If free and fair elections really were the US standard for trade we'd have to embargo China, Ohio and Florida as well as Cuba.Its time to end the embargo and let Cubans in Cuba decide their own fate. It neve rhas been any of our business. Nation building is a disaster and always has been for the US from Vietnam to Iraq .
PS can we get a high speed car/passenger ferry going from Key West to Havana please? I can't wait much longer, so many roads so little time...

conchscooter, key west, florida usa

I love reading the tirade which comes out of the mouths of those on the right who think they know what is best for Cuba, with or without Castro. They write about how bad it is there and how life will be better now. Somehow I suspect most of those writers are couch-writers. Easy to write rubbish when you don't know.

The one great achievement of Castro is the decision to step down has been taken by him. No-one in the West over the last 49 years has been able to derail Castro. His choice, his time, his place. And all the people on the right can do is try to claim a moral victory!!! They make me laugh.

Peter Warner, London, UK

When Fidel took control in 59 with the support of the people, he had the guts to turn round to the mighty US and throw out their corporate regimes which only line their own pockets and as always the traitors within the government and he threw out the mafia.

If Fidel is such a crook , ruthless gangster and murderer (as labelled by some people here) wouldnt it have just been easier to keep the western businesses in the country and line his own pockets without a care in the world. IF Castro kept the US as an ally he would have been extraordinarily rich with the proximity of Cuba to US. Ask yourself this question? WHY?
Why did he defy the might and wealth of US??

The US were happy to do business with Fidel just as long as they could keep their companies making dollars. The US will do business with the devil if he trades dollars. BUT Fidel did not want to as they wanted to run country themselves and hence mass attack against Cuba..the rest is just lies and propaganda......fact

Costas Kroustis, London, UK

I fully agree with Mr Glesne (LA,Cal) opinion!

Glauco Maria Cantarella, Bologna, Italy

The pity is Fidel hasn't met the same early end as that so richly deserved by his misguided old Comrade Che Guavara - a lonely execution on a quixotic quest lost deep in the Bolivian jungle.

Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK

Thanks Mathew "there's no homeless in Cuba" from LA.

You've just proved my point for me.

There seems to be no low to which the Castro apologists will not stoop.

The comments about "free education, healthcare etc" are absurd, since the Soviet Union did the same. The Nazis had full employment. Mussolini made the trains run on time.

Does that make totalitarianism good to live under?

My figures of 70,000 were wrong -- they were too conservative. The Cuba Archive project, puts the Castro death toll at around 102,000. This organization has been lauded and praised by left-wing papers in the US and around the world (not exactly critics of Castro). There have been 14,000 Castroite murders (sorry, "justice killings") by firing squad alone, and an even larger number by drowning and insurgency against the dictatorship.

And blaming America for Cubans wanting to flee Communism is absurd. They lived under Castro tyranny -- unlike Western lefties like you.

YOU should be "ashamed"

N John, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

N John, you should be ashamed by claiming Castro "murdered over 70,000." The anti-Castro organization Cuba Archive worked for years and came up with a 9,000 figure. That count was mostly made up of drownings at sea. The blame for those deaths must be put on the head of the US Govt., who dangles the carrot of automatic residency and welfare payments for ANY Cuban who can make it to US shores. This is an extremely immoral policy, considering true refugees from war torn nations are routinely sent away.

5-700 were indeed executed in the first years of the Revolution, as the Cuban people demanded justice for those Batista officers who had murdered and tortured with impunity before. There was also a civil war on, with heavy CIA participation in thousands of terrorist acts of sabotage and killing.

To see British or Americans talking about Cubans living in horrible conditions, when we have millions living on the street and Cuba has zero is also disgusting.

Matthew Glesne, Los Angeles, CA

Cuba is No1 for sustainable development according to a recent WWF report . It offers universal education, healthcare and nutrition without dependence on oil grabs, foreign interventions and massive debt.

And yes, some residents find it repressive. That's true.

The level of vigilance exercised by the state makes it repressive... vigilance against the real threat of an aggressive superpower 65 miles away.

Gordon Glass, MK, UK

Cuba Stagnant now? It is the reverse! As a wife and mother I rate having a toilet in my house top priority. Fidel's social reforms have vastly IMPROVED Cuba's former stagnant living conditions: Before 1959 only 35 per cent of the populaton had running water; 63 per cent had no proper toilet facilities. Since 2005, 94 per cent receive good quality drinking water and all have proper sanitation.
Cuba provides free education. Unlike the US where a boy died recently through his poverty's denying him a dentist, Cuba also provides an excellent free health service for all and its well-trained doctors give help where needed in many parts of the world.
I suggest the term "stagnant" is better applied to Guatemala, whose people's gut-wrenching poverty was caused by the US-backed coup in 1954, when the social reformer Arbenz was deposed.

