Re: Balance comercial del 2009

As usual, the cowardly apologist PL begins his posting by promoting
his cheap imitation (quota-filling?) website, followed by the usual
venomous, personal attacks, each repeatedly debunked here. What a
loser!

Next, PL tries (and fails) to undermine Cuba's stellar reputation in
health care -- as he has been desperately trying to do for over tens
now! In that ten years, he has been unable to cite even one credible,
independent expert in the field who will support his outrageous
claims. Must be frustrating as hell for him.

PL also tries (and fails) to make the case the Cuban international
medical aid is somehow exploiting the poor. In fact, capitalism has
abandoned them to Ronald Reagan's "magic of the market place." He also
tries (and fails) to make the case that Cuban doctors are also somehow
being exploited.

Previously in this thread, we also saw that the cowardly apologist PL
simply couldn't refute reports from the UN and Amnesty International
(see footnotes) that prove his beloved embargo is indeed a form of
genocide. As usual, he was reduced to mindlessly repeating his
already failed lies and rationalizations here. Whatever it takes,
right, Mr. Lobbyist.

On Oct 18, 4:06 pm, PL <pl.nos...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

[snipping portions of PL's posting already debunked here, or just too
lame to bother with]

On 18/10/2010 21:39, CubaFAQ wrote:> As usual,(snip)
http://cubafaq [snip]

As we have already seen here (my previous posting), this is just PL's
cheap imitation of my original CubaFAQ website. He never passes up a
chance to promote it. Again, to see why, after 10 years, my original
CubaFAQ website STILL has the cowardly PL shitting his pants, visit my
website at its new home:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/danchristienses/CubaFAQ.html

The CIA website also shows the Cuba infant mortality rate

(snip)

That lie was exposed over and over again.
Don't try to change the subject.
Cuban statistics are even ridiculed by Raul Castro [snip]

Raul has criticized economic data like(snip)


What the cowardly apologist PL snipped for all too obvious reasons:

Raul has criticized economic data like the official unemployment rate
(a problem in many countries). Neither he nor any credible experts in
the field of public health, however, have seriously questioned Cuba's
remarkable health stats. You have been trying for over ten years to
find even one, and have come up empty-handed every time. Not even your
CIA colleagues are buying into your bullshit, Mr. Lobbyist.

and Cuban newspapers criticized unemployment data while international
experts and Cuba doctors that have left Cuba exposed Cuban medical
statistics as lies while other international experts exposed Cuban
economical and educational statistics as lies, no? [snip]

Again, we are STILL waiting -- for over ten years now! -- for you to
cite even one credible, independent expert who will support your
outrageous claims. What seems to be the problem, Mr. Lobbyist?

But thanks for confirming that not even your CIA colleagues are buying
into your bullshit. That's gotta hurt!

So called surplus: $ 510 million
Remittances: 1$1,400 million
Negative balance: -890 MM

Even if we subtract this out, the per capita figure for the USA is
STILL worse than that of Cuba.(snip)

and the subtracts the millions from indentured services and Cuba is worse..

Already debunked here. See below.

Note: as shown above Cuba is unable to pay its trade suppliers and partners.
The US isn't.

Only until China gets fed up with US profligacy.

says you.

It's common knowledge. Deal with it. The US is up to its ass in debt,
and China is holding the mortgage.

The US never defaulted.

No yet, but we shall see. The Republicans and their Mad Hatter Tea
Party seem poised to administer the coup de grace on the US economy --
to finish the job your man Dubya started. Is this how they plan to
move along Armageddon and the "Rapture?" What a bunch of nuts!


Where does the money come from: indentured services from doctors

They are no more "indentured" than doctors in the US Army.

No comment,(snip)

No problem.

US recruites get scholarships after service and than can move on freely.

Likewise Cuban MD's.

those that get a medical degree while in the army can freely leave after
the contractual term they signed up for is over.

That is a contract in which two free parties enter willingly.
In Cuba a doctor is subservient to the regime for the rest of his life
as he isn't even allowed to leave the country. [snip]

As in the US Army, they must fulfill their obligations before leaving
the service.

