Brazil leader to boost Cuban ties

Source: BBC News

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is in Havana for a 24-hour visit to strengthen economic ties with Cuba.

President Lula is expected to sign a series of trade and investment agreements with Communist-run Cuba, in defiance of the US economic embargo.

These include an extension of credit lines to allow Cuba to buy more food from Brazil, and investment in Cuba's oil, transport and tourism sectors.

Lula also hopes to see his ailing Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7188682.stm

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He's effectively say FU GWB.

that would do more than anything to bring cuba into the modern era.

Msongs

If we can be friends with China then we should be able to travel to Cuba, & legally buy their products. I guess I'm trying to say we should be free to visit and trade with our neighbors. I know at one time the Cubans here didn't want to but now that they can only travel to see their families there every 2(?)years, and they have some other restrictions but I can't remember what. They may be ready to soften their stance toward their old country and it's leaders.

to start stepping out away from the cowering crowd of other nations who have been bullied into accepting the extraterritorial demands of the U.S. 45+ year old embargo on Cuba, which has crippled it so severely.

It's not Cuba's fault, by god, that has been struggling so hard. Anyone with half a brain working should grasp the painful reality of what the Cuban people have been saying all these years in begging to end the "bloqueo."

How many years has the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemned this filthy embargo, anyway? Probably 15 or so.

Lula is the first President of a country which has traditionally been shoved around by U.S. idiots with delusions of grandeur to step out from the cowering herd. Good for him. Can't wait until the others get the message and do the right thing.

in fact, most Latin American nations have. Even Colombia, at crucial times, has voted against the U.S. on matters related to Cuba.

Latin America does have dignity...and once in a while, it shows.

The days of American imperialism in Latin America are over. The masses will never return (willingly) to the old days.

Lula (Brazil), Correa (Ecuador), Morales (bolivia), Chavez (Venezuela), Bachelet (Chile), Kirschner (both of them, Argentina), Castro (Cuba), and more...they are part of the same historic demand for change. Governments may differ slightly, but the basic message is the same: independence and sovereignty.

My only sadness: that my country can't share in that (Puerto Rico). Our people have been effectively neutered...politically and mentally. 45% want to dissolve our identity and become a state of the United States...48% want to remain colonized...and 8% independence.

Imagine that...45% struggling SO hard to become part of that "All-America" that worships NASCAR, bullriding, and country stars. As if anglo-saxon America is going to accept them more than they do Mexicans.

I really hope you're right, and that the countries which are uniting for solidarity will reach that well-deserved goal of true freedom after all this long, hideous time of unbelievable suffering, and true brutal excess waged against them. It will be beautiful seeing them find unity now, with any luck at all.

In the 1940s-1950s, the main mass political party (The Popular Democratic Party) was led by a pro-independence moderate named Luis Munoz Marin. Marin's theory was that it was more important, in the context of the Cold War, to support the West in its battle against communism. He felt that independence could wait until Puerto Rico could reap the benefits of economic alliance with the United States. His plan was eventual, moderate steps toward independence...to avoid being like the rest of Latin America, economic-wise.

Others were not so patient, and argued that independence and dignity came before any economic consideration (The Nationalist Party, led by Pedro Albizu Campos). They never numbered more than the PPD's followers and were largely suppressed by the U.S.' FBI and other forces on the island. By the end of the 1950s, the Nationalist Party threat had been suppressed, though independence feeling continued in the form of the puerto Rican Independence Party (which took an electoral route to independence) and other smaller socialist and independence parties and groups.

Unopposed since 1940s-1960s, Marin's PPD was able to cement the foundation of the modern Puerto Rican commonwealth status (officially titled, "The Free Associated State of Puerto Rico"). It's an autonomous system, taking elements of American state government, mixed with Puerto Rican constitutional values...but the real power over Puerto Rico is completely in the hands of the U.S. Congress. It's a colony...basically.

Marin was not able to complete his project of eventual independence, as the Statehood party, under Luis A. Ferre and later Romero Barcelo, were able to effectively campaign for support in Puerto Rico and establish the right-wing, New Progressive Party (pro-American statehood) as a viable alternative to the PPD. Ever since the late 60s, Puerto Rican politics have mirrored American politics in essentially a two-party system, with the PPD and the NPP alternating power and being elected mostly on more domestic issues.

Although the parties differ in status position (PIP stands for independence and only gets 5% percent of vote, PPD stands for commonwealth and gets about 48%, and NPP stands for statehood and gets 45%), they've never been able to effectively pass a referendum (they've had 3 or 4) to effectively decide a consensus. Puerto Ricans reject every referendum and are left with the status quo.

Thus...Puerto Ricans exist in colonial limbo, with the majority of the people thoroughly fearful of independence, as it has been demonized by images of poor Latin America (especially Cuba). Puerto Ricans enjoy the abundance of American capitalism and fear losing their "burger kings, walmarts," and other luxuries of being related to the U.S.

That's a primer on Puerto Rican history.

Or are they bowties? Clip-ons?

I have a tie supposedly made out of hemp fabric. Whoever made it must have been stoned -- the tie is about a foot too long, and hung past my crotch the only time I put it on.

Maybe I ought to try smoking it. Have a "necktie party". Really tie one on.

Brazil's Lula says Castro 'ready to take on his political role'
5 hours ago

HAVANA (AFP) — Ailing Cuban President Fidel Castro is in "impeccable" health and "ready to take on his political role in Cuba," Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday after visiting Castro.

"I think Fidel is ready to take on his political role in Cuba and his historical role before the world," Lula said, adding that the 81-year-old "has incredible lucidity and impeccable health."

Castro underwent gastrointestinal surgery in late July 2006, and handed over power "temporarily" to his brother Raul Castro, 76. He has not been seen in public since, but has appeared on television and publishes weekly commentaries in official dailies.

Lula said he met with Castro for two-and-a-half hours and talked with him "about all possible subjects.

"He's as lucid as ever," the Brazilian president said.

Before Lula's comments on Castro, photographs of the two men together were distributed to reporters at Havana's airport before the president boarded his flight out of Cuba.
(snip/...)

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixVR4Ewil-FNm32xlfLNpUHAmU8w

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They should have PRE-SAVAGED him so they wouldn't look like idiots now that he has made these remarks and they were caught flat-footed!

Oh, why, oh, WHY didn't they do the ground work, and start working up their hate campaign earlier, while they still had the chance? Now they look like fools. How do you attack someone you've never smeared before?

You can be sure, they WILL find a way. Just a matter of time. The fascists in this administration, and running our news media in their service won't have it any other way.