Sometimes humor is all that's left.......

bullseyebarb · 01-10-2006, 18:17

Canadian, Mark Steyn, usually goes for pithy commentary with a decidedly humorous edge, regardless of the seriousness of the topic. Case in point, Gitmo. I ask you, is this any way to fight a war? Here's Mark's take on his visit to Cuba.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/7...teyn01.article

Busman747 · 01-10-2006, 19:01

That makes VERY interesting reading :engsmil:

grannyclaret · 01-10-2006, 19:02

I Diddent Understand It?????????

SPUGGIE J · 01-10-2006, 19:04

I liked that report.

If all else fails then humour is a good substitute. He is like a sharp knife nicking away at the subject with the humour. made my day esp the comment;

After listening to Pat Leahy's contribution to the debate, I wonder if the Gitmo medical facility's lavish team of mental health experts might not be more usefully deployed to the U.S. Senate.

Can we borrow them for Westminster when they have finished in Washington?

Ianto.W. · 01-10-2006, 19:11

:engsmil: Castro has seen off more 'Popes and American Presidents' than any other ruler, so he must have something going for him!

bullseyebarb · 01-10-2006, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianto.W.

:engsmil: Castro has seen off more 'Popes and American Presidents' than any other ruler, so he must have something going for him!

Oh, yes, Fidel is a WONDERFUL man. That's why half the Cuban population applies for exit visas every year - or simply try to escape.

LancYorkYankee · 02-10-2006, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ianto.W.

:engsmil: Castro has seen off more 'Popes and American Presidents' than any other ruler, so he must have something going for him!

Yeah, he's a bloody DICTATOR who elects himself!!!!!

eggstoocool · 02-10-2006, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by LancYorkYankee

Yeah, he's a bloody DICTATOR who elects himself!!!!!

My thoughts exactly!!

Billcat · 02-10-2006, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

Oh, yes, Fidel is a WONDERFUL man. That's why half the Cuban population applies for exit visas every year - or simply try to escape.

Not much evidence for that "half the Cuban population" claim that I can find. Would you please provide a link to where you got the info? Thanks!

I'm no fan of Castro (or of any dictator, friend or foe), but the past forty years have proven that US foreign policy toward Cuba has completely failed to bring Castro down. And yet we persist with the same failed policy. What a waste!

Bazf · 02-10-2006, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billcat

Not much evidence for that "half the Cuban population" claim that I can find. Would you please provide a link to where you got the info? Thanks!

I'm no fan of Castro (or of any dictator, friend or foe), but the past forty years have proven that US foreign policy toward Cuba has completely failed to bring Castro down. And yet we persist with the same failed policy. What a waste!

Not really a waste as he has had no power to do anything, bringing him down has never been a policy of the USA since after the collapse of the cold war, just containment and not letting the Communists dictate the whole south American policy. I have 2 questions though, When he dies will all the so called exciles go back as they claim or is life to rosey in the US? Secondly the main threat isn't Cuba but Chavez in Venezuela, he will be a big problem if he gets voted on to the UN security council to the Latin American seat, a post that would place it in a position to destabilise U.S. and European policies. Why is the Labor party supporting him?

Ianto.W. · 02-10-2006, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billcat

Not much evidence for that "half the Cuban population" claim that I can find. Would you please provide a link to where you got the info? Thanks!

I'm no fan of Castro (or of any dictator, friend or foe), but the past forty years have proven that US foreign policy toward Cuba has completely failed to bring Castro down. And yet we persist with the same failed policy. What a waste!

:engsmil: At last a free-thinking person, I know nothing of Castro, but he's still there pulling the strings, love him or hate him. :engsmil:

Billcat · 03-10-2006, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazf

Not really a waste as he has had no power to do anything, bringing him down has never been a policy of the USA since after the collapse of the cold war, just containment and not letting the Communists dictate the whole south American policy. I have 2 questions though, When he dies will all the so called exciles go back as they claim or is life to rosey in the US? Secondly the main threat isn't Cuba but Chavez in Venezuela, he will be a big problem if he gets voted on to the UN security council to the Latin American seat, a post that would place it in a position to destabilise U.S. and European policies. Why is the Labor party supporting him?

Castro never really had the power to do anything on his own. Cuba's economy could not support it. For a number of years, the USSR gave Castro enough money to make him something of a problem, but that's all gone.

I would differ with your opinion on the idea that the US is merely doing containment. The Bush administration has made a number of significant changes to our policy vis-a-vis Cuba, and those policies harken back to the days when the US was trying to make life for the average Cuban bad enough to incite a coup. Didn't work then, isn't working now. Good friend of mine was recently a consular officer for the US in Havana (as we have no official relations with Cuba, we work through the Swiss Embassy).

As far as the Cubans returning to Cuba, some of them probably will, if things change. I would expect most of them to remain here, not necessarily because life is cushy, but because their kids and grandkids have been raised as Americans. A lot of them are married to non-Cubans, too. Even for those who originally came to the US, their life, family and friends are here. Probably not much left in Cuba by comparison.

Greg Pope · 03-10-2006, 14:52

I've just returned from Guantanamo Bay myself. I'm no great fan of Mark Steyn (or the Bush administration for that matter) but I can confirm that the basic facts in his article about the way detainees are currently treated is true. I wrote a short piece for my website about this which can be seen at www.gregpope.co.uk/news

Greg

WillowTheWhisp · 03-10-2006, 15:01

That link didn't work Greg. Try this.

Greg Pope's News Page

By the way it was good to read the report and learn that conditons are not as bad as we are led to believe and I particularly liked the closing statement. Yes those who call for it to be closed down do need to come up with some solutions about what to do with the people detained.

bullseyebarb · 05-10-2006, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billcat

Not much evidence for that "half the Cuban population" claim that I can find. Would you please provide a link to where you got the info? Thanks!

I'm no fan of Castro (or of any dictator, friend or foe), but the past forty years have proven that US foreign policy toward Cuba has completely failed to bring Castro down. And yet we persist with the same failed policy. What a waste!

Even a casual observer would have realized that I was being SARCASTIC here! The point I was trying to make is that Cuban's are not at liberty to leave Cuba whenever they so choose. They are considered to be the property of the Cuban government. Exit visas are difficult to obtain.......hence the large number of Cuban citizens who wash up on the shores of south Florida every year. I get a little tired of people like you.....the blame America first crowd. There is only one person responsible for the situation in Cuba.....Fidel Castro. What excuse can be given now that the island has a booming tourist economy, along with foreign investment? The only person who benefits is Castro. I don't see where any of this has helped the Cuban people.