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LTC Stephen F.
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Edited 8 y ago
Maj Marty Hogan my wife escaped from Cuba in the 1960s at age 14 and brought her parents over later. Until Raul Castro dies and/or Cuba renounces communism it makes no sense to establish further relations with that nation.
[Update] My wife and I were watching "Rough Riders" which was a good movie about the assault by a mix of US Army regulars and the Rough Rider Volunteers in 1898 that assaulted San Juan Hill near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The USA had a good relationship with Cuba after freeing it from Spain. Although sugar producers exploited the island, most USA citizens would have been welcomed on the island. When Bautista came to power he was ruthless. However when Fidel & Raul Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara launched their guerilla campaign their ruthlessness dwarfed Bautista in spades.
Life in Cuba is hard for the majority of non-government workers. My mother-in-law and her brothers send money and medicine to their relatives in Cuba because medical care is scarce unless you are well connected.
On my wife's father's side there are a number of pastors who struggled during the Castro years from the 1960s to the 21st century. Their evangelical churches membership grew while the government was doing its best to eradicate the protestant churches on the island.
There is still a lot of corruption in Cuba. Only the well-connected Cubans can go to the restricted casino area where cruise ships from nations other that USA have visited throughout the decades.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT (Join to see) SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart ] SPC (Join to see)
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski
SP5 Mark Kuzinski
8 y
Spot on LTC Stephen F. - Well put.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
8 y
LTC Stephen F. Thanks for sharing your story about your wife and her family. I agree with your position on Cuba my friend!
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Sgt Jeff Kelly
Sgt Jeff Kelly
8 y
Like eastern Europe, once the Cuban people gets access of western commercial influences things will change quickly on the island. Their communist masters will be hard pressed to round up volunteers to cut sugar cane. It's only a matter of time.
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CH (COL) Command and Unit Chaplain
CH (COL) (Join to see)
8 y
No change. Raul was Fidel's enforcer and was every bit as bad as Che. He will be the end of the Castro line though. No sons or daughters have been groomed for succession.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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Maj Marty Hogan I didn't like the choices for the survey, sorry. I think we need to be firm with Cuba like we were with the Soviet Union. Take a lesson from history and I believe that Cuba will eventually come around - that is my opinion! I don't think the current approach with Cuba or Iran is the right way to go.
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Maj Marty Hogan
Maj Marty Hogan
8 y
Agreed COL Mikel J. Burroughs I am gauging public opinion. I don't think we should have ever stopped the sanctions. Would have welcomed an island invasion actually. They are 90 miles away... appreciate your input Col
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SFC Mitch Mobus
SFC Mitch Mobus
8 y
Like you, I didn't like the survey choices either. Hence, I didn't check any box, but offered my perspective anyway.
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SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
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Maj Marty Hogan, I think Trump is too smart to fall for any kind of deal with Cuba. Raul has been in charge since Fidel got too sick to do anything. He could have made honest attempts before now. I think he's as corrupt as his batshit crazy asshole brother. I don't think any relations will improve with Fidel being dead. The only way I can see any improved relations is if there is an overthrow of the government, and the new leader isn't communistic, and wants things to be better for their country.
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