[QUOTE]Russia and Cuba have quietly signed an agreement to write off 90 percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt to the defunct Soviet Union, a deal that ends a 20-year dispute and opens the way for more investment and trade, Russian and European diplomats told Reuters news agency.
The nations announced an agreement to settle the debt squabble earlier this year and finalized the deal in Moscow in October. It would have Cuba pay $3.2 billion over 10 years in exchange for Russia forgiving the rest of the $32 billion debt, the diplomats said.
It must still be approved by the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament.
Negotiations on the form in which Cuba will pay the remaining debt continue, the diplomats said, as even $320 million per year represents a large sum for the cash-strapped country, which has labored under a U.S. economic embargo for decades.
Cuba's total export earnings are around $18 billion, a figure that includes tourism, medical and educational services.
Neither Cuba nor Russia has made any official comment on the debt agreement. Cuban officials were not immediately available for comment.
Cuba defaulted on its debt in the late 1980s but recently has been trying to restructure the old debts to improve its international credibility.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/12/10/russia-forgives-29billionincubadebt.html[/url]
why cant the US fuck off with the embargo? is it really needed still?
[QUOTE=Rankzerox;43139607]why cant the US fuck off with the embargo? is it really needed still?[/QUOTE]
Why do you want to buy things from a communist country
Are you a communist?
[QUOTE=Rankzerox;43139607]why cant the US fuck off with the embargo? is it really needed still?[/QUOTE]
Because its politics. McCarthyism, Cuban Missile crisis, Red Scare... We just hate communism. Its in our American blood.
If the Castro family left power and allowed free elections things would probably change
Fine exports.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqQIm-AtsXs[/media]
Not the scene i wanted (The embassy scene with the cubans is better, but it will do)
[QUOTE=areolop;43139793]Because its politics. McCarthyism, Cuban Missile crisis, Red Scare... We just hate communism. Its in our American blood.
If the Castro family left power and allowed free elections things would probably change[/QUOTE]
Which is why we have an embargo with China, the most powerful communist nation, right?
Oh wait
[QUOTE=OpethRockr55;43140312]Which is why we have an embargo with China, the most powerful communist nation, right?
Oh wait[/QUOTE]
China is bigger? Iunno, politics is weird. Pretty nice of Russia to do that though, especially since the Soviet Union isn't even around anymore. Kinda weird owing money to something that doesn't exist anymore.
As if Cuba ever planned to pay it back, just more dead weight off of the shoulders of the cuban people.
[QUOTE=OpethRockr55;43140312]Which is why we have an embargo with China, the most powerful communist nation, right?
Oh wait[/QUOTE]
China is too valuable. It's all a matter of balancing the hatred for commie scum and the ability to import cheap shit full of lead, you feel me?
Ironically the Soviet Union held debts from France, and when they realized they couldn't pay them, they said "The debt no longer exists comrade".
It pretty much ruined a lot of French investors.
Merry christmas, Cuba.
gotta keep that sphere of influence
[QUOTE=Vaught;43140341]China is bigger? Iunno, politics is weird. Pretty nice of Russia to do that though, especially since the Soviet Union isn't even around anymore. Kinda weird owing money to something that doesn't exist anymore.[/QUOTE]
Its more due to the fact the US basically helped cuba gain independence and they screw us over in the 1960's by putting nuclear missiles of the soviet's there.
[QUOTE=TheDestroyerOfall;43140876]Its more due to the fact the US basically helped cuba gain independence and they screw us over in the 1960's by putting nuclear missiles of the soviet's there.[/QUOTE]
By giving independence, you mean "Making the entire island into an American rich man's playground" right?
The degree to which we fucked over the Cubans at the end of the Spanish American War left a pretty sour taste in the mouths of their people, especially when Batista came to power.
[QUOTE=erfinjerfin;43140380]China is too valuable. It's all a matter of balancing the hatred for commie scum and the ability to import cheap shit full of lead, you feel me?[/QUOTE]
If we lifted the embargo on Cuba, we could import the abundance of pharmaceuticals produced in Cuba, thus lowering the price of pharmaceuticals. Cuba has resources worth considering, too. One of the best places to produce tobacco products in the world, as well.
