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Zachary Guadamour's avatar

Thank you Ben Norton. Good history lesson. The people of Cuba benefitted from Castro as pposed to the dictator ulgencio Batista who allowed the United States to exploit Cuba. The other Cuban American war hawk whose parents fled persecution under Batista is Ted Cruz.

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MNT's avatar

Thanks for the info!

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

Here's hoping that this recent UNGA vote against the US on the Cuba embargo indicates that there are enough votes (2/3) in the General Assembly to pass a Uniting for Peace resolution to provide a protective force for Palestine that circumvents the UN Security Council and its veto power.

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ChatterX's avatar

"Every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation, and overthrow of government."

- Lester Mallory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1960

***

https://dwkcommentaries.com/2023/04/21/state-department-secret-memo-from-1960-set-basis-for-subsequent-u-s-policies-regarding-cuba/

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Ahenobarbus's avatar

"the socialist revolution in 1959"

Once again, I've always rooted for Cuba and have a lot of respect for many of their social programs. But in 2025, it's clear this was merely a petty bourgeois nationalist coup that sided with Stalinism to survive the Yankee onslaught during the Cold War. I've always applauded their anti Imperialism. However, the working class of Cuba played no part in the process of taking or administering power in Cuba and that remains true today.

Why do I quibble? If your history is warped to find Socialist revolution anywhere there is an opposition to Imperialism your analysis as clever as it may be will never reflect really. Just look at the genocidal Imperialist Bernie Sanders. You'd probably have been popping the champagne had he won in 2016 screaming Socialism at the top of your lungs. Millions of workers in the US sincerely want a social revolution. For that reason the Dem wing of Imperialism has created a false Socialism to lead them into a blind alley. This false Socialism depends on slip shod history which intellectuals in their orbit knowingly provide or are simply useful idiots. My demand: tell the workers the truth. If you don't know the truth, don't speak on the topic.

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Carolyn L Zaremba's avatar

Are you a supporter of the SEP?

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ahenobarbus's avatar

I think the SEP is a good school of history and Marxism. However, I do not believe they are a revolutionary party for a number of reasons. The most glaring and recent: their Schactmanite line on US Imperialism's war on Russia via Ukrainian fascism. But, it's a long story....

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John William Reitter's avatar

Exactly! Thanks.

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KC Erasmus's avatar

The US failed to change North Korea, with decades of sanctions, they failed to change Cuba with decades of sanctions, they failed to change Iran with decades of sanctions, they failed to change Zimbabwe with decades of sanctions, yet for some unknown reason they think they will change Russia to suit themselves, with sanctions.

If the US didn't get the message by now, they Never get it!!!

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STPC's avatar

The concept of “democracy” doesn’t exist in the UN when only 7 nations stand in the way of the vast majority of supporting nations. UN needs reforming.

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Charles Kelly's avatar

Hopefully, by aligning with BRICS+ and partners, Cuba can develop. The pain of isolation has retarded every effort to lift Cuba and its neighbors.

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Frawsen Gari's avatar

And the rest of the world grows greener, according to the map 😉

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Joseph Cullen's avatar

Ukraine and Argentina, where corruption rules. No surprise there!!

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Ficus3 🇵🇸🇸🇩🇨🇩's avatar

The usual suspects: We got the Nazis in Ukraine, the Zionists in Israel, one of the zombie former Yugoslav puppets (Macedonia I think?), and I can’t tell if the financially blackmailed pacific islands like Nauru, but quite likely.

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Blind Faith's avatar

Hurray!

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Morgan Corvidelle's avatar

Just watched the video and WHEW it's a spicy meatball for the average American, but in all the best ways.

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MNT's avatar

Interesting piece. Thanks!

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