Re: US cable: Cuba to be insolvent within 2-3 years -- Poor DESPERATE lobbyist!

Previously in this thread, we saw the cowardly apologist PL attempt
and fail miserably to refute reports from Amnesty International and
the UN that prove his beloved is indeed a form of genocide (see
footnotes). As usual, he was reduced to mindlessly repeating his
already failed lies and rationalizations.

We also saw the cowardly PL deny his all too obvious fascist
tendencies. As predicted, he could only snip and run away in terror
YET AGAIN when confronted by the crimes of his political masters.

Here, we see the cowardly PL frustrated as hell that his political
masters have managed to kill so few Cubans over the years. What is it
going to take to finally break their will and make them submit once
again to US domination? This time for sure, right, Mr. Lobbyist? Only
in your genocidal wet dreams! Time and again Cuba's enemies to the
North have been frustrated by the resilience and legendary fighting
spirit of the Cuban people.

Really, Mr. Lobbyist, if this is the best you can, and still you have
nothing new and relevant to add, do not expect a reply from me on
these matters.

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

On Dec 13, 8:43 am, PL <pl.nos...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

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

http://cubafaq.w... [snip]

Poor, desperate lobbyist... OK, let's get this out of the way first.

Like his 3 other websites, all with nearly identical content, this
cheap imitation of my original CubaFAQ website is nothing more than a
shell for cut-and-paste news articles already widely available on the
web. (Just the latest of yet ANOTHER of your instant "websites," eh,
Mr. Lobbyist?) It has no list of FAQ's as the name misleadingly
suggests, and no original content whatsoever. And half the links at
the homepage are to PL's 3 other websites! Coincidence? It has a
Google Page Rank of 0/10, i.e. no traffic or links to speak of. (Some
"top site," eh, Mr. Lobbyist? No wonder you are so desperate to
promote it!) At last count, it seems the desperate PL is posting the
same bullshit postings SIX TIMES OVER every day! You can tell us...
It's that quota thing again, isn't it, Mr. Lobbyist?

On the other hand, my CubaFAQ website -- the real thing -- is full of
original material including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's). Prior
to changing ISP's, it had a Google Page Rank of 5/10. To see why,
after 10 years, it STILL has the ever-desperate lobbyist PL shitting
his pants, visit my website at its new home:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/danchristienses/CubaFAQ.html

Sadly for you, Cuba has come roaring back from worse than this. Much
to your everlasting frustration, the corpses never did starting piling
up in the streets. Not even close. From Oxfam America in 2001:

"The generalized food crisis (snip)

What the cowardly apologist snipped for all too obvious reasons:

as it is nothing more than attempt to change the subject

It shows how Cubans frustrated your attempts once again to crush their
fighting spirit. You and your fellow embargo-Nazis were no doubt
convinced that Papa Bush's intensification the genocidal US embargo on
top of the economic suicide of the USSR would have the corpses piling
up in the streets in Havana. The champaign corks must have been
popping in Miami at the prospect of vast riches to be made over the
mass of graves of Cubans. As we see from the Oxfam America report, it
didn't work then, and it won't work now. Must be frustrating as hell
for you.


"The generalized food crisis (snip)


What the frustrated PL snipped for all too obvious reasons AGAIN:

"The generalized food crisis [of the early-to-mid 1990's] in Cuba is
over. Statistical data, journalist accounts, and extensive field
visits confirm that the period of a systemic farming crisis,
widespread food shortages and extensive nutritional deficiencies has
passed. Farmers are producing more food, the state is importing more
food, and the diet of the population has improved....

"Food imports dropped by one third from 1989 to 1994, the same period
in which caloric intake dropped by 38%. Instead of being forced to pay
this 30% penalty imposed by [US] sanctions, if Cuba had been able to
import 30% more food, the food deficit would have been erased....

"Under the circumstances facing Cuba--the U.S. embargo, loss of
trading partners, little international aid, and economic collapse--the
agricultural recovery is nothing short of extraordinary..."

"In Cuba, the economic crisis did not cause serious dislocation in the
rural sector. No Cuban farmer has lost land through the crisis; in
fact, the opposite occurred, as 25,961 new farmers with government-
leased land (rent-free) ANAP [the national organization of small
farmers] in the 1990's. Markets have not squeezed the farmer; instead,
farmers have profits and produced more for the market while filling
their quotas for state food distribution. While cooperatives are
pressed to become more independent financially solvent, government
support for farmers continues in practically all areas--except for
provision of imported agricultural supplies-albeit on a reduced scale.
The government provides free agricultural extension [training], crop
insurance, guaranteed markets, and subsidies on what little inputs it
can provide (although government subsidies have dropped each year
since 1994). In addition, the government has carefully used food
imports to complement, not substitute, for domestic production.

"These policies have promoted rural employment and encouraged rural
livelihood so that rural youth can choose to invest their education
and aspirations in rural life, rather than try their luck in the
cities. The combination of state control and calibrated reforms has
increased production, but not a the cost of wealth for a few and
misery for the majority...."

"Going against the grain," Oxfam America, 2001
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/publications/cuba-going-against-the-grain

Cuban data from 2000:

Anemia:

Based on a test on workers in Havana: 17.4% of men and 31.1% of women [snip]

Sadly for you and your fellow embargo-Nazis, the corpses did NOT start
piling up in streets. Again, as Oxfam America reported in 2001:

"The generalized food crisis [of the early-to-mid 1990's] in Cuba is
over. Statistical data, journalist accounts, and extensive field
visits confirm that the period of a systemic farming crisis,
widespread food shortages and extensive nutritional deficiencies has
passed. Farmers are producing more food, the state is importing more
food, and the diet of the population has improved."

In 2004, one of your favourite conservative commentators lamented:

"Cubans [today] have as much food as they did before the Soviet
Union collapsed.... [T]heir caloric intake has returned to normal -
they've gotten that meal back."
Bill McKibben, Harpers Magazien, 2004 (See the thread, "The Cuba
Diet" at
http://groups.google.ca/group/soc.culture.cuba/msg/2d9a9a1fc688fff5?hl=en
)

I guess you remain ever hopeful that somehow you will be able to raise
your meager death count in this latest crisis. Don't hold you breath,
Mr. Lobbyist! As we see above, with their resilience and and legendary
fighting spirit, the Cuban people have come back from worse than this.
They simply have too much to lose. Yes, it must be truly frustrating
as hell for you!

Time to be a man for once, Mr. Lobbyist. Time to finally stand up for
what you REALLY believe. And we both know it has absolutely NOTHING to
do with "democracy" and "human rights," don't we?

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 keeps 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.]

[Follow-up: On October 26, 2010 the UN General Assembly voted
overwhelmingly again to condemn the US embargo. Only Israel voted with
the US against the resolution. Israel trades freely with Cuba, so even
this single vote cannot be seen as support for these cruel and
inhumane sanctions. On this the US is truly isolated in the world. The
only abstentions were the tiny US-island colonies in the South
Pacific: Palau (pop. 20,000), Micronesia (pop. 110,000) and the
Marshall Islands (pop. 60,000).]

"[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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