TresSugar

Front Page: Cuba Is Ready to Talk With the US

TresSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:30:18 -0700

Cuban president Raul Castro says he's ready to "discuss everything" with the US, including human rights, freedom of the press, and political prisoners. - CNN
President Obama unveiled his plan for high speed rail across the country. States will compete for funding. -San Francisco Chronicle
Ashton Kutcher beat CNN to become the first "Twitter millionaire," the first person with more than 1 million followers. - Fox News
Unlike other US presidents, Obama appears to be treating Mexico as an equal. - CNN
The only gunman caught after the Mumbai attack last November says his confession was coerced out of him. - Washington Post
A new poll shows that 75 percent of Texas would rather not secede from the United States. - Rasmussen Reports
Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle will not be getting a makeover. - Mirror
The only captured Somali pirate may face trial in New York for holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage. - Reuters

Cubans Now Allowed to Build Homes With Their Own Money

LibertySugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Ever since he assumed power from his brother Fidel last year, Raul Castro, has rolled out some symbolic economic efforts that are changing the face of Cuba. The latest move allows Cubans to build their own homes using private money. It may sound like a basic right, but it's a big step for the country and aims to alleviate a housing shortage that was made worse with last year's devastating hurricane, which wrecked more than 1 million homes.

Up until now the construction of homes has been the responsibility of the government, but the state hasn't been fulfilling its yearly goal of building 100,000 new homes.

There is a catch to the new freedom, which Castro announced during a televised address, as there will be strict guidelines for the dimensions of proposed new dwellings. A shortage of building materials will also limit the number of people who are actually able to take advantage of the law change. Cement is offered for sale by the state, but other materials like stone and iron are only available on the black market.

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Should Barack Obama Meet Cuba's Raul Castro?

LibertySugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Cuban President Raul Castro is ready to listen to what President-elect Barack Obama has to say about US-Cuban relations. But Castro told Sean Penn, who traveled to Cuba to interview the dictator, that the meeting would have to be on neutral ground. Castro said:

Personally, I think it would not be fair that I be the first to visit, because it is always the Latin American presidents who go to the United States first. But it would also be unfair to expect the president of the United States to come to Cuba. We should meet in a neutral place. Perhaps we could meet at Guantanamo.

Apparently Castro would set a location precondition before meeting face-to-face with the US president. As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama indicated that he would take steps to loosen the US-Cuba trade embargo. The majority of you agreed with such a policy. So tell me what you think about this proposal - should Barack Obama set up a meeting with Raul Castro in a neutral place to discuss the 40-year grudge?

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Fidel Castro's Resignation Marks an End of an Era

LibertySugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:00:11 -0800

Here's one more look at the resignation of Fidel Castro. It marks the end of an era, which has lasted since the communist rebel took power in 1959. Castro outlasted nine US presidents.

View 10 Photos ›

Castro survived several US backed assassination attempts, an economic embargo by the US, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Given the history of Cuba shown in these fabulous vintage pictures, I wonder what is in store for his younger brother Raul, who officially took over Sunday.
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Headline: Raul Castro Takes Over as Cuba's New President

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:19:37 -0800

Following Fidel Castro's resignation last week, Cuba's National Assembly has named Fidel's brother, Raul, to be Cuba's new president. Yesterday, the National Assembly that is Cuba's 614-member legislature cast secret ballots to choose the 31-member Council of State, which acts as the Assembly when it is not in session. The vote included Raul Castro's new job.

Raul Castro conspired with his brother to plan the 1950's uprising that sparked the Cuban revolution, and installed Fidel Castro in power cementing the first communist nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Though Fidel Castro's daughter, who opposes her father's regime, thinks that her uncle taking charge ensures more of the same, Raul Castro once told reporters, "Is there going to be a transition here toward something? Yes, toward a better form of socialism and - here's something you'll like - toward a more democratic society."

I don't know, but I think it would be pretty hard to start a job like this at 76. . .

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Radical Raul? Cuba Commutes Death Sentences

LibertySugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:48 -0700

Raul Castro has commuted all but three death sentences handed down in Cuba. Every death-row inmate, besides three convicted terrorists, will now face 30 years in prison, instead of death by firing squad.

Raul, who officially took over for his brother Fidel Castro this past February, said that humanitarian concerns, not international pressure, motivated his decision. He quickly maintained that the death penalty still remains on the books.

