Not wrong. Though at least some of the folks in military garb really are in it for the good of the country … as they see it. Not so much the lobbyists.
Haiti President Jovenel Moïse, assassinated in early July, pictured in a 2020 file photo during an interview at his home in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Colombian mercenaries who are among those charged in Moïse’s July 7 killing are indicative of a new global cadre of experienced military mercenaries for hire that include Americans, Colombians, Russians and others, writes U.S. military veteran Brian Harper in a guest column today.
“… Biden said last week he was not prepared to loosen restrictions for now on remittances, or payments that Americans can make to their families on the island, because of concern that the Cuban government would seize a large part of the funds.
But Washington is looking closely at crafting a possible work-around to restore the flow of remittances, which were shut down under Trump, in a way that does not put money in the hands of the Cuban government, one of the State Department officials said. …"
U.S. military personnel are stationed in approximately 150 nations although only 3 are in combat situations: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. They fulfill roles such as peacekeeping missions, military attachés, or are part of embassy and consulate security. Approximately 1/4 are doing jobs which are classified and the military won’t disclose what they’re doing.
BWAWHAWHAWHAW! It’s funny because Theodore apparently reads Marc Thiessen!https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/15/cuban-people-are-rising-up-against-communist-regime-what-is-biden-going-do-about-it/
Why did the US military leave a massive cache of weapons in Afghanistan when they left? It’s already in the hands of the Taliban and possibly some other bad actors, ready to be used against the people we were trying to help. Sounds like something the previous occupant and his administration might have done.
There is a saying frequently used by foreign (particularly US) entities working in Haiti; “It’s Haiti!”, which is a reference to anything that is FUBAR, which is to say nearly everything. Haiti has been an unstable mess for over a century and has had the distinction of owning the lowest human advancement index in the western hemisphere forever. There’s nothing the US government can do to fix it, so stay the hell out. Most humanitarian efforts from NGOs, even though there are over 10k of them, make very little difference in the grand scheme of things, but God bless all of them for what they manage to do. You see, you can build an orphanage in Haiti but there is a 50/50 chance that the government will be so impressed with it that they’ll take it from you and use it for something else. They have no money to build anything and much of the foreign aid dough seems to end up in the pockets of the ever changing ruling class. Maybe they should ask France to re-colonize them!
As for Cuba, the US embargo is not much of a factor in their problems and those in the US crying to lift the embargo because of the current strife simply do not understand the situation. Cuba can literally trade with anyone they want other than the US. And even then, the embargo doesn’t include humanitarian supplies such as food and medicine. It’s a fact that we do send food and medicine to Cuba. Elites take their fair share (snerk) but much of it reaches the Cuban people. Financial aid for the Cuban people is nearly impossible. The money goes through the hands of the Communists and very little, if any, ends up in the hands of the intended. Cubans in the US can send money to relations at times but you know how that goes. Or maybe you don’t? The official government vig is 10% but in reality it is more like 50-100%. I know several Cubans who have family in Cuba and have continued to send money when feasible. Total crap shoot. Sometimes the family gets a share, sometimes they get nothing.
The Communist government has botched things economically, but that is both incompetence and a fact of socialism – everybody except the elites will be equally bad off. But at least they’re equal, eh? Combine that with the people having no rights or protected freedoms and you should expect discord from time to time. No worries, though…the Cuban Communists will do what they always do…jail and/or kill those who want a better life for the Cuban people.
In the U.S. the military, by law and practice, makes no policy nor suggests policy. They carry out the policies made by the civilian elected government.
Concretionist almost 3 years ago
Not wrong. Though at least some of the folks in military garb really are in it for the good of the country … as they see it. Not so much the lobbyists.
PraiseofFolly almost 3 years ago
“Like a Good Neighbor, the United States is There.” (—
Old Mack almost 3 years ago
If you spend 700 billion+ on defense it’s a shame to have it just SET there.
superposition almost 3 years ago
No quick/simple solutions.
