# Why did Castro rip into the United States? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597 "2016-03-30T01:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/21 "2016-03-30T12:29:41Z")
Fidel is a bitter, broken down old man. Don’t forget, this is the man who suggested that if Cuba was invaded, the Russians should launch a first strike on the USA. The Russians ultimately removed even those missiles not covered by the agreement that ended the crisis because they reasonably feared that the Cubans were preparing to seize them for their own use against the USA. He lost. His side lost, his ideology lost. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/22 "2016-03-30T13:15:07Z")
Why is anyone surprised ? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/23 "2016-03-30T13:18:16Z")
To be clear, Castro did not rip into the United States, he ripped into Barack Obama. I read his [entire letter, translated into English](http://www.alternet.org/world/fidel-castros-letter-obama-we-dont-need-empire-give-us-anything). The logical flow is not too good, although he seems to provide some focus near the end: > [@Fidel Castro](#): > > Obama made a speech in which he uses the most sweetened words to express: “It is time, now, to forget the past, leave the past behind, let us look to the future together, a future of hope. And it won’t be easy, there will be challenges and we must give it time; but my stay here gives me more hope in what we can do together as friends, as family, as neighbors, together.” > > I suppose all of us were at risk of a heart attack upon hearing these words from the president of the United States. After a ruthless blockade that has lasted almost 60 years, and what about those who have died in the mercenary attacks on Cuban ships and ports, an airliner full of passengers blown up in midair, mercenary invasions, multiple acts of violence and coercion? He seems to be saying that Obama is coming to town with a lot of feel-good sentiment and suggests that they all forget about the harm that the U.S. has done. And although Obama is going to great lengths to open the door to reestablishing the relationship, to some extent I can empathize with this response. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/24 "2016-03-30T13:40:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > An artificial anus would make Mother Teresa grumpy. I know that Cuban Boxers can withstand a Tremendous amount of punching. Still, I have no idea how happy any of them would be after 57 years of Dictatorial Power… ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/25 "2016-03-30T13:42:24Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > And although Obama is going to great lengths to open the door to reestablishing the relationship, to some extent I can empathize with this response. To do so would ignore all the pain and death caused by Cuba’s exporting of revolution and terrorism. This isn’t a good, innocent man pondering this. This is an angry revolutionary terrorist supporter who will go down in history as a tyrant and a failure. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/26 "2016-03-30T13:46:31Z")
Give that man a cigar! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/27 "2016-03-30T14:31:31Z")
The Cuban government being what it is, If Fidel is speaking publicly, I think we can assume that his remarks were vetted and approved. The regime arguably gets some propaganda benefit from the US outreach but does not benefit at all from actually changing, which is why they haven’t offered to do so and continue to denounce the US. It’s essentially the same reason why the Ayatollah insists that the hostility between the US and Iran will continue despite the nuclear deal. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/28 "2016-03-30T15:06:52Z")
> [@ElderSign](#): > > Did you know Cuba has always had free trade with virtually every other country besides the U.S.? > > The embargo was an excuse of the Castro family to deprive Cubans of civil liberties and to keep them poor. > > Do not expect them to change their ways. The embargo was imposed unilaterally by the United States on Cuba, not the other way around. Cuba has traded freely with other countries because no other country has imposed an embargo on Cuba. Personally, I think the embargo was a massive mistake because it has given the Cuban government an excuse and a rallying point. But it’s US policy, not Cuban policy n ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/29 "2016-03-30T15:17:13Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Personally, I think the embargo was a massive mistake because it has given the Cuban government an excuse and a rallying point. But it’s US policy, not Cuban policy n CIA got him mid-post! RIP Northern Piper. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/30 "2016-03-30T16:01:19Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The embargo was imposed unilaterally by the United States on Cuba, not the other way around. > > Cuba has traded freely with other countries because no other country has imposed an embargo on Cuba. > > Personally, I think the embargo was a massive mistake because it has given the Cuban government an excuse and a rallying point. But it’s US policy, not Cuban policy n This. This whole “opening of relations” just seemed a bit too condescending for Fidel. Watching CNN talk non-stop about how its impossible for the oppressive Cuban government to now justify opening relations with the demonized USA got me thinking…Hold up. Just who do they think had held up economic/diplomatic ties? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/31 "2016-03-30T16:09:12Z")
