Should America open normalized relations with Cuba?

[Nobody]

America are hypocrits having relations with China and Veitnam but not cuba. America fought wars against china and veitnam but none against cuba. The missle crisis is over, cant we all just get along.

 

[jimbob27]

America's intollerance of communism is also contrary to their policys of liberalism

 

[Narz]

But why should we care about new markets for a communist country?

Why such anti-communist sentiments? I'll bet if I came to your house I could find fifty items or more made in China.

How much of a difference do you think that would actually make? Fruit is cheap enough as it is.

Organic fruit is over overpriced. Plus the environmental costs would be lower (shipping to Georgia from Cuba is a few hundred miles, from Ecaudor is probably over a thousand) and the fruit would be fresher.

 

[Yoda Power]

It's easily the best way to make Cuba turn to capitalism, so the only rational choice to the opening question is yes.

 

[REDY]

No! if there are still political prisoners, the western world should ignore these countries!

 

[boarder]

Sure I can't see any harm coming out of it.

 

[Winner]

The regime is about to collapse, so better to be prepared for that.

 

[REDY]

Collapse? There were rumours about Castro life many years before and his brother should take care if Castro will finnaly die...the regime looks very stable.

 

[Winner]

Collapse? There were rumours about Castro life many years before and his brother should take care if Castro will finnaly die...the regime looks very stable.

Communist regimes in the Eastern Europe also looked very stable, until they collapsed almost overnight.

Castro is nearly dead, and without him, the regime won't last long. I hope.

Americans should help Cubans to overthrow this regime in case it would survive Castro's death, it would be a piece of cake, one day military exercise.

 

[REDY]

Communist regimes in the Eastern Europe also looked very stable, until they collapsed almost overnight.

Castro is nearly dead, and without him, the regime won't last long. I hope.

Americans should help Cubans to overthrow this regime in case it would survive Castro's death, it would be a piece of cake, one day military exercise.

We will see, I hope too. Cuba is the only country which is very hostile towards Czech Republic. But register that Castro doesnt lead country now, so I dont know if there is goverments will to liberate more. The regimes in eastern countries were more influenced by Soviet goverment(except Romania and Albania), so when Soviet goverment started perestroyka, the collapse was easier.

 

[bathsheba666]

I voted no.

This spectacle of the 'mightiest nation on earth' unable to bring a total minnow to heel is a complete hoot.

And I think the world deserves to be able to enjoy this farce for decades to come.

 

[innonimatu]

Americans should help Cubans to overthrow this regime in case it would survive Castro's death, it would be a piece of cake, one day military exercise.

The US never won a land war in Cuba, and it wasn't for lack of trying. You think their army, currently busy killing civilians, pardon me, "terrorists", in Iraq, could conquer Cuba?!

Rumsfeld award for you too!

 

[REDY]

The US never won a land war in Cuba, and it wasn't for lack of trying. You think their army, currently busy killing civilians, pardon me, "terrorists", in Iraq, could conquer Cuba?!

Rumsfeld award for you too!

Iraqi civilians are more powerful than average Cuban soldier. Within maybe some veterans involved in revolutions in another countries, but they are old now

 

[Trajan12]

The US never won a land war in Cuba, and it wasn't for lack of trying. You think their army, currently busy killing civilians, pardon me, "terrorists", in Iraq, could conquer Cuba?!

Rumsfeld award for you too!

Excuse Me?

I must interject that the Cuban army is very old and outdated. They have no Soviet Union to protect them. The US could very well crush their Army in combat. You seem to be in the opinion that the entirety of our Armed forces are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I assure you we have enough to take out this obsolete military in Cuba.

 

[innonimatu]

Excuse Me?

That was not truly an american-cuban war, as the american force had the support of most cubans. But read the history of the Spanish-American war more closely, and you will find that despite a sizable numerical advantage and support by most of the local population the US never managed to achieve a decisive victory against the spanish forces on land. It was the naval battle near Santiago that won the war.

Of course, the capture of Santiago opened the way for the naval battle, but the defenders were vastly outnumbered in the last battle. Perhaps that last battle could be regarded as a decisive one, then.

 

[Trajan12]

That was not truly an american-cuban war, as the american force had the support of most cubans. But read the history of the Spanish-American war more closely, and you will find that despite a sizable numerical advantage and support by most of the local population the US never managed to achieve a decisive victory against the spanish forces on land. It was the naval battle near Santiago that won the war.

Of course, the capture of Santiago opened the way for the naval battle, but the defenders were vastly outnumbered in the last battle. Perhaps that last battle could be regarded as a decisive one, then.

You said war in Cuba. I think that qualifies. The Naval battle may have won the war but there were more battles on land that the US won against Spain. Regardless, this is beside the point. Cuba's present military is weak, and now they have no protection. We are capable of taking it down.

 

[nc-1701]

You said war in Cuba. I think that qualifies. The Naval battle may have won the war but there were more battles on land that the US won against Spain. Regardless, this is beside the point. Cuba's present military is weak, and now they have no protection. We are capable of taking it down.