Haiti President Jovenel Moïse, assassinated in early July, pictured in a 2020 file photo during an interview at his home in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The Colombian mercenaries who are among those charged in Moïse’s July 7 killing are indicative of a new global cadre of experienced military mercenaries for hire that include Americans, Colombians, Russians and others, writes U.S. military veteran Brian Harper in a guest column today.
https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2021/07/haitian-presidents-murder-apparently-by-foreign-mercenaries-was-far-from-shocking-brian-harper.html
“… Biden said last week he was not prepared to loosen restrictions for now on remittances, or payments that Americans can make to their families on the island, because of concern that the Cuban government would seize a large part of the funds.
But Washington is looking closely at crafting a possible work-around to restore the flow of remittances, which were shut down under Trump, in a way that does not put money in the hands of the Cuban government, one of the State Department officials said. …"
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/exclusive-us-expected-take-initial-steps-soon-aftermath-cuba-protests-officials-2021-07-19/
Durak Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Maybe it’ll be McConnell’s gambit.
“We will approve infrastructure, if YOU invade Haiti!”
mourdac Premium Member almost 3 years ago
U.S. military personnel are stationed in approximately 150 nations although only 3 are in combat situations: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. They fulfill roles such as peacekeeping missions, military attachés, or are part of embassy and consulate security. Approximately 1/4 are doing jobs which are classified and the military won’t disclose what they’re doing.
countoftowergrove almost 3 years ago
BWAWHAWHAWHAW! It’s funny because Theodore apparently reads Marc Thiessen!https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/15/cuban-people-are-rising-up-against-communist-regime-what-is-biden-going-do-about-it/
guyjen2004 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Why did the US military leave a massive cache of weapons in Afghanistan when they left? It’s already in the hands of the Taliban and possibly some other bad actors, ready to be used against the people we were trying to help. Sounds like something the previous occupant and his administration might have done.
There is a saying frequently used by foreign (particularly US) entities working in Haiti; “It’s Haiti!”, which is a reference to anything that is FUBAR, which is to say nearly everything. Haiti has been an unstable mess for over a century and has had the distinction of owning the lowest human advancement index in the western hemisphere forever. There’s nothing the US government can do to fix it, so stay the hell out. Most humanitarian efforts from NGOs, even though there are over 10k of them, make very little difference in the grand scheme of things, but God bless all of them for what they manage to do. You see, you can build an orphanage in Haiti but there is a 50/50 chance that the government will be so impressed with it that they’ll take it from you and use it for something else. They have no money to build anything and much of the foreign aid dough seems to end up in the pockets of the ever changing ruling class. Maybe they should ask France to re-colonize them!
guyjen2004 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
As for Cuba, the US embargo is not much of a factor in their problems and those in the US crying to lift the embargo because of the current strife simply do not understand the situation. Cuba can literally trade with anyone they want other than the US. And even then, the embargo doesn’t include humanitarian supplies such as food and medicine. It’s a fact that we do send food and medicine to Cuba. Elites take their fair share (snerk) but much of it reaches the Cuban people. Financial aid for the Cuban people is nearly impossible. The money goes through the hands of the Communists and very little, if any, ends up in the hands of the intended. Cubans in the US can send money to relations at times but you know how that goes. Or maybe you don’t? The official government vig is 10% but in reality it is more like 50-100%. I know several Cubans who have family in Cuba and have continued to send money when feasible. Total crap shoot. Sometimes the family gets a share, sometimes they get nothing.
The Communist government has botched things economically, but that is both incompetence and a fact of socialism – everybody except the elites will be equally bad off. But at least they’re equal, eh? Combine that with the people having no rights or protected freedoms and you should expect discord from time to time. No worries, though…the Cuban Communists will do what they always do…jail and/or kill those who want a better life for the Cuban people.
rossevrymn almost 3 years ago
Only if we go in. Maybe this time we can break the cycle.
ncorgbl almost 3 years ago
In the U.S. the military, by law and practice, makes no policy nor suggests policy. They carry out the policies made by the civilian elected government.
VadimUzdensky1 almost 3 years ago
Haiti actually asked us to intervene, and Biden refused.
Military intervention in Cuba is not being considered, either.
So, no, this is not what militarism looks like. This is what FDR’s “Good Neighbor” doctrine looks like.