Nuclear Weapons

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That's a bit of an understatement considering that arsehat Castro decided to point a few dozen quick strike high yield nukes that could hit the US mainland in a few min at Washington DC. Yeah, I'd say the US government hates him

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Castro had previously aproached the US administration wanting closer trading and diplomatic relations and been rebuffed (mainly because the US had supported the previous regime which Castro had overthrown). Early on he actively wanted to avoid becoming a soviet puppet. Trouble is, he needed someone to buddy up to and US beligerence left him with only the Soviets - and the price to buddy up to them was to have their missiles on his soil. It was Kruschev that put the missiles on Cuba and the US had left Castro with little choice but to accept them.

Actually, Castro is a pretty good example of how a totaliterian regime can work for the interests of it's people. He overthrew an undeniably corrupt regime and resdributed the wealth downwards (BTW this is the reason many fled Cuba - they were the ones who'd been favoured the previous regime and therefore had the most to lose. He then bought a working health system and full literacy to the people. He's not all good (few revolutionaries are) but you really can't paint him with horns and a trident.

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I personally don't beleive all of these new diseases just appeared out of thin air. While some might have been naturally occuring, I think alot of the strains are being re-engineered and released. We're just told that they naturally mutate (which has ironically speed up signifigantly compared to the last 300 years) to keep us sheltered from any fear that media and the government doesn't instill.

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Surley not serious.... :eek:

I hate all these consipiracy theorys too many films children ;)

Conspiracy theory is kind of a dirty word for it. It's such a broad generalization. Yes you can make conspiracy's about anything (ie. Jesus is a guy who came from the future in a time machine. He impressed a bunch of people with advanced technology to put civilization into submission to stop a war caused by free thought and people thinking too highly of themselves).

Sometimes the facts just line up too well not to think about it. Like in this case, other governments have admittedly done this. Scandals and historical operations are kept behind closed doors.

A conspiracy theory is satan worshiping free masons and the illuminati. Espionage and guerilla warfare are facts.

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Originally Posted by FunkyDexter

Actually, Castro is a pretty good example of how a totaliterian regime can work for the interests of it's people. He overthrew an undeniably corrupt regime and resdributed the wealth downwards (BTW this is the reason many fled Cuba - they were the ones who'd been favoured the previous regime and therefore had the most to lose. He then bought a working health system and full literacy to the people. He's not all good (few revolutionaries are) but you really can't paint him with horns and a trident.

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Erm... Cuba is a kraphole. Who are you trying to fool? I take it you've never been there? I'm not trying to paint Castro with anything. I was just posting that the US government generally dislikes dictators who point nukes at them. Yes you are correct that the US government did not like him in the first place. The reasons for that are debatable. Personally, I think Kennedy was a Dodgers fan and was pissed that castro could never get his fastball under control.

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Originally Posted by MasterBlaster

Erm... Cuba is a kraphole.

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Yep - that's true...

Full literacy and a national health program when you live in a metal (at best) hut is not an accomplishment...

Cuba was a beautiful island which would have a much different place in the Caribean if Castro had not taken military control.

People choosing their own path (that is what democracy is defined as) is the only choice. There is no such thing as government - we are our governments. There are no secrets that we keep from ourselves (or conspiracies) - those agencies (CIA, NSA - all of them) are simply us - they are us!

Castro does not represent the Cuban people (those still on the island or those who left). He represents himself!

And I knew people who left Cuba - they certainly weren't the rich - simply the smart ones...

Same thing happened in El Salvador...

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Cuba is a kraphole

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These days yes. Though it was doing pretty well until the loss of Soviet aid in the 90's. That's the point, Cuba has been denied any opportunity to trade with the West since the revolution, leaving them dependent on the Soviets - who were never interested in encouraging Cuba's economy. No trade and no other form of income = krap hole when you're a tiny island on a superpowers doorstep. Cuba's current state is down it being used as a pawn between two super powers.

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Cuba was a beautiful island

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...run by Batista's military dictatorship for the benefit of wealthy Foreigners (mostly, though not exclusively) American. The cuban revolution was caused by two main factors, resentment that Batista had overthrown a democratic system in the first place, and resentment felt by the common people as they watched what little wealth their country could offer being taken abroad (75% of the farmland in Cuba at the time of the revolution was in foreign hands).

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Originally Posted by FunkyDexter

These days yes. Though it was doing pretty well until the loss of Soviet aid in the 90's. That's the point, Cuba has been denied any opportunity to trade with the West since the revolution, leaving them dependent on the Soviets - who were never interested in encouraging Cuba's economy. No trade and no other form of income = krap hole when you're a tiny island on a superpowers doorstep. Cuba's current state is down it being used as a pawn between two super powers.

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Blahahaha, cuba has been a kraphole since 1662, Just ask Henry Morgan, and will be a kraphole for another 200+ years. The soviets were involved with cuba for 2 nanoseconds and then hung them out to dry. Damn, where is the Logic? One very large communist Kraphole fueling the economy of a small communist kraphole? I don't get it.

The only thing the soviets ever did was blow all their cash trying to keep up with the American Military Machine and design the ugliest cars ever to touch pavement(or dirt if you live in cuba)

Check out this link for a laugh about Cuba...

http://www.orwelltoday.com/cubacastro.shtml

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Originally Posted by szlamany

People choosing their own path (that is what democracy is defined as) is the only choice. There is no such thing as government - we are our governments. There are no secrets that we keep from ourselves (or conspiracies) - those agencies (CIA, NSA - all of them) are simply us - they are us!