The facts on Cuba:

"As lots of university graduates medical doctors have to perform a
number of years of free service for the state. Doctors had to perform 3
years as service in "payment" for their education.

Cuba - Act No. 1254 respecting social service and its regulations issued
by Decree No. 3771 of 1974 provided that Cuban citizens who graduate in
higher education or as middle-level technicians or through regular
courses for primary school teachers, are obliged to perform social
service (for the duration of three years), in accordance with the
planning and priorities for development work laid down by the
Government. Unjustified refusal to perform social service entails
temporary or permanent disqualifications from exercising his or her
profession, which is recorded in the workbook of the person concerned.
The Government has indicated that the provisions relative to temporary
or permanent disqualification and everybody knows.

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc96/pdf/rep-ii...


Nothing here to support your claim that this was unpaid service in
payment for their education. Or that graduates would then be free to
emigrate to get rich in other countries. After completing their social
service work, they would ready for a permanent assignment. That is
all. I am sure that Cuban doctors pledge to serve their country for
the rest of their working years until retirement. If they want to
break that contract (or pledge) to get rich in the USA, some
compensation would be in order. In fact, the rich, industrialized
countries habitually poach skilled professionals from the developing
countries causing all kinds of suffering there. I have asked you many
times for any suggestions you may have to alleviate this problem, but
you decline every time. The fact is you couldn't care less. Whatever
it takes, right, Mr. Lobbyist?

This system has worked for years. Being a doctor (or other university
graduate) was no real impediment to leave the country once one had
completed the 3 years service.

From 1999 onwards the attitude changed as the Cuban regime had started
to "rent out doctors" to other countries (1) and NGO's. The Cuban
government realized that its doctors had a "commercial value" and that
allowing them to emigrate (even after completing their obligations to
the government) would reduce Cuba's "earning power". [snip]

That is just your propaganda spin on it, Mr. Lobbyist. For the truth
and an excellent account of the various Cuban international aid
program -- and one of your own favourite sources -- see "Cuba's
contribution to global health diplomacy" at
http://igcc.ucsd.edu/research/globalhealth/presentations/keck.pdf

"Moreover, since 1999, Cuban physicians have not been able to leave Cuba
with proper documentation and permits according to the MINSAP regulation
Number 54.14 According to this regulation, medical doctors and dentists
must serve 3 to 5 years in designated areas in the island of Cuba before
they are considered for a permission to leave the island. [snip]

The poaching of medical professionals was obviously getting out of
hand at this point. Is it fair that developing countries should be
subsidizing the training of medical professionals in the rich,
industrialized? Of course not. If anything, it should be the other way
around. Rather than denying them the option of emigrating, however,
the Cuban government has required additional social service work of
them -- a more than reasonable compromise.

Cuba - section 220 of the Labour Code: a sentence of imprisonment of
from six months to two years may be imposed on a person who, by breach
of the duties placed on him by his office, employment, occupation or
profession in a state economic unit (particularly of his duties relating
to the observance of the standards or standard-setting instructions and
other rules and instructions concerning technological discipline) causes
harm or substantial prejudice to the production output or to the
rendering of services by the
unit or to its equipment, machines, machinery, tools or other technical
devices. [snip]

Similar regulations against desertion and sabotage apply to doctors in
the US Army. What's your point?

And a few years ago the
Bolivian press reported that the country's medical association was
complaining about thousands of unemployed health professionals who were
earning considerably less than what Mr. Chávez was paying for Cubans..

Bullshit. As we have heard so many times, the Cubans are serving where
no private-sector doctors would dare to go. There just isn't enough
money it in for them. This has been seen to be true regardless of the
political stripe of the host nation. (snip)

Prove it. [snip]

Gladly. Just one of many examples from a recent posting here:

"Cuban doctors in Guatemala earn goodwill among the poor and with the
[Guatemalan] government.

"[Guatemalan] Vice President Rafael Espada, a surgeon himself, is
pleased to see Cubans serving where Guatemalan doctors won't go. 'The
financial compensation for general practitioners in the rural area was
extremely low, so no physicians wanted to really go to those parts,'
he said."

