Obama gave a center-right speech to the right-wing Cuban community in Florida. In it, he declared his intentions to maintain the US embargo against Cuba, a shift from his 2004 senatorial campaign rhetoric where he questioned the embargo.
However, he also said he would take a diplomatic approach to Cuba, which is a very obvious departure from the US imperialist hostility of the last 50 years.
Also, some other interesting quotes:
"We cannot ignore suffering to our south, nor stand for the globalization of the empty stomach. We cannot accept trade that enriches those at the top of the ladder while cutting out the rungs at the bottom. It's time to understand that the goal of our trade policy must be trade that works for all people in all countries."
"We will fully support Colombia's fight against the FARC. We'll work with the government to end the reign of terror from right-wing paramilitaries. We will support Colombia's right to strike terrorists who seek safe-haven across its borders. And we will shine a light on any support for the FARC that comes from neighboring governments. This behavior must be exposed to international condemnation, regional isolation and--if need be--strong sanctions. It must not stand."
Read Fidel Castro's response here. Also, check out Tom Hayden's analysis.
4 comments:
Thanks for linking to Tom Hayden's analysis, which makes some good and important points and is thoughtfully balanced. I think Obama showed guts and good thinking by appearing before the anti-Castro Cuban American National Foundation and calling for, basically, engagement with Cuba - something long overdue and long awaited by Cuba's government and people themselves, as well as many Americans and not just on the left. Obama's foreign policy is clearly a work in progress. For the campaign, he seems to be charting a careful course in the center, which makes sense for a presidential campaign. He certainly is advocating a major and much-needed departure from the Bush extreme right.
Most of what presidential candidates say during a campaign is 99% bull...who knows what Obama would really do as president. From his overall campaign and history, I think it's safe to assume that there will in fact be "change."
Aside - Castro is long-winded and rambling in text as well as speeches!
What a great post! thanks for the speech, the quote outs, Castro and Hayden's responses.
http://obama.3cdn.net/f579b3802a3d35c8d5_9aymvyqpo.pdf
I encourage everyone to Obama's position paper on Latin America. It is a chilling plan for more U.S. hegemony with a smiley face in Latin America.
It's a modern Monroe doctrine.
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