Joyce Hallmark, Macclesfield, England

"I hope no one gets taken in by the US demonisation of Castro's Cuba..."
"Fidel Castro is the greatest president Cuba has ever had.."
"Free and fair elections are held in Cuba on a regular basis..."
"Cuba is much better now than it was when it was being exploited by American capitalists. Cuba would be much richer without American embargos and assaination attempts....."
"Cuba murder rate is apparently one of the lowest in the world....."
"if it was an oppressive dictatorship why do they want the people educated? There is no starvation, and no homelessness......"

Good to see the Left have stopped being apologists for communist dictatorships and mass-murderering tyrants.

Fidel Castro has murdered over 70,000 Cuban citizens and tortured, raped, abused and oppressed countless more -- poets, playwrights, artists, homosexuals, dissidents etc.

There are no free elections, or free media or free trade unions.

And, no, it is not America's fault -- Blame Castro and Che.

N John, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Perhaps, those with a romantic streak (need I add, usually from affluent First World countries) are usually wont to rhapsodize about the idyllic, tranquil Robinson Crusoen existence on, lets say, a coconut laden tropical island (minus the cannibals of course, or even blue lagoons) whose inhabitants supposedly lead lives free from want, disease, hunger, where in this (socialist or otherwise) Utopia, progress is everywhere to be seen and is replete with an abundance of wide choice, ample opportunities for advancement in careers, livelihoods that ensure everyone could fulfill their dreams and aspirations etc. and not just holding on to "reminiscences of what never happened." Anyone in doubt should ask themselves the question of whether they would be willing to swop their lives with the islanders ie. anyone living there without a Swiss bank account?

SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia

I fail to see the connection between hating war (I don't see the esteemed essayer in combat fatigues), and Castro? Also, for that matter, Curtis LeMay nearly provoked a nuclear war by urging a military strike on Cuba after the Soviets had agreed to withdraw their missiles. Let alone Kennedy's initial stance. The argments maybe could go on all night...

Sean, Manchester,

Cuba belongs to the Cubans, the ones who live there now. They are the ones who have endured, sacfiriced, and yes, suffered. To allow US interference once Castro is gone, would be a tragedy. The money-hungrey, vultures waiting from ninety miles away are only interested in the capital and profits and are not interested in maintaining the historical beauty, culture, and heritage of a beautiful island.
Cuba remains an ecological paradise. Let the vultures in and they will ruin the beauty of the island as they are ruining the national and world ecology.
Lift the sanctions without conditions and watch Cuba fourish on it's own and with the help of the other nations who have supported the island.

Leo Llonch, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Fidel Castro is the greatest president Cuba has ever had.
I challenge anyone to find a democratically elected president of Cuba in history. For 50 years before Castro took power Cuba was ruled as a virtual vassal state of America and their corporations. Men like Fidel Casto, Che Guevara, and Camilo Cienfuegos delivered one of the LEAST repressive governments in Central America and the Carribean through the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's until the days of Hugo Chavez and
Evo Morales.

S, Canada,

Mr Kamm,

I think it is unfair to judge the cuban experience and the contribution of Fidel Castro against the backdrop of american propoganda. A comparion of the murder rate and child mortality standards against Jamaica, its closest neighbour, will show that the western standards of democracy is not always a recipe for success.

Richard, Mississauga, Ontario/Canada

Free and fair elections are held in Cuba on a regular basis. It is not a party political system like the UK or US, you do not vote for the communist party - only individuals. Power has a 'grassroots up' effect and the voter has real power. The elected representatives can be recalled at ANY time for example, if the constituency feel they are not doing a good job. Fidel Castro still stands for election in his Santiago ward like everyone else. In my opinion, and like many others who have learned about the Cuban political system, it is in many ways more democratic than most western methods.



The U.S. blockade, which is not "Misconceived" but in fact ILLEGAL, should have crippled Cuba by now given the amount it directly costs their economy, but it has not. In fact, the BBC recently aired a documentary commending the Cuban healthcare system. Cuba places massive emphasis on education and culture - if it was an oppressive dictatorship why do they want the people educated? In Cuba there is no starvation, and no homelessness. All this within a third world economy.

Is Cuba perfect? No, but tell me a country that is!

Kevin Carroll, Glasgow, Scotland

It suits the US to criticise Cuba as they cannot make any money out there........when a country goes out of its way to cripple its neighbour especially as one as powerful as the us it is no wonder that the cuban economy is weak..........what about the help castro gave out to other african countries?? has no one got anything positive to say about cuba ? Its easy to pick on the failings of a country..... i wonder what the statistics would show if you compared the crime stats. between US UK and Cuba.....Cuba murder rate is apparently one of the lowest in the world???

