Castro Offers To Swap Dissidents For Spies

Cuban President Wants To Exchange Political Prisoners For "5 Heroes" Jailed In U.S. For Espionage

(AP)  Cuban President Raul Castro made an unprecedented offer Thursday to exchange political dissidents jailed in his country for five Cubans imprisoned in the U.S. for espionage.

Castro, on his first official visit to Brazil since taking over as president, also reiterated Cuba's willingness to discuss the U.S. embargo with incoming President Barack Obama.

Answering a reporter's question about political prisoners in Cuba, Castro said: "We will send those prisoners you talk about (to the United States) with their families. But give us back our five heroes."

He referred to the so-called "Cuban Five," who were convicted in 2001 on espionage charges and are lionized in Cuba as heroes. Cuban exile groups in the U.S. say they were justly punished.

U.S. President George W. Bush has taken a hard line against Cuba and would not consider such a trade.

Obama has never discussed releasing prisoners and has said he will keep the embargo as leverage until Cuba shows "significant steps toward democracy," starting with freedom for approximately 219 jailed political prisoners.

But he has shown more openness toward the communist island. Obama promised during the campaign that immediately after taking office on Jan. 20, he will lift all restrictions on family travel and cash remittances to Cuba — not just roll them back to previous rules that were tightened by the Bush administration.

The five, arrested in 1998, acknowledged being Cuban agents but said they were not spying on the United States. They said their focus was on U.S.-based exile groups planning "terrorist" actions against the Castro government.

Castro took over as president in February from his ailing brother, Fidel.

[runningralph]

Communist governments will always blame their poverty on Capitalist governments. Communism is a guaranteed way for an economy to starve and go broke. Free enterprise cycles through boom and bust. After the bust will come another boom. No one in a communist will try to increase the wealth because there is no monetary incentive. Everybody is virtually a slave to the state. If Cuba wants to get rich they should study the Chinese model. Allow entreprenuers to make money within state regulation. And if they want a trading partner, what''s wrong with China? Everybody trades with China.

[mrmeatspin]

castro is a living reminder of how incompetent the democrats are..

*and they want another kennedy in office?*

[oldone61-2009]

Oops!

Should be:

Blaming the the US embargo Cuban government''s utter failure to provide an environment that would allow its citizens to prosper simply echoes the Castro party line of excuses.

Should of had my coffee first!

[oldone61-2009]

"...Good God, socialism WORKS there, the reason its not a rousing success is our petty and disgusting embargoes, and trade blockages..."
Posted by cyclebuster at 12:46 AM : Dec 19, 2008
================
Cuba is a poster child for the failure of socialist dictatorships. Blaming the Cuban government''s utter failure to provide an environment that would allow its citizens to prosper simply echoes the Castro party line of excuses.

For years the Soviet Union propped up the Castro regime with direct and indirect payments. While the US blocks trade with Cuba, Europe and Asia (and to an extent Africa) trade freely with that country - for what it is worth, which obviously is not much.

The Cuban socialist model is a failure; all the US embargo does is give the Cuban government an excuse for its incompetence.

[whatchange-2009]

We can send back their homosexuals and convicted felons. We''ve got more than enough of them filling our hospitals and prisons as it is.

[ramos937]

Cuba is trying to kiss and make up with the USA. If this were to happen it would benefit both countries big time. Much of the difficulties we have had with Iran, Cuba, South America, NK, etc. have come about because of Bush policies. After 1/20/2009, these have to change dramatically.

[downtowner97]

Our embargo on Cuba makes no sense since we are all looking at our Chinese computers right now, wearing Chinese clothes with Chinese cell phones in our pockets. China is every bit as oppressive as Cuba. The only difference between China and Cuba is that China is a real threat to US security, and Cuba is a nice, warm place to take a vacation.

[cyclebuster]

AND Besides that... they cannot afford that many politicians, as if we could. When they need food Castro goes and buys food. Why cant they have better food? ASK YOURSELF, Look in the mirror. We, the hatemongers, willing to oppress, have decided that poverty and despair is in the best interests of a sovereign nation, whoms biggest crime is being near us.

[cyclebuster]

SO
Lets examine this. trade 219 CUBAN CITIZENS, who dont like it there, with thier entire families, given 5 kids, grandparents, Inlaws, we could be inviting 10,000 non citizens for 5 convicted spies. And with no jobs, or means of support, that leaves 2 options, 1 being your job, or 2 welfare.
How stupid and slow are the rest of you americans?
dont you remember castro emptying his prisons of every undesireable thief, murderer and molestor?
What do you think he is offering to release, outstandng citizens? NO! Terrorists, low lives and people he hates, now should we love them? Just because why?
Give me a Break. Besides who in the hell do we thinnk we are trying to impose democracy on that tiny island? Do you really think they need a government that is 20 percent of the population,with a GNp of maybe 10 freighters a year? Good God, socialism WORKS there, the reason its not a rousing success is our petty and disgusting embargoes, and trade blockages.
RELEASE THOSE POOR FOLKS FROM US TYRANNY. Their standard of living will qudruple within a year, the populace will be healthier, happier and wealthier, exactly what the US dont want to see. Cuba has to be seen as a failure because we say it is, the fact is that tiny island doenst need a top heavy unwieldy govenrnment such as the paraih we have feeding off s here. OBAMA FREE CUBA NOW!

[markjessup1]

pastor rick warren is a homosexual

[oldpoet-2009]

"We will send those prisoners you talk about (to the United States) with their families. But give us back our five heroes."

If he means ALL 219 jailed political prisoners AND their families... for 5 pathetic spies... of COURSE we should accept the deal!

[downtowner97]

Mr Obama, tear down this wall. I want to go to Cuba and eat some good food and go scuba diving. Why are we still treating Cuba like a pariah state while we give China half our money and the Olympics?

[yongamerica]

No deal. We don''t want your spies loose again.

[ajaxtheleast]

For eight years we heard nothing
but talk about democracy,,,,

democracy in other countries.

Here we go again?

If Obama even sounds one iota like bush

he''s lost a supporter.

[stevex47]

I agree nonalou.

I dont think the US wants them as a democracy. Open everything up and they would be a democracy in a week.

[downsteamjim]

How about we return to Raul the gift of murderers, rapists, theives etc. that his brother [Fidel] sent Jimuh Carter.

[nolalou]

I have an idea, why don''t we just end the embargo against Cuba and begin normal relations, with an exchange of Ambassadors, trade, and freedom for Americans to travel to Cuba! Then , we can diplomacy to work out these issues of political prisoners!

The Embargo has not worked if it''s goal was to bring Democracy to Cuba. It''s been going on since the 1960''s, and no other country imposes it, so it''s become a farce. We are supposed to be the ''land of the free'' but my country prevents me from visiting Cuba, but if I was a Canadian citizen, or a Mexican citizen, I could go with no problem!

We traded with Russia during the cold war, and we have diplomatic relations with Vietnam, a country were thousands of U.S. Soldiers were killed, and Republican candidate John McCain was held prisoner for years, but we can''t have relations with Cuba?
Let''s face it, the ONLY reason this embargo still exists is no politician has the B-alls to go against Cuban American voters in Florida!

If I were Barack Obama, my first foreign policy order after being sworn in would be to end this embargo!

[caligola-2009]

Of course. Castro made a mistake: we''ll send you the issidents if you return to us the VICTIMS, or prisioners, or else; not the HEROES.
You are telling me you are going to transform a possible humanitarian deal, to have people to join their families, where I don''t gain anything, but you are going to bring home five HEROES?

No deal.