From Babalu Blog: One Million Signatures

One million signatures may not force the Cuban government in and of itself to release Cuba’s political prisoners. But, one million signatures may be a giant step in exposing the reality of Cuba’s human rights violations to the world and especially to those who simply have refused to acknowledge said reality.A number of human rights groups, organizations and institutions have come together in support of a petition calling for the release of Cuba’s political prisoners.The text of said petition is short, concise and to the point:

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Cuba has a new president. Raul Castro. The little brother of Fidel. If this isn’t a great example of “say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss,” I don’t know what is. There’s good news though: I don’t think that Raul is as strong a leader as Fidel was. In other good news he announced that “the government needed to change to survive in the new era.” (more…)

Fascinating. According to Babalu Blog CNN’s Allison Flexner sent an e-mail out to the network’s anchors instructing them to point out that “while [Castro is] despised by some, he is seen as a revolutionary hero […] by leftist in Latin America” and that “did bring social reforms to Cuba - namely free education and universal health care, and racial integration.” (more…)

One of the world’s most oppressive dictators has retired: earlier today, Fidel Castro announced that he would no longer be Commander-in-Chief of Cuba, the country he ruined. The announcement came 19 months after he underwent stomach surgery and, thus, 19 months after he last truly and publicly ruled. (more…)

An ailing Fidel Castro has hinted that he may retire soon. (more…)

And in the red corner: Fred “lawless” Thoooooompsooooooooon:

Dear Senator Thompson,

Given that it has been publicly reported in The Weekly Standard, a leading neo-conservative publication, that you support Fidel Castro and the Cuban regime by being a purveyor of fine Cuban exports despite the trade embargo, I was surprised to see your recent op ed in a more traditional conservative outlet, The National Review, regarding my trip to Cuba (I suspect you choose The National Review in an effort to pander to an outlet that had criticized you for your opposition to medical malpractice legislation).

In your May 2, 2007 National Review article, “Paradise Island,” you specifically raised concerns about whether my trip to Cuba with 9/11 heroes, who have suffered serious health problems as a result of their exposure to toxic substances at Ground Zero that have gone untreated was somehow going to support Castro ad the Cuban government:

“It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro.”

Putting aside the fact that you, like the Bush Administration, seem far more concerned about the trip to Cuba than the health care of these 9/11 heroes, I was struck by the fact that your concerns (including comments about CastroÕs reported financial worth) apparently do not extend to your own conduct, as reported in The Weekly Standard’s April 23, 2007 story, “From the Courthouse to the White House Fred Thompson auditions for the leading role” (emphasis added):

“Thompson’s work space looks just like what the home office of a successful politician or CEO should look like — though a little messier: a large desk, dark wood, leather furniture, lots of books and magazines and newspapers, a flat-screen TV, and box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana.”

In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the “box upon box of cigars — Montecristos from Havana” that you have in your office have contributed to Castro’s reported wealth?

While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the “box upon box of cigars” violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate.

Read the whole thing at the Drudge Report.

Thompson responded with a video:
Transcription: “You know, I’ve been looking at my schedule Michael, and I don’t think I have time for you. But I may be the least of your problems: you know, the next time you’re down in Cuba visiting your body Castro, you might ask him about another documentary filmmaker; his name is Nicolas Guyen. He did something Castro didn’t like and they put him in a mental institution for several years, giving him devastating electroshock treatments.

“A mental institution Michael.

“Might be something you ought to think about.”

One of the most interesting and novel, websites around, Watching America, has a very interesting article up by Rolando Sarmiento Ricart, for the Adelante newspaper (Cuban), translated by Douglas Myles Rasmussen.

Rasmussen’s introduction:

Has the Bush Administration just released a known terrorist who had a hand in - among other things - the death of John F. Kennedy and the destruction of a passenger aircraft with 73 people aboard? According to this article from Cuba’s state-controlled Adelante, Luis Posada Carriles, who has just been set loose in Miami, is just such a man.

From the article… Read more at The Moderate Voice.