Isn't it ironic that by maintaining the anti-Cuba embargo we are emulating countries that don't allow citizens the freedom to travel where they want to--such as Cuba herself?

Almost any Cuban allowed to visit the US would want to stay here--hence the reason Cuba's government won't let them. I doubt you'd say the same for most Americans who visit Cuba.

Cuban-American influence or no, it's time to trash this one relic of the Cold War after nearly all others have faded into obscurity.

I saw your live recap on Secretary Rice's ultimate success being liked to the Middle East and I liked it a lot and all of the issues that surround that, not just the current lebanon war! This whole idea of spreading democracy in the middle east is, of course, just a front. It quickly took the place of WMD and if we really believed it and wanted what the middle eastern public thought was good - we rightfully should have expected Hamas, Hesbollah, and even Bin Laddin himself to win in elections and become presidents. Instead of supporting this wide spread and growing public opinion we instead choose to seek the support of countries like Saudi Arabia et all who are more or less dictatorships (merely because that is what suites our needs) DO you see the double standard? Of course! This dimocracy BS is not for us to decide or impose. It is a cover for what I believe is the admins real intentions and that not only is to secure the oil in the region but to actually PROVOKE a wider war - divide and concure, right?

The Bush administration is decidedly guilty of manipulating our post 9/11 patriotism into a strong degree of public “nationalism” - where all we wanted to do was INVADE - INVADE - INVADE at the slightest wave of their hand. Terrorism, in this sense, became like a wonderful ‘invisible enemy’ which allowed them to ‘allege’ mysterious connections to any government it wanted to attack! Iraq was the first. With such a 180 in US foreign policy, NK and Iran fear that they are next and have taken these measures to defend themselves from an aggressor nation: THE US. Wasn't NK, Iranian, and US relations actually improving under clinton? Just look at how the US was provoking confrontation with China before 9/11 by sending spy planes and oceanographic naval ships 20 miles from their cost! They were looking for problems right from the beginning!

The absence of President Fidel Castro does not surprise me. After all, it should be expected when a man of his age goes through such delicate surgery. What baffles me is the absence of acting President Raul Castro.
In any case, this is a good time as any to leave behind our cold war policies towards Cuba, normalizing relations with that country, and letting things takes its course. I believe that true openness in the Cuban system will begin the moment U.S. normalizes relations with Cuba. If we can have relations with China and be friendly with Vietnam, there is no reason at all to not recognize the Cuban government. It is in the best interest of the people of Cuba and of the United States.

"If we can trade with China(Tienamen(sp?) we can trade with Cuba?

Only difference is Florida cubans. "

Do you suggest extermination Johnny Boy? You don't like people who come to this country w nothing, work harder and get ahead of you? Tsk, tsk. Btw, nationalities are capitalized in the English language.

Dealing w China is beneficial to the US (else you wouldn't have a wardrobe), whereas dealing w Cuba is insignificant in spite of whining by fanboys.

Shanghai has more people than Cuba. Hialeah, FL has half the GDP of Cuba. We don't need anything from Castro, he doesn't have any $ and whatever he needs he can buy anywhere, including Chevys, burgers and Coke.

In a considerate attempt to shorten this thread, note that the pro-Castro fanboy argument reduces to the "gilded cage," generally abhorred, except that the cage is not all gilded. Just say no to ignorance.

Aside: where is Mary Murray, in this, her second to greatest moment? Can't find her stuff anywhere. Link pls? Tks.

I look forward to staying in Cuba. Seeing the beauty of the island and the atmosphere of stepping back in time, before all the isalnd becomes Hiltons and Hyatts and Club Meds. The island will be open to tourists in 2 years or less. Formally opening relations and investments lifting all embargo's non-military will make a swift end to the Castro communist era and hello commercialism. Get there quickly before disney invades and it becomes too tinsel town.

The anti-Castro sentiment that runs rampant among Cubans living in south Florida and the votes that they provide to any candidate for simply hating Castro are they only reasons why the USA has not dropped the trade embargo. Trade equates to capitalism, thus creating profit, and unfortunately, money is always the primary reason behind any political action or event.

Finally Americans can look forward to enjoying the basic freedoms that we have long cherished. With Fidel becoming a deceased person, we'll have the freedom to travel to Cuba, the freedom to buy sugar and molasses, cigars, tour Guantanomo, and to gamble our life savings in a Cuban casino.

All those above mentioned freedoms Fidel, in a diabolical scheme, stole those freedoms from such a peace loving nation. Hooray for Freedom.

In response to John Gavin's comment. Two wrongs don't make a right and in the future use spell check when posting.

Is the Bush Administration poised to meddle in Cuba?
Is this what the American people wanted when they elected George Bush? Secretary Rice issued statements
only hours upon hearing of Fidel Castro's illness.
It's as if the White House cannot keep it's hands off
any tempting situation within any Foreign government.
Surely we have urgent issues to solve here in our own Country.

We have Iraq, Afghanistan...we have crisis in the middle east battling Israel. Now we have Cuba, so close to home and a short boat ride for our military to help maintain peace, invite in democracy. But do we dare to divest our already threadbare military structure. And because of the gentle hand that is going to have to weave and manipulate any crisis management....whom would our own country trust to come up with this plan. It appears to me that we better leave any future administration this responsibility - the current one continues to fail at timelines and the actual good of whom we are assisting. BUT, if we do go towards Cuba, do you think we could get better gas prices? I support any military action that will give us a break at the pump. I am being flip of course. I know Miami is ready for this revolution but are we here in Michigan for instance, everyone else but Florida/NY. I think we should let the citizens of Cuba come up with their own plan this time.

We will find out eventually for sure on these matters, but right now we have to guess. And my guess is that, when the announcement was made that Raul Castro was taking control of the government, at that point in time, Fidel Castro was already dead.
The Cuban hierarchy has a lot of scrambling to do right now. They are afraid that the U.S. is going to invade, they are concerned that their own people will stream out of Cuba, they are worried that all the people who left Cuba and now live in Miami are going to flood back into Cuba. And those are just the things on the top of the list.
Every decision in Cuba was based on what Fidel Castro would think of it. Now, if he is gone, who makes the decisions? Who has a strategic vision? Saying that Fidel Castro is still alive was probably a necessary cover story to sort out who is going to run things.
Eventually we will find out for sure. But my best guess is that Fidel Castro is already dead.

"Or was it just a signal to the anti-Castro Bush administration..."

Have any U.S. administrations been pro-Castro? If not, why this characterization?

If we can trade with China(Tienamen(sp?) we can trade with Cuba?

Only difference is Florida cubans.

Why am I reminded of the classic Saturday Night Live shtick where Chevy Chase, when anchoring the news, announces, "Generallisimo Francisco Franco is still dead?"