I’m sure it’s a face-saving measure. ``` While it does seem like we've held on to this embargo thing 20+ years too long, I'm curious as to why it seems to have been so effective. If Cuba can trade with everyone else, why is it still such a rundown backwater? You'd think that between sugar, tobacco and tourism, they'd be able to maintain a decent income from the rest of the world. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/32 "2016-03-30T16:17:42Z")
Does he need an excuse to rip into the country that blatantly targeted to have him assassinated, tried unsuccessfully to invade his country and that treats Guantanamo Bay as a dumping ground for human rights violations? If I were him and not looking to be around much longer I’d be barking out that I had JFK assassinated and ask what are you going to do about it? Even if it didn’t really go down that way, kind of a political version of giving us the[raspberry salute](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlowingARaspberry). I fart in your general direction. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/33 "2016-03-30T16:21:12Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > While it does seem like we’ve held on to this embargo thing 20+ years too long, I’m curious as to why it seems to have been so effective. If Cuba can trade with everyone else, why is it still such a rundown backwater? You’d think that between sugar, tobacco and tourism, they’d be able to maintain a decent income from the rest of the world. Because it’s a corrupt dictatorship, and most of the benefits of all that trade inure to a very small (and increasingly aged) elite. The embargo was and always has been pointless. But hopefully with a vastly more gigantic trading partner 90 miles away, and at least a little bit of reform on the island, the Cuban markets will open up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/34 "2016-03-30T16:56:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The regime arguably gets some propaganda benefit from the US outreach but does not benefit at all from actually changing, which is why they haven’t offered to do so and continue to denounce the US. > > It’s essentially the same reason why the Ayatollah insists that the hostility between the US and Iran will continue despite the nuclear deal. Agreed. Claiming to defend the people against an external threat (whether real or imagined) is Page 1, Line 1 of the Dictator’s Playbook. The Cuban government, like that of Iran and North Korea, is founded on the premise of opposing the “evil” capitalist US empire. If the bogeyman ceased to exist, so would the entire rationale for their system of government. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/35 "2016-03-30T17:06:55Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Because it’s a corrupt dictatorship, and most of the benefits of all that trade inure to a very small (and increasingly aged) elite. The Soviet Union propped them up, did it not, and the USSR no loner exists. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/36 "2016-03-30T17:27:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > The Soviet Union propped them up, did it not, and the USSR no loner exists. They were not only ‘sold’ enough oil for their own needs in exchange for sugar, they were actually given extra that they sold on the open market for cash. Now I think they’re getting it from their revolutionary buddies in Venezuela in exchange for sugar, doctors and other ‘assistance’. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/37 "2016-03-30T17:33:35Z")
Except Venezuela is in really bad shape, and how long Maduro can hold on to power is anyone’s guess. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/38 "2016-03-30T17:46:40Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > An artificial anus would make Mother Teresa grumpy. So… the US ripped him a new asshole? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/39 "2016-03-30T17:55:04Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > So… the US ripped him a new asshole? :dubious: No, he had some [plumbing replaced](https://www.cross-x.com/topic/23877-fidel-castro-gets-an-artificial-anus/)several years ago. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597/40 "2016-03-31T02:52:16Z")
Let’s see. 2nd President Adams had designs on Cuba in the 18th century. Cuba was definitely in Monroe’s thoughts regarding US domination of this hemisphere. We tried to buy the place from the Spanish for $500 million. Trumped up invasion during Spanish-American “War”. Later US companies ran the sugar industry - not for the benefit of the locals. We had at least 4 other invasions/occupations from the early 1900’s. Guantanamo was not the only port/coaling station we arranged for from sympathetic/imposed governments. See Platt ammendment. We backed a few dictators ourselves. Gerardo Machado in the 20’s and early 30s. Then General Fulgencio Batista in the 40’s and 50’s. Batista’s second term/military coup was planned in Florida. Good times for American companies and organized crime. Also total domination of the Cuban economy. So 60-70 years of economic, political, and military misrule and intervention - I’d be a little pissed too. Castro and his elites weren’t much better than the groups they replaced but; they were homegrown bosses rather than bosses from the outside. Not that we treated Cuba any different that any other Caribbean, Central or South American country. The various economic interventions, coups, and outright invasions are over 100.:eek: The totals are dependent on definitions so you get different figures here and there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-castro-rip-into-the-united-states/750597.md?page=1)