Fidel will someday disappear, but MSM nostalgia for the Cuban revolution is forever. Good Morning America devoted a segment today to celebrations in Havana marking the 50th anniversary of Castro's dictatorship. The thrust of Jim Avila's report was that, yeah, there are those who "complain" about that oppression stuff, but the key is that Cuba is free from los Yanquis!
JIM AVILA: It is Raul Castro who now runs the country, with Fidel incapacitated. He brought the celebration back to where in 1959, he, Fidel and Che Guevara came out of the Sierra Maestra mountains to overthrow the American-backed dictator, Fulgencio Batista.Cut to clip of Batista and Pres. Nixon exchanging smiles and a handshake. Funny: Avila referred to Batista as a "dictator", but never used that term for the Castro boys.
AVILA: That was ten American presidents ago. And while many Cubans complain about economic conditions and oppression, most still take pride in their independence.
Cut to clip of a former State Department official, who reinforced that message. WAYNE SMITH: I think the Cubans are more nationalist than they are socialist. They wanted to free Cuba of US domination.
Oh, they "freed" it alright. At one point, Raul was seen bellowing "viva la revolucion!" I cannot confirm that Avila joined in.
Turns Out Wayne Smith Is a Big-Time Castro Apologist
Smith, who quit the State Department in 1982 over his disagreement with Ronald Reagan's policy toward Cuba—turns out to be a big fan of Castro and of his goal of bringing "social justice" to Cuba. Check out this excerpt from an interview Smith did with Radio Havana, the official voice of Communist Cuba:
I arrived in Cuba in 1958 and, of course, it was very exciting. Castro’s forces were moving up the island. It was perfectly apparent as of summer 1958 that Fidel Castro was going to win. Then January 1, 1959, Batista fled the country and within a few days, Castro was in Havana. It was very exciting, a very optimistic time for Cuba. Castro was going to bring social justice and a better way of life for Cubans and we were hopeful that we could have a decent relationship but there were too many things in the way. It was too difficult with Cuba’s move to bring about social justice, inevitably some American companies were expropriated and nationalized, which didn’t help relations between the two governments.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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WAYNE SMITH: I think the
January 2, 2009 - 08:37 ET by ThisnThatWAYNE SMITH: I think the Cubans are more nationalist than they are socialist. They wanted to free Cuba of US domination.
Who is Wayne Smith, and why did he ever draw a salary from the US Government?
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Wayne Smith.
January 2, 2009 - 08:39 ET by Mark FinkelsteinWayne Smith.
Thanks for the link, Mark.
January 2, 2009 - 10:10 ET by ThisnThatThanks for the link, Mark. As I suspected, this clearly shows that Wayne Smith is a spokesman for communist cuba; a person who hates America; and someone who has suggested that the US is a terrorist nation (just by glancing at some of his comments). Again, I am sorry that he ever received a paycheck from the US Government; but I'm glad he got his ass canned back in 1982 for "disagreements regarding our policy towards Cuba".
So, now a more important question -- what drives GMA to seek out people like Wayne Smith, knowing he is such a communist cuba symphasizer? What could possibly motivate the entire GMA staff to put forth such garbage, other than their real hatred (or total ignorance) of the US? We simply don't need one of our major broadcast channels to pump out this type of propaganda, do we?
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Oh, I see. He's an idiot who
January 2, 2009 - 08:54 ET by thebutlerdiditOh, I see. He's an idiot who is a Castro sympathizer. I am surprised GMA didn't wheel out a big old cake with 50 candles and have frickin' party hats! Surprise! Happy Communist Dictator Day, to you! Happy CDD, Dear Leader, Happy Communist Dictator Day, to you!
Avila is a Serial Castro Apologist
January 2, 2009 - 09:24 ET by EricTheRedThis isn't the first time Avila ran interference for Castro's island paradise during the Elian Gonzales incident in 2000. (http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2000/cyb20000630.asp)
Of Gonzales' mother Avila said in 2003:
"What was she escaping? By all accounts this quiet, serious young woman who loved to dance the salsa was living the good life, as good as it gets for a citizen of Cuba."
(http://www.jewishworldreview.com/jeff/jacoby051203.asp)
Jim Avila is a Useful Idiot. Comrade Lenin is somewhere in hell applauding this guy.
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He is a typical lefty moron
January 2, 2009 - 09:25 ET by BDHe is a typical lefty moron who assumes that Cubans get into anything larger than a bathtub and try to cross 90 miles of ocean in order to go to McDonalds.
I believe he should be forcibly dropped in the Cuban back country for a year and we shall see if his "leanings" don't shift a bit.
If you don't mind going hungry
January 2, 2009 - 09:07 ET by Worrieda few days a week, at least you have the freedom from the evil U.S. The commies here think it is great the commies in other hell holes still exist.
So said...
January 2, 2009 - 09:08 ET by AJBThey didn't show you the armed police supervising the interview holding up two chickens and a bag of sugar. Amazing how hunger will get you to say anything...
Memory:a Matter of convieince
January 2, 2009 - 09:33 ET by JIMMY1660its very funny everyone forgets that JFK had agreed to help the Cuban Freedom Fighters, and left them on the Beach. JFK has helped to gain the USA's image around the world in a negative way. Truly ask those who have escaped CUBA, and they love America and FREEDOM. Once the corrupt government is thrown out and Castro brothers die, the Cuban People will recover and make Cuba the nation to be proud of, captitalism will flourish as they have in South Florida.
allow me to Love America
Geez, I've been down here
January 2, 2009 - 10:48 ET by RR GOPGeez, I've been down here visiting in Miami for a week now for the umpteenth time...has this knucklehead ever been to Miami and if so, how can he compare life in the U.S. to that in Cuba in any favorable way?
When these Communists finally fall out of power in Cuba, I'm pretty sure that you will see prosperity that was unheard of and much more universal in Cuba than under Batista. These Cuban-Americans up here have done very well for themselves, and I'm sure many will heartily invest in Cuba. Just think of all the new businesses that will open down there, thousands of new homes, apartment buildings, stores, etc. and all the infrastructure that will follow.
Now, if some Batista II takes over or if they end up with a weak democracy then, of course, it won't be so great. Though I have great respect for the Hispanics down here in South Florida, many do seem to have a penchant for "Banana Republic" thinking and corruption. So, as with all nations, the future of their children and their country is up to them...and that is the point of the article. The Cubans put the progress of their country on hold when they let Castro and Che take over.
The other (negative) thing that would concern me is that you know darn well Cuba will get tons of U.S. $ in foreign aid. They wouldn't need it...just investment of time and money on the part of Cuban-Americans and other folks, and the rest will follow. But, there again, I'm a Conservative so that's how I think.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.