Costas Kroustis, London, UK

o Mr. Opfu:

What do you mean by Black societies or Black states? I guess you meant Societies or states where there is a majority of people with dark skin. Besides, I am Cuban, and I really do not care whether the country is better or worse than others, regardless of color or culture. In fact, it is not only better than most African countries, but it is much worse than Spain and very far from Canada…. Conclusively, it could be much better than what it looks like under the current administration if only some crucial reforms are implemented. I emphasize that what I dislike in your commentary is the comparisons between extremely poor countries, a great deal for Castro’s politics, and a certain guarantee for a wide audience. Everybody’s crazy with the international race in which countries are arbitrarily compared under a false fog of enthusiasm. I find that race awful, disgusting, and I think it is a mayor cause of humanity’s political disasters.

Trasdent, Berlin,

Daniel and Roberto,
Amen my friends. It is indeed easy to intellectualize and romanticize from an armchair an ocean away. Castro and his henchmen were and are ruthless communist thugs. They raped the Country and the people of every civil liberty. I fervently hope that some day soon you get your beautiful country back.

George, Palm Beach, Florida USA

If Fidel Castro is followed by his brother, then surely Cuba cannot be classified as a Republic, like Syria, it is a monachy.

Barry Samways, London, UK

Im an Cuban exile that left when I was 12. I bear no love for Castro and their cronies. As far as I am concerned they should be allowed to live in Isla de Pinos without water for the rest of their lives. All of the commie apparatus of Cuba I'm sure they are well protected by their secret Swiss account as all good thieves do. They robbed everything from our fathers, robbed our inheritance, robbed our destiny,robbed our future.Cuba went back in economic growth to the stone age. Whoever mentions free health care of Cuba is truly misinformed. It is a two tier systems for the haves, the commies, and the have not's the rest. Just hope there is nothing wrong with you if you in the bottom caste. Mucha suerte amigo.
What has the Castro regime accomplished in 40 years plus of tyranny. ZERO. No one will invest money on a country that confiscated everything from everyone. If you want to invest with that history you have to be braindead. Is not the embargo no country or business wants to invest.

Roberto Figueroa, Nassau,, NY

50 years of dictatorship means nothing for the "romantic socialist elite" . How would you feel if you have that in London? What is necessary to make you awake? or it is that kind of "
progress" what you want for your Country?

Daniel Rodriguez, Miami, Florida, USA

So are you all saying that the U.S. backed and installed millitary dictator that controlled cuba before Castro was much much better. People were suffering much more when the country was being exploited by American capitalists. Cuba is the best example of communism and would be much richer without constant bullying from America in the form of embargos and assasination attempts.

Tom, london, middlesex

Hello Alberto -

As you can see, I did not deny that Havana has dilapidated sectors, in part due to mismanagement, as you say, but the cumulative economic effect of the US trade embargo has been immense. Billions of dollars over the years. Cuba is SINGLED OUT because, for all its faults, it provides a positive example (as Ezhi Opfu indicates) for other Third World countries. It's interesting what you say about your democracy prioritising living conditions over democracy; would you agree that most Cuban refugees leave because of the economy as opposed to repression?

Tim -

Hypocrisy, inconsistency - whatever. Do you really think the US treatment of Cuba is the result of "inconsistency"?!

Mark -

With all due respect to your friend's son, you don't need to be an architect to see whether a building is falling down! I sggest you visit (revisit?) with a more open mind, preferably after reading about Cuban history, particularly its relations with the USA.

Robert Clark, London, UK

Cuba also has a better health service than Britain so Britain isn't superior in every aspect.

Tom Hill, London,Uk, London

In rep to Robert Brevan:

Communist Cuban government not repressive? Are you serious? You should bone up on a bit of history my friend. You may find it interesting to learn that not all the ills in the world can be assigned to the US. This now seems to be a sport in the UK.

George, Palm Beach, Florida USA

So you think the U.S. backed and instaled millitary dictator that controlled Cuba before Castro was any better? Cuba is much better now than it was when it was being exploited by American capitalists. Cuba would be much richer if it wasn't constantly being bullied by America with embargos and assaination attempts.