Yes, we are capable of many things, but I don't see how we get any benefit for the tens of billions of dollars we would spend. Many people think of Iraq as the exception to the rule, but it is the rule. When a strong central government collapses/is destroyed various groups and people quickly rush to fill this vacuum. Almost always creating a new dictatorship. The only way to force a civilized government on them is with an occupation these cost alot of money especialy if you're fighting insurgents.

Cheezy mentioned the UN coming to pick up the pieces, but after the Iraq fiasco I would be amazed if they didn't laugh in our face if we invaded Cuba and asked for help.

Finaly how is everyone so sure that their military is stuck in the 1950's? They are now a major trading partner of Chinas. I imagine that their military has seen atleast some upgrading. Finaly has anyone thought about the possiobility of them launching a few SCUDs at Miami?

So yes we could take it down, but the costs vastly outweigh the benefits.

 

[Winner]

The US never won a land war in Cuba, and it wasn't for lack of trying. You think their army, currently busy killing civilians, pardon me, "terrorists", in Iraq, could conquer Cuba?!

Rumsfeld award for you too!

Cuba is very weak. It would take just few marines and special forces to take Havana, depose the government and the people would do the rest.

Or do you really believe, that Cuban armed forces are able to offer any serious resistance? Even the US weekend soldiers (aka National Guard) could easily defeat anything Cubans have. Also, you grossly overestimate Cuban people's will to protect the regime.

Chamberlain award for you too

 

[Trajan12]

Yes, we are capable of many things, but I don't see how we get any benefit for the tens of billions of dollars we would spend. Many people think of Iraq as the exception to the rule, but it is the rule. When a strong central government collapses/is destroyed various groups and people quickly rush to fill this vacuum. Almost always creating a new dictatorship. The only way to force a civilized government on them is with an occupation these cost alot of money especialy if you're fighting insurgents.

Cheezy mentioned the UN coming to pick up the pieces, but after the Iraq fiasco I would be amazed if they didn't laugh in our face if we invaded Cuba and asked for help.

Finaly how is everyone so sure that their military is stuck in the 1950's? They are now a major trading partner of Chinas. I imagine that their military has seen atleast some upgrading. Finaly has anyone thought about the possiobility of them launching a few SCUDs at Miami?

So yes we could take it down, but the costs vastly outweigh the benefits.

What makes you think there would be a significant move to re implement communism in Cuba when it has failed them so miserably? Iraq had factors, dividing factors, that just aren't present in Cuba. There is no sectarian divide that I know of. Perhaps if you found something, but I don't know of anything that would make Cubans oppose democracy. Just like in North Korea, I don't think there are many there who would actually fight for communism. If we set up a Democratic government, most likely there would be no real problems with the people. In Iraq you had the whole Sunni Shia fiasco as the reason government officials aren't trusted and are working against each other in favor of their particular sect. But there is nothing like that in Cuba. There is just a Cuban people, who are poor and oppressed, and know that they are oppressed for the most part.

Their military could not possibly be that quickly updated since the last time we got Intel on it. And the last I heard their military was outdated. So with enough power and the right strategy we could get rid of it with minimal damage to ourselves. Their military readiness is low, with the element of surprise we could do a major amount of damage before they knew what hit them. And they aren't capable of mounting large scale counter attacks so they'd be on the defensive the entire time. And their Air force was barely capable of defending Cuba last I checked.


I'd just like to make it known that I am not advocating this plan, just that it would work.

 

[nc-1701]

What makes you think there would be a significant move to re implement communism in Cuba when it has failed them so miserably? Iraq had factors, dividing factors, that just aren't present in Cuba. There is no sectarian divide that I know of. Perhaps if you found something, but I don't know of anything that would make Cubans oppose democracy. Just like in North Korea, I don't think there are many there who would actually fight for communism. If we set up a Democratic government, most likely there would be no real problems with the people. In Iraq you had the whole Sunni Shia fiasco as the reason government officials aren't trusted and are working against each other in favor of their particular sect. But there is nothing like that in Cuba. There is just a Cuban people, who are poor and oppressed, and know that they are oppressed for the most part.

I don't think that they would go back to Communism, but if we invaded killed all the higher ups in the government and left as Cheezy was suggesting. You end up with a nation left in Anarchy since their are no sectarien divides the chance of a civil war is low, but the more likely scenario is when we leave behind a power vacuum. An officer in the military or whats left of it will take control. He pobably won't be Communist, but he will almost certainly not give the people any freedoms and be very anti-American.

Their military could not possibly be that quickly updated since the last time we got Intel on it. And the last I heard their military was outdated. So with enough power and the right strategy we could get rid of it with minimal damage to ourselves. Their military readiness is low, with the element of surprise we could do a major amount of damage before they knew what hit them. And they aren't capable of mounting large scale counter attacks so they'd be on the defensive the entire time. And their Air force was barely capable of defending Cuba last I checked.

Yes, of course we could beat them, but people forget we are talking aboput war here not a ballgame. In war things go wrong, that is a fact of life no war has ever gone exactly as planned. Look we lost 19 soldiers in Grenada, I'm sure we would lose atleast that many here. I see ne gain to be made from those deaths.

I'd just like to make it known that I am not advocating this plan, just that it would work.

That's good to know... Of course it would work, it would just end up being very expensive.