join the Soviets and adopt Soviet-style communism: they were facing complete economic collapse and potential widespread starvation without the US and its allies to import their products.
From all I've read, it seems to me that Castro got nothing but completely bullied and screwed by the Soviets while they got whatever they needed (strategic missile bases, sugar, fruit, etc.).
Originally posted by xnomanxIf the Soviets hadn't been there, Cuba would have been invaded probably in the 60's and most certainly in the Reagan era.
It's no wonder we opposed the second- Castro's regime got rid of the clubs and gambling Americans loved and gave the boot to American agricultural corporations in favor of nationalizing their agriculture (and trying to keep the profits home).
I've seen many early films of Fidel- he cites the US Constitution, FDR and the New Deal/WPA repeatedly as major infl ...[text shortened]... oviets while they got whatever they needed (strategic missile bases, sugar, fruit, etc.).