Source: "Cuba's Medical Brigades Ambassadors for Castro (CBN news)" at
http://groups.google.ca/group/soc.culture.cuba/msg/12721e5dc7f9b36e?hl=en

Once again, we see what a TRULY desperate liar you are, Mr. Lobbyist.
When will you learn?

Dan
Visit my CUBA: Issues & Answers website at its new home:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/danchristienses/CubaFAQ.html
(The original CubaFAQ website. Don't be fooled by PL's cheap
imitations.)

PS: As an antidote to each of PL's venomous personal attacks here, and
to his lies and evasions on everything from his lobbying exploits to
the international condemnation of his beloved embargo, see: "PL's same
tired old lies and evasions EXPOSED" at
http://groups.google.ca/group/soc.culture.cuba/msg/36c96cf26743ccca?hl=en

**************
Footnotes (which the cowardly apologist PL keeps a snipping and
refusing to address)

The facts as documented in reports recently released by Amnesty
International (my emphasis):

March 2009

"Amnesty International urges the US government to lift the nearly five-
decade long economic and trade embargo against Cuba as it is
detrimental to the fulfillment of the economic and social rights of
the Cuban people. It OBSTRUCTS AND CONSTRAINS efforts by the Cuban
government to purchase essential medicines, medical equipment and
supplies, food and agricultural products, construction materials and
access to new technologies.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/002/2009/en/e7b1efe4-27f4-4b2c-9a39-23c88749e39e/amr250022009en.html

September 2009

"The US embargo against Cuba is IMMORAL and should be lifted. It’s
preventing millions of Cubans from benefiting from vital medicines and
medical equipment essential for their health."

"Because of the US embargo, Cuba faces SEVERE RESTRICTIONS in
importing medicines, medical equipment or technologies from the USA or
from any US company abroad. The sanctions also limit other imports to
the island and restrict travel and the transfer of money."

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/president-obama-should-take-lead-lifting-embargo-against-cuba-20090902

"Amnesty International calls on the US Congress to take, WITHOUT
FURTHER DELAY, the necessary steps towards lifting the economic,
financial and trade embargo against Cuba...

"The US government is acting CONTRARY to the Charter of the United
Nations by restricting the direct import of medicine and medical
equipment and supplies, and by imposing those restrictions on
companies operating in third countries."

"The UN General Assembly has repeatedly CONDEMNED the US embargo as
contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
On 29 October 2008 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution
reiterating for the 17th time its call on the USA to end its embargo
against Cuba. That resolution was adopted with 185 votes in favour,
three against and two abstentions. The Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights has also reiterated its position regarding “the impact of
such sanctions on the human rights of the Cuban people and, therefore,
INSISTS THAT THE EMBARGO BE LIFTED.”

[Follow-up: In November 2009, with the exceptions of only the USA,
Israel and a handful of tiny, US island-colonies in the South Pacific,
representatives of EVERY nation on the planet voted at the UN General
Assembly to condemn these cruel and inhumane sanctions.]

"[E]xports of food and agricultural products to Cuba remain regulated
by the Department of Commerce and require a licence for export or re-
export. The export of medicines and medical supplies continues to be
SEVERELY LIMITED....

“The RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE EMBARGO help to deprive Cuba of vital
access to medicines, new scientific and medical technology, food,
chemical water treatment and electricity.”

"The provision of health care has suffered from the LIMITATIONS AND
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE EMBARGO on the procurement of basic and
specialized medical equipment and chemical components needed for the
production of generic medicines....

"Cuba was UNABLE TO IMPORT nutritional products destined for children
and for consumption at schools, hospitals and day care centres. This
had an adverse effect on the health and nutritional status of the
population.

"Children’s health was also put at risk by a decision from syringe
suppliers to CANCEL an order for 3 million disposable syringes by
UNICEF’s Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization when it became
known that the units were destined for the implementation of the
programme in Cuba.