Tom, London,Uk,

It is good to see Oliver Kamm has highlighted the failure of the US blockade of Cuba and that it should be immediately scraped. I feel though that this is just another side swipe at Cuba from some one who knows nothing of Cuba in attempt to influence the UK postion at the next EU review of the common postion on Cuba.

there are a number of innacuracies in his report the most of which is that Cuba's economy is stagnating the econmy has been growing for several years and in 2007 grew by7.5%.

we should be looking to build relations with Cuba not isolate them. We could learn a lot from there health care system that was recently praised on BBC news night

I hope no one getts taken in by the US demonisation of Castro's Cuba as some one who has regularly visited Cuba and lived their for a year it is not perfict but not represive. we should be looking to follow Spain's lead and have constructive relations not the failed isolation and agressive ones adopted by the US

Roger Bevan, Bridgend, Wales

The idea that the US's embargo policy is responsbile for Cuba's misery and the undeniable failed state of all its social and civil institutions, including the much referenced health care and educational systems, is blantantly racist, imperialist, and nationalistic on the part of those who propose such an idea. Is the US really so powerful that it and it alone can determine a nation's course for almost 50 years? Does the Cuban government have anything to do with their failed experiment? This is an important point to consider as
possible changes and transitions take place on the island--the future of Cuba is linked to the US by history, culture, and geography--the reality of a world economy now links it to the rest of the world. Cubans, however, and not politicians or corporations from the US or Europe must decide for themselves what that direction should be followed. Despite 50 years opf repression, there is a viable Cuban dissident community that have someething to say.

Humberto E. Fabelo, Richmond, VA, USA

Until the writer is going to define Democracy and provides a minimum number of criteria to be achieved or tests to be passed to achieve democracy, he is just making another feel good ststement which means nothing in reality.

He is like all the other commentators and politicans promoting ideals which they are afraid to define as it may bite them another day.

Varo Dharmarajah, bairnsdale, australia

I am Cuban and I can tell you that the country is in a mess. Robert, I dont know where you were but you dont have to go far from the restored areas of old Havana to see buildings crumbling and people living in appaling conditions. You should have walked just one or two blocks west of Parque Central to see reality, If you travel east of Havana to Santiago, you will see plenty of this. I agree that this is not the effects of the American embargo but the legacy of almost 50 years of mismanegement.

I am not sure that the EU has enough influence to push for change in Cuba. The problem for Cubans is that reforms are taking too long. Raul Castro's interim government is more interested in keeping power than in improving life for Cubans. As long as they have Venezuelan oil, they will delay introducing the necessary changes in the Cuban economy. As for democracy, there is the perception among the majority of my fellow countrymen that it can wait as long as their living conditions improve.

Alberto , London, UK

<em>The US government demonises Cuba but is happy to trade with genuinely horrendous and truly repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia. One word: HYPOCRISY.</em>

That's not hypocrisy. That's inconsistency. The two are not the same thing.

Tim Newman, Yuhzno-Sakhalinsk,

Cuba, stagnant and dysfunctional under Castro? Sounds funny to me as we all know that Cuba is not among the most backward societies in the world. Indeed, it is faring better than any Black Caribbean or Black African society in the known world. Life in Cuba under Castro has always appeared better than life in Nigeria or any other Black state. Cuba is by far more advanced in development than any Black society despite international isolation for half a century. I do not believe in any of the two main isms (socialism and capitalism) because I believe they are hardly ever real issues, but I believe that Black societies have a lot to learn from Cuba. Cuba says it all that any society determined to succeed can actually succeed despite being isolated by the so-called international community. Cuba makes it clear that international isolation would probably do Black Africa good as it would promote innovations and sense of independence. The west always criticise governments that refuse to give in to its influence and not necessarily bad ones!!

Ezhi Opfu, London, UK

Hmmm. Dunno where Robert has been in Cuba, but my fiends' son has been out there working for the last four months as part of his architecture degree. His opinion of Havana is that it's a crumbling mess which has been neglected. And bearing in mind he is there specifically to look at the housing and buildings, he might have a better insight than a tourist who probably spent a couple of weeks there in March. I guess there is one born every minute - but then con men always need a sap.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

"[Cuba] might become a new Panama of the type misruled by Manuel Noriega in the 1980s: an economically crippled gangster regime, marked by crime, corruption and drug trafficking...."

Then again, it might not! Bear in mind: Noriega was CIA-backed for most of his tenure.

"Cuba is literally in ruins: Havana's colonial architecture is in crumbling disrepair. The economy is sclerotic....... National income largely depends on tourism, remittances from families living in the US and subsidies from Venezuela...."

Nonsense. It begs the question when the author was last in Cuba. I visited in March 2007 and Havana looked pretty good. Plus, the economy's growing fast and isn't just based on tourism and Venezuelan subsidies! What about healthcare, biotechnology, Chinese investment in nickel etc? Now oil has been discovered too!

The US government demonises Cuba but is happy to trade with genuinely horrendous and truly repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia. One word: HYPOCRISY.

Robert Clark, London, UK