[editline]10th December 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=TheDestroyerOfall;43140876]Its more due to the fact the US basically helped cuba gain independence and they screw us over in the 1960's by putting nuclear missiles of the soviet's there.[/QUOTE]
The US put Fulgencio Batista (by way of the CIA) in place as the leader of Cuba, a dictator who (with complete support from the United States) only supported American businessmen in Cuba. During this regime, Batista's economic policies created a huge socioeconomic divide; in other words, as the American rich got richer and richer, the poor got poorer. Fidel Castro's revolution was against Batista. Fidel Castro and the Cuban people had every right to be angry with the United States.
Additionally, Cuba agreed to position Soviet missiles on their island as part of the economic and military partnership with the Soviet Union that Cuba absolutely depended on.
Sweet, Russia is further strengthening its ties with former soviet allies, no cause for concern at all. First they did this with North Korea, now Cuba.
Not to mention their strengthening military ties with Egypt and China, and their tightening grip on eastern Europe. This should be a lovely next couple of decades.
[QUOTE=Wafflemonstr;43141156]Sweet, Russia is further strengthening its ties with former soviet allies, no cause for concern at all. First they did this with North Korea, now Cuba.
Not to mention their strengthening military ties with Egypt and China, and their tightening grip on eastern Europe. This should be a lovely next couple of decades.[/QUOTE]
Will we see Russia rise again?
Will Ukraine finally get purged of its corruption?
Will the US Finally put some money into science again?
Next time on, Wheel Of Politics!
It's funny because you can still get Cuban Cigars.
yo occupy wall street guys
When will you care for the debt of thirld world countries which was created by dictators helped and supported by the US?
Those debts aren't democratic nor were chosen by the people. Post 1983 is a total different story, but come on.
[QUOTE]The US put Fulgencio Batista (by way of the CIA) in place as the leader of Cuba, a dictator who (with complete support from the United States) only supported American businessmen in Cuba. During this regime, Batista's economic policies created a huge socioeconomic divide; in other words, as the American rich got richer and richer, the poor got poorer. Fidel Castro's revolution was against Batista. Fidel Castro and the Cuban people had every right to be angry with the United States. [/QUOTE]
He didnt have full support.
And the movement was helped by the CIA.
oh, shall I show you what fidel said about the so called "communist revolution"?
Furthermore, most people wanted democratic elections and a fair process, not a socialist state which executed anyone without proof or trial and sent you away just for having owned a bussiness.
[QUOTE=Cutthecrap;43141453]yo occupy wall street guys
When will you care for the debt of thirld world countries which was created by dictators helped and supported by the US?
Those debts aren't democratic nor were chosen by the people. Post 1983 is a total different story, but come on.
He didnt have full support.
And the movement was helped by the CIA.
oh, shall I show you what fidel said about the so called "communist revolution"?
Furthermore, most people wanted democratic elections and a fair process, not a socialist state which executed anyone without proof or trial and sent you away just for having owned a bussiness.[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure what kind of perverse history book you're reading, but that's not correct.
[QUOTE=Wafflemonstr;43141156]Sweet, Russia is further strengthening its ties with former soviet allies, no cause for concern at all. First they did this with North Korea, now Cuba.
Not to mention their strengthening military ties with Egypt and China, and their tightening grip on eastern Europe. This should be a lovely next couple of decades.[/QUOTE]
Russia has been a menace to Europe since the 1600s, really. And despite a few set backs, such as the fall of the Czars and the collapse of the USSR, Russia is getting bigger and more powerful.
Sorry, you are right, in some way. I meant the US helped the movement indirectly (Thanks to Matthews)
On 13 March 1957, a separate group of revolutionaries – the anticommunist Student Revolutionary Directorate (Directorio Revolucionario Estudantil, DRE), composed mostly of students – stormed the Presidential Palace in Havana, attempting to assassinate Batista and decapitate the government. The attack ended in utter failure. The RD's leader, student José Antonio Echeverría, died in a shootout with Batista's forces at the Havana radio station he had seized to spread the news of Batista's death. The handful of survivors included Dr. Humberto Castello (who later became the Inspector General in the Escambray), Rolando Cubela and Faure Chomon (both later Commandantes of the 13 March Movement, centered in the Escambray Mountains of Las Villas Province).[29]
[B]Thereafter, the United States imposed an economic embargo on the Cuban government and recalled its ambassador, weakening the government's mandate further.[30] Batista's support among Cubans began to fade, with former supporters either joining the revolutionaries or distancing themselves from Batista. Nonetheless, the Mafia and U.S. businessmen continued their support.[3][/B]
[QUOTE] An arms embargo – imposed on the Cuban government by the United States on 14 March 1958 – contributed significantly to the weakness of Batista's forces. The Cuban air force rapidly deteriorated: it could not repair its airplanes without importing parts from the United States
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Many other non-Marxist, anti-Batista rebel leaders were forced into exile, purged in executions, or eliminated in failed uprisings such as that of the Beaton brothers.
