# So, I guess Cuba's next? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 31, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204 "2004-10-31T22:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/1 "2004-10-31T22:50:20Z")
> [@](#): > > [Bush promises to rid Cuba of ‘tyrant’ Castro](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1506&ncid=696&e=3&u=/afp/20041031/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_bush) > > MIAMI (AFP) - US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) **vowed to** “keep the pressure on” and \*\*rid Cuba of Fidel Castro \*\* (news - web sites), an appeal to the hard-line Cuban-Americans Bush counted on to win Florida and the White House. > > “I strongly believe the people of Cuba should be free from the tyrant,” Bush told a boisterous crowd of supporters here two days before the election, winning the rally’s loudest cheers and chants of “Viva Bush” – long live Bush. > … Either he’s full of hot air (bad news for a pResident) or, considering Iraq, we should be very worried for the innocent people of Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/2 "2004-10-31T22:52:40Z")
Oh good lord, he’s pandering for the Florida votes. We need to get this madman out of office, fast. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/3 "2004-10-31T22:56:40Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Either he’s full of hot air (bad news for a pResident) or, considering Iraq, we should be very worried for the innocent people of Cuba. The problem for Bush, should he get re-elected, is mainstream America doesn’t see Cuba as any sort of real threat today. The US military could easily defeat Cuba. But Fidel could kill a number of us GIs before that happened. The families of these GIs would be displeased their kin were killed invading a nation that today is no real threat to the US. ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/4 "2004-10-31T22:57:11Z")
Yea, I think this is just pandering to exiled (by law or choice) Cuban immigrants. Wonder if he really believes it though… ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/5 "2004-10-31T22:59:49Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > The families of these GIs would be displeased their kin were killed invading a nation that today is no real threat to the US. Michael Moore will have documentary GOLD though… ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/6 "2004-10-31T23:01:23Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > Oh good lord, he’s pandering for the Florida votes. We need to get this madman out of office, fast. This could backfire for Bush. Likely he already had the Cuban-American vote in the bag. The rest of Americans might not be so keen on the US invading any nation whose leader we disagree with. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/7 "2004-10-31T23:48:26Z")
Funny how many “I guess [insert country here] is next” threads there have been, and yet none have actually BEEN next. Some people seem never to learn… ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/8 "2004-10-31T23:49:10Z")
I don’t see anything there about invading Cuba. “Keep the pressure on” just means “keep doing what we’re doing”, AFAICT. One vote here for “full of hot air.” > [@](#): > > Earlier, the president’s top political strategist, Karl Rove, shouted “Cuba libre” – free Cuba – to reporters travelling with Bush. :rolleyes: Oh Karl, you’re thuch a dashing fweedom fighter. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/9 "2004-10-31T23:49:54Z")
He’s pandering. I don’t think even Bush would actually invade Cuba. His hands are tied in Iraq, there’s no hint of WMD(assuming he believes that) and there’s no oil(in case that’s his reason). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/10 "2004-11-01T00:03:24Z")
Look, there’s no big news here. What else is Bush gonna say when he makes a campaign stop in Miami? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/11 "2004-11-01T00:10:21Z")
Nothing more than your run-of-the-mill pander. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/12 "2004-11-01T00:17:54Z")
“Thanks! It’s great to be back in Miami! I just want to promise you that as your President I’ll make sure those Godless commies of British Columbia will **never** be secure!” ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/13 "2004-11-01T00:19:17Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Funny how many “I guess [insert country here] is next” threads there have been, and yet none have actually BEEN next. Whadya call Iraq **John**? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/14 "2004-11-01T00:51:55Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Whadya call Iraq **John**? I think **John Mace** , and anybody else that cares for rational thought would call Iraq the _last_ country, not the next one. As for takin’ over Cuba I have only one request. I want to ride on the first “reverse freedom raft” with Gloria Estefan. Yummie! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/15 "2004-11-01T01:05:47Z")
**JCM:** _I think John Mace, and anybody else that cares for rational thought would call Iraq the last country, not the next one._ I think **Squink** ’s point is that Iraq was once the topic of similar “will it be next?” threads, and in that case, the worriers were right: [Franklin planner notation, early 2003: Declare war on Iraq](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=112260&highlight=Iraq) > [@](#): > > [Franklin planner notation, early 2003: Declare war on Iraq](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=112260&highlight=Iraq) > > 04-29-2002, 04:24 AM **DMC:** > Regarding this news, I can’t help but wonder if we might be opening up a whole new can of worms in the terrorist world. > > While the measure seems to have broad bi-partisan support, I can’t help but think that this is insanity. I’m all for Saddam losing his job in the near future, but do we really want to attack Iraq to accomplish this? > [@](#): > > [The rationale behind attacking Iraq?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=122285&highlight=Iraq) > > 06-25-2002, 02:10 AM \*\*CyberPundit \*\*: > > I am having trouble understanding what the precise purpose of a war on Iraq is. > > There appears to be widesrpead agreement that the main danger isn’t Saddam directly using WMD, which would invite massive retaliation but of him passing WMD to terrorist groups. > > However I fail to see how exactly a war reduces the chance of that happening. […] > > The bottom line is that a war on Iraq may lead to a situation where Saddam is gone (an excellent thing for sure) but where terrorist groups receive a big boost to their WMD stockpiles. Is that a good bargain? > [@](#): > > [So who thinks the U.S. will bomb the crap out of Iraq in the relatively near future?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=132152&highlight=Iraq) > 08-23-2002, 12:15 PM **Eva Luna** : > > The thread title is pretty self-explanatory, but I’d love to hear your thoughts, as the current U.S. administration’s rhetoric has certainly been ratcheted up over the past few weeks/months. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/16 "2004-11-01T01:10:50Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > I think **John Mace** , and anybody else that cares for rational thought would call Iraq the _last_ country, not the next one. See post #6 from this thread dated 01-17-2001: [Where will Bush start a war first?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=56005&highlight=bush) > [@rjung](#): > > Dubya will provoke a fight with Iraq, because Saddam made his Poppy look like a wimp, and he needs a war to distract the populace from his stolen “Presidency.” Now **Rjung** was horribly wrong in not forseeing 9/11, and the need to invade Afghanistan first, but he had Bush’s hawkish nature and intentions toward Saddam pegged perfectly. No one who cares for rational thought would ignore that nature now that it has become so manifest. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/17 "2004-11-01T01:44:51Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Funny how many “I guess [insert country here] is next” threads there have been, and yet none have actually BEEN next. Some people seem never to learn… Well, Haiti could be in the cards…guess I am one of those people that [\*\*“never seems to learn”](http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1159809,00.html)\*\* Yeah, I know, tiny nation, full of dirt poor blacks. Guess it doesn’t really “count.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/18 "2004-11-01T03:23:18Z")
Apologies. I only noticed North Korea and Iran “next” threads. It seems that y’all have been Bush bashing a lot longer than I’ve been reading the political threads. Does this mean I don’t win the raft trip to Cuba with Gloria Estefan? Rats! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/19 "2004-11-01T03:48:41Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Does this mean I don’t win the raft trip to Cuba with Gloria Estefan? Rats! :mad: No worries, you’re still in for a chance to jump the Snake river with Anne Coulter. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204/20 "2004-11-01T04:48:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Karl Rove, shouted “Cuba libre”… Were they serving drinks? 😕 **John Carter of Mars** don’t fool yourself. Miami Cubans will not return _en masse_ when Fidel dies. I don’t think they will like to live in a crumbling country thirld word country, which is what Cuba basically is. Actually I think they are better with Fidel alive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-guess-cubas-next/272204.md?page=2)