"The number of children suffering from heart conditions who are
waiting for appropriate treatment at a pediatric hospital has
increased after Cuba was unable to buy from the US-based companies the
necessary medical equipment for their treatment. The companies
allegedly refused to negotiate with Cuba because of the RESTRICTIONS
SET BY THE US EMBARGO.

"LACK OF ACCESS to products manufactured by United States companies
such as St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific and Amplatzer prevents the
provision of proper care to seriously ill patients who need a
pacemaker, St. Jude prosthetic valves or septal occluders, forcing
their treatment with alternative, riskier surgical techniques.

"It has been IMPOSSIBLE TO PURCHASE a positron emission tomography/
computerized tomography (PET/CT) scanner, a state-of-the-art piece of
medical equipment needed for treatment that is made by only three
manufacturers worldwide, all unauthorized to negotiate with Cuba."

The impact of economic sanctions on health and health services is not
limited to difficulties in the supply of medicine. Health and health
services depend on functioning water and sanitation infrastructure, on
electricity and other functioning equipment such as X-ray facilities
or refrigerators to store vaccines. The financial burden and
commercial barriers have led to shortages or intermittent availability
of drugs, medicines, equipment and spare parts. It has also hindered
the renovation of hospitals, clinics and care centres for the elderly.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/007/2009/en/51469f8b-73f8-47a2-a5bd-f839adf50488/amr250072009eng.pdf
(PDF format)

September 2010

"[The US embargo's is] negatively affecting Cubans’ access to
medicines and medical technologies and endangering the health of
millions. United Nations agencies and programs operating in Cuba, such
as UNICEF, UNAIDS and UNFPA, have reported that the US embargo has
undermined the implementation of programs aimed at improving the
living conditions of Cubans."

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR25/015/2010/en/cbd3149a-da47-4044-a28f-40f33b7bda28/amr250152010en.html

From other sources:

"[US Congressional] House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Collin
Peterson and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar joined members of the National
Farmers Union (NFU) this week to call for passage of the Travel
Restriction and Export Enhancement Act. It would boost U.S.
agriculture by easing restrictions on the sale of homegrown food and
commodities to Cuba....

"The U.S. International Trade Commission estimated that U.S. exports
to Cuba could increase by nearly $500 million a year if provisions in
this legislation were enacted. In addition to the National Farmers
Union, the bill is supported by a broad coalition of national business
and agriculture industry groups."

Source: "Peterson, Klobuchar call for increased U.S. food and
commodity exports to Cuba," Echo Press, September 18, 2010
http://http://www.echopress.com/event/article/id/78097/group/homepage/

Note that Article 2c of the UN Genocide Convention states that the
crime of genocide includes, among other things, "deliberately
inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about
its physical destruction in whole or in part."

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/genocide.htm

Again, as Amnesty International has reported, “The restrictions
imposed by the embargo help to deprive Cuba of vital access to
medicines, new scientific and medical technology, food, chemical water
treatment and electricity.” These are deliberate acts, the only
purpose of which can be to bring about the physical destruction of the
Cuban people in whole or in part. These cruel sanctions can,
therefore, even be seen as a form of genocide under international law!
Makes you proud, don't it, America?

Also, according to at least one US expert, in addition to blocking
essential imports, the US embargo is also a major impediment to the
development of agriculture and food production in Cuba:

"William A. Messina Jr., of the University of Florida's Agriculture
Science Institute, said that the communist island 'has such good soil
and it represents a challenge of such magnitude that, with the END OF
THE EMBARGO, the agricultural market impact on the continent would be
larger that of the Free Trade Treaty [North American Free Trade
Agreement].'''

Source: "Cuba's agriculture shows promise," Miami Herald, Sept. 9,
2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1258504.html

Contrary to PL's self-serving lies and rationalizations then, no
amount of US exports (or anything else) can possibly let his political
masters off the hook for deliberately depriving Cubans of "vital
access to medicines, new scientific and medical technology, food,
chemical water treatment and electricity” and impeding the
development of food production. Morally and legally, this is genocide.
.

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