Raul, who also announced the first Communist Congress in over a decade, has been showing signs of pragmatism and reform since taking power. He lifted a ban on electronics sales, and Cubans can now stay in hotels designated for tourists. Many other freedoms, such as the right to own property, are still forbidden.

The US has found itself in a curious position with its North American neighbors when it comes to the death penalty. To see how, read more.

Suspected murders sometimes flee to Mexico or Canada, because those countries will not extradite suspects unless the death penalty is taken off the table. A recent example? Marine Cesar Laurean, accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend and fellow Marine, fled to Mexico and therefore saved himself from a death sentence.

Now Cuba, a country the US criticizes for its human-rights record, has decided to join the majority of countries that reject execution. Does this latest development shine Cuba's human-rights image, while bruising America's? Do you think humanitarian concerns or international pressure, could ever motivate America to reconsider death sentences?

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Briefing Book! Michael Moore on the Big Three Bailout

LibertySugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:34 -0800

Detroit: What does Michael Moore think? Maker of Roger & Me shares thoughts on automaker bailout. - Donklephant
Congress: Big win for liberals? Henry Waxman has just ousted longtime chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, in a big win for environmentalists. - Talking Points Memo
Obama: Did you miss 60 Minutes? Watch the Obamas' interview in 60 seconds. - 23/6
Stevens: Let's have a round of applause for corruption? Ted Stevens makes farewell speech in the Senate, and received a standing ovation. – Politico
Communists: Raul Castro sings for Chairman Mao? Cuban leader serenades Chinese president with a song about China's Cultural Revolution. - Shanghaiist

President Bush Announces New Policy on Cuba

CitizenSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 08:00:23 -0700

Moments ago, President Bush announced a landmark policy change with regard to Cuba. Americans will now be able to send cell phones to Cubans. It's a change that Bush hopes will encourage the new regime of Raul Castro to increase freedom of expression for Cuban citizens

The announcement was made in a speech intended to mark Cuba's 106th anniversary of independence. I'm a political speech aficionado, and don't usually cotton to the simpler prose preferred by Bush - but this one had the prints of a new scribe all over it. To see what he said, read more.

Bush said (and I'm paraphrasing closely, the text isn't online yet):

Now that Cubans can have cell phones, let's make sure they have the freedom to express themselves. Now that Cubans can buy DVD players, let's make sure they can watch movies made by Cuban artists who are allowed to speak freely. Now that Cubans can buy computers, let's give them unrestricted access to the Internet. Now that they can buy toasters, let's make sure they don't have to worry about being able to afford bread to put in it.

I thought it summed up the dichotomy of the advancing freedoms and the work left nicely. Now that the change has been announced, the administration is waiting to see if Cuba will allow the phones to enter. The White House was careful to say that the change is not a loosening of the US economic embargo against Cuba, but a change in regulations. Is this a step in the right direction? Are cell phones the answer to building a new relationship with Cuba?

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Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:00:18 -0700

A Bush does reality? Still single Bush twin Barbara to be the next Bachlorette. - ABC
What do you do when fear mongering doesn't work? Bush decides to work with Congress on surveillance bill. - Talking Points Memo
Re-Talibanization? Afghan lawmakers outlaw dancing on TV. - Michelle Malkin
Real change in Cuba? Raul Castro finally moves toward ending "tourism apartheid." -The Huffington Post

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Front Page: Air Strikes in Basra, North Korea Fires Missiles, Cubans Get Cell Phones

CitizenSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:01:35 -0700

The US dropped bombs over Basra in an effort to support Iraqi forces in their clash with the Mehdi army. The fighting has stretched all week and last night's air strikes were the first. The Iraqi vice president's offices were hit during the shelling, killing two guards and wounding four. It's said that Iraqi security forces asked for these air attacks as they attempt to regain control of the oil-rich port city of Basra, against Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi army.

North Korea has test-fired short-range missiles off its western coast, according to South Korea. The explosions come just one day after North Korea expelled South Korean managers from a joint border project and are seen as a diplomatic protest and a political statement. North Korea is supposed to be in the midst of a deal requiring it to disarm to receive aid.
In perhaps another show of expanding freedoms and modernization in Cuba, President Raul Castro's government has authorized cell phones for ordinary Cubans. Owning a cell phone was a luxury previously preserved for top officials or people who worked for foreign companies. Service is expected to begin in the next few days.