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This presumes that corruption and abuse of power are non-existent; which, of course, is nonsense.

Corruption will be present in any form of government as an individual will always have their own interests at heart. Can't blame them. Good governments however (democracy/republic) tend to minimise that corruption as much as possible but it will never be eliminated completely.

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Originally Posted by yrwyddfa

This presumes that corruption and abuse of power are non-existent; which, of course, is nonsense.

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There is corruption and abuse of power at the local McDonalds - people conspire to steal pens from their own work places...

Church workers steal from the plate every weekend...

Corruption and abuse of power appears to almost be taught at school - bullies always take advangtage of someone. Kids cheat on tests from third grade on...

Our governor (CT - small state next to NY) got caught receiving gifts from a large state contractor. Silly stuff - kitchen remodeling - a hot tub! Not millions of dollars in bribes! But still, that debacle took 2 years of intensive public/legal fighting - he's in jail.

Does that mean that there is a secret society of governors looking to exploit the little people? No - just one more greedy person that can't remember right-from-wrong. Stupid is stupid...

But we charge of government with responsibilities that require that activities occur that remain descreet from public scrutiny. That's from "hooking" child molestors on fake-chat sites, patting down idiots at the airport who look suspicious to stopping drunk drivers.

Raise the stakes to the level of national and international security - whether some Korea or India is ready to point a nuke at some neighbor - or launch it willy-nilly to see if the can hit Hawaii - I would expect a whole lot of private-classified activity. I actually appreciate it...

And one more thing - Castro is a greedy dictator that could care less about the people of Cuba. The US/USSR and other nations took advantage of that fact - and in reality - that made a whole lot of sense to the Russians in the 60's and makes sense every day since then...

General Schwartzkoff trained Bin Laden in Afghanistan in cold-war efforts against the USSR 20 years ago - at the time I'm sure that appeared to be a good idea to those people that we put in charge. Hindsight is always 20/20...

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Originally Posted by szlamany

There is corruption and abuse of power at the local McDonalds - people conspire to steal pens from their own work places...

Church workers steal from the plate every weekend...

Corruption and abuse of power appears to almost be taught at school - bullies always take advangtage of someone. Kids cheat on tests from third grade on...

Our governor (CT - small state next to NY) got caught receiving gifts from a large state contractor. Silly stuff - kitchen remodeling - a hot tub! Not millions of dollars in bribes! But still, that debacle took 2 years of intensive public/legal fighting - he's in jail.

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:lol:

Democracy is an ideal; I think a good ideal - but rather like communism it's an ideal that will never be reached - ever.

Corruption, or if you want to call it by it's better name, Greed, is apparent (exactly as you've pointed out) in every facet of human nature.

I don't think there is a solution, today, because greed is too apparent. It sounds idealist (and I know someone is going to bring up Chamerlain again) but I really think it can't be achieved - at least not in the UK.

In the UK we have two forms of democratic Prime Ministers. One thinks that he has attained the power of office to do the will of the people; the other thinks that he has attained power to do as he wills on behalf of the people.

It is a subtle difference; but the difference - if you look for it - is apparent, and destructive.

Really great "musical play" called 1776 - you might even enjoy it yourself since all the "players" are basically British at that time ;)

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[During the vote on independence]
Dr. Lyman Hall: Mr. President, Georgia seems to be split right down the middle on this issue - the people are against it, and I'm for it.
[laughter]
Dr. Lyman Hall: However, I'm afraid I'm not quite certain whether representing the people means relying on their judgment or on my own. In all fairness, until I can figure that out, I'd better lean a little on their side. Georgia says nay.

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John Adams: Dr. Hall, I didn't know anyone was...
Dr. Lyman Hall: I'm sorry if I startled you. I couldn't sleep. In trying to resolve my dilemma I remembered something I'd once read, "that a representative owes the People not only his industry, but his judgment, and he betrays them if he sacrifices it to their opinion."
[He smiles]
Dr. Lyman Hall: It was written by Edmund Burke, a member of the British Parliament.
[He walks to the tally board and changes his 'nay' vote to 'yea' on independence]

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I obviously have too much time on my hands if I can google for stuff like that :D

I do believe that communism allowed for more "greed/corruption" - but so does the capitalist world the US favors right now. Corporate execs spending millions on lavish personal satisfactions...

I'll wait till Scotty beams me up to that "replicated" food - free society - no money - everyone does their "level best" and greed no longer exists :sick:

The singularity is near ;)

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Originally Posted by Something Else

There are nonwar applications for nuclear bombs.

For Example:
[Insert nuclear pulse rocket here]

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Unfortunatley, the use of nuclear devices in space has already been banned by international treaties. Carl Sagan made a good point in "Cosmos" when he said that there could be no better use for the technology then to us it to explore our galaxy.

/em casts fear trap on all who view this post.

That's right, run; run like little scared losers!

:pimp slap: the D&D power!

(Imp slap works too)

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Originally Posted by szlamany

I'll wait till Scotty beams me up to that "replicated" food - free society - no money - everyone does their "level best" and greed no longer exists :sick:

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Scotty never had access to replicators until he was found just outside a Dyson's Sphere by Jordi :rolleyes: