Posted on 11/02/2005 7:35:13 AM PST by Pharmboy
HAVANA (AP) - Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said Wednesday he met with President Fidel Castro late Tuesday after a trade delegation from his state finalized deals to sell wheat, beans and soy products worth about $27 million (about euro23 million) to the communist-run island.
Heineman declined to provide details about the hour-long meeting at Castro's offices, which the Cuban leader requested. The Republican governor has been striving to keep a low political profile during his trip and has steered away from discussing U.S.-Cuba relations, emphasizing instead the economic benefits of the Cuban market for Nebraska farmers.
The deals signed Tuesday fulfill most of a trade agreement signed this summer to export $30 million (euro25 million) Nebraska farm products to Cuba's food import company, Alimport. Tuesday's deals include 25,000 metric tons of high-protein soy meal, 75,000 metric tons of wheat, and 7,000 metric tons of beans.
"We are pleased we were able to get the contracts wrapped up," Heineman said before returning to the United States Wednesday morning. "We see this as an opportunity to expand our relationship."
The guy probably would have made a deal with Hitler, as well.
I rarely put anything in breaking news, but this seemed so startling and outrageous, I thought it belonged. Your call...
Hopefully photographers were excluded from the meeting in order that Heinie wasn't photographed kissing Fidel.
This clown has to be a "moderate" RepublicRAT.
But different from China how?
I'm not usually one to dump on my fellow Nebraskans, but in this respect they're clueless and selfish; they wouldn't have minded if the governor met with Hitler or Stalin if it got them a better price for their corn.
Not a bad point...however, the Chinese have made an effort to play a bit nicer with their own people and externally in the last decade or so. Not Fidel...
Was he wearing a Che shirt when he went in?
Tom Osborne will be tough to beat because of name recognition.
It seems some of our worst enemies are Republicans!!
But, didn't ya just love this sentence from the article:
The Republican governor has been striving to keep a low political profile during his trip and has steered away from discussing U.S.-Cuba relations...
Does Nebraska really need to send a Governor to wrap up a deal to sell only 25 million of farm products?
And, perhaps I'm confused, but don't we have an embargo on with them?
"Heineman declined to provide details about the hour-long meeting at Castro's offices, which the Cuban leader requested."
He is a lucky man - Castro may never have spoken for such a short time in his life.
IIRC, most midwest Gov's have tried to make deals with Cuba to sell product.
He's certainly not alone in doing it.
We should send a low profile Gov to Cuba in a similiar trade meeting but send a CIA agent instead and pop a cap in him...
Cant stand that man.
I say we have Ted Kennedy formally apologize on behalf of his brothers for trying to have Castro assassinated numerous times… Then bring on the Cuban Cigars!
Reagan traded with the Eastern Bloc. WASSAP with that?!!?!?
Mr Gov, Pls bring me two boxes of Cohiba's. Thanks...
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