Korean Job Discussion Forums

mises · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired

Very refreshing.

I think this pic might upset some:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090417/capt.photo_1240008982147-1-0.jpg?x=400&y=304&q=85&sig=RhKDO3uNT8rsdnZy_GHGSg--

Though maybe this one is worse:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090417/i/ra3730657972.jpg?x=400&y=299&q=85&sig=.hy.DdujWtLX3QEFql.PUA--

But this is what he said he would do. Talk. I like that.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Those pics will make B. Obama look very good in Latin America; they will also expose H. Chavez as a blathering idiot the next time he launches a diatribic tirade against "the American empire" and its efforts to assassinate him, etc.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:57 am Post subject:

What I always want to know is how normalization with Cuba and its 11 million people will affect the economy in concrete terms. I've seen before that normalizing travel between the two would result in an extra $200 million for travel companies for example, and some stocks for companies involved in the area shot up after the announcement a few days ago of the lifting of the limits on travel etc. for families plus letting telecommunications companies conduct business there. Apparently Cuba has made a lot of deals with Venezuelan companies for underseas cables connecting the two even though it would be easier to construct them from Florida considering the much closer distance.

bacasper · Joined: 26 Mar 2007

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

OTOH is right. The 'Obama is a commie/socialist/fascist' crowd will froth at the mouth, but the other 75% of the country will like it. This is the time when both countries have new leadership for efforts to be made to try to improve relations. The attempt at change is change we can believe in.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Whatever you think about Obama and his left-leaning critics in Latin America, speaking in terms of political strategy, the POTUS is playing his cards quite well on this.

After Daniel Ortega's 50-minute speech denouncing American influence in the region, Obama was asked for his response, to which he replied "It was 50 minutes long. That's what I thought".

Of course this is being portrayed on the right-wing blogs as...

Obama refuses to defend US from Marxist tirade

But seriously. Anyone with half a brain for tactics knows the value of playing it cool when confronted with an emotional and long-winded adversary.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Why cede any influence to the right-wing press and bloggers out there? I will never understand you people here and your fixation on America's ultra-right media personalities and their views.

________

In any case, that is answer as far cooler, even approaching Kennedyesque, than anything anyone in the Reagan administration said after sitting through D. Ortega's diatribes. Oliver North tells a good story of one of those meetings in his memoirs, On the Other Hand. Ever read it?

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

A Republican Senator, I am thinking P. Domenici, but am not certain, led an American delegation to talk with the Sandinistas in Managua during the Reagan years. This was before Iran-Contra broke, and Oliver North attended as the National Security Council's military advisor. I think H. Kissinger and other high-profile statesmen were there as well.

In any case, North tells of D. Ortega's multiple-hour-long diatribe against the United States. The usual litany blaming Washington and especially American business interests for all of Latin America and the entire Third-World's ills. North recalls nearly falling asleep and then suddenly awakening to see Domenici lose his cool, jump to his feet, and point an accusing finger at Ortega. "You're a goddamned liar!" or something like that. He also mentioned the Soviet and Cuban arms Managua was sending to Salvadoran guerrillas. The talks ended. Just fed the fire. The various wars continued.

B. Obama's approach seems far superior. Why engage the idiots and recognize the validity of the game they are playing? Play your own game.

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

mithridates · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject:

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Probably much better for Cuba than the United States. Cuba sells tourism and exports sugar, and that is about it. American Airlines was complaining about losing business there during Helms-Burton. Perhaps we could get academic and cultural exchanges going and contribute to and benefit from Cuba's medical knowhow.

Overall, however, the effect we are looking for is to reintegrate Cuba into the interAmerican system and economy. And that will be good for just about everyone. But in concrete terms, I cannot say. I do not know. Good questions.