[/QUOTE][QUOTE]. I approved the proclamation which Fidel Castro made in the Sierra Maestra, when he justifiably called for justice and especially yearned to rid Cuba of corruption. I will even go further: to some extent it is as though Batista was the incarnation of a number of sins on the part of the United States. Now we shall have to pay for those sins. In the matter of the Batista regime, I am in agreement with the first Cuban revolutionaries. That is perfectly clear."
[/QUOTE]
Kennedy
[video=youtube;k6D0livo3yc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6D0livo3yc[/video]
In 1959, Castro travelled to the United States to explain his revolution. He said, "I know what the world thinks of us, we are Communists, and of course I have said very clearly that we are not Communists; very clearly."
About Che...
[video=youtube;HqAvuiyzz5k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqAvuiyzz5k[/video]
Hemos fusilado, fusilamos y seguiremos fusilando mientras sea necesario.
We have fusilated, we fusilate and we will keep on fusilating while it remains necessary.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Cabaña#cite_note-2[/url]
Here you have Huber Matos. This guy knows better than all of us, thats for sure.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huber_Matos[/url]
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43141954]Russia has been a menace to Europe since the 1600s, really. And despite a few set backs, such as the fall of the Czars and the collapse of the USSR, Russia is getting bigger and more powerful.[/QUOTE]
She always rots from the inside out.
Russias historical weaknesses have been the inability of the leadership to identify huge gaping holes in their society (and also the willingness to do anything about it). By the time they start to address these problems (The tsars in the 1900s and the USSR in the 1980s) it's usually too late.
Putin (and his successors) will run into the same difficulties as the century drags on.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;43144646]She always rots from the inside out.
Russias historical weaknesses have been the inability of the leadership to identify huge gaping holes in their society (and also the willingness to do anything about it). By the time they start to address these problems (The tsars in the 1900s and the USSR in the 1980s) it's usually too late.
Putin (and his successors) will run into the same difficulties as the century drags on.[/QUOTE]
Everyone learns from their mistakes eventually. Lets just hope that Putin doesn't.
[QUOTE=Wafflemonstr;43147523]Everyone learns from their mistakes eventually. Lets just hope that Putin doesn't.[/QUOTE]
Depends if his lust for power and 'greater Russia' is bigger than his desire to keep what he has now stable. So far, history repeats itself with that over and over and over and not just with Russia.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43147546]Depends if his lust for power and 'greater Russia' is bigger than his desire to keep what he has now stable. So far, history repeats itself with that over and over and over and not just with Russia.[/QUOTE]
I wasn't disagreeing with sobotnik, I am just a little wary about whether or not the leader of a nation that has already repeated a mistake once, will repeat it for a second time. I am however quite optimistic that Putin will since he has shown himself to be a stereotypical power hungry lunatic.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43147546]Depends if his lust for power and 'greater Russia' is bigger than his desire to keep what he has now stable. So far, history repeats itself with that over and over and over and not just with Russia.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps Putin is trying to pull a Bismarck, focus as much of Russias power in his hands to ensure a certain kind of balance?
[QUOTE=proch;43147919]Perhaps Putin is trying to pull a Bismarck, focus as much of Russias power in his hands just so peace can last?[/QUOTE]
If that's true, it does not bode well for France :v:
[QUOTE=Rankzerox;43139607]why cant the US fuck off with the embargo? is it really needed still?[/QUOTE]
cuba kinda needs it
the country has shifted to a tourist centre over the past 20 years, after the red scare was over - the oldie cars, buildings and furniture are what make the country a tourist hotspot
lifting the embargo would be the end of that
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