Well, with qualifications.
Posted on 05/14/2006 10:52:10 AM PDT by wagglebee
HAVANA -- At night, when all Havana seems to be out for an evening stroll, the austere office building that serves as an outpost of U.S. diplomats turns into a billboard.
Letters scroll slowly across the facade, casting a bright red glow. Clumps of restless teenagers plunk their bottles of Havana Club rum on the sidewalk and stare up, their mouths agape. Couples unlace hands and gawk.
Some nights they read the insights of comedian George Burns translated into Spanish: "How sad that all the people who would know how to run this country are driving taxis or cutting hair." Other times, questions are posed: "In a free country you don't need permission to leave the country. Is Cuba a free country?"
On a typical evening, the billboard gets only a small audience -- the few who venture within a block or two of its glowing letters. More people might have seen the messages, but President Fidel Castro countered the U.S. move with one of his own.
In the latest installment of a long-running propaganda war, Castro's government planted a field of flags on tall poles -- 148 in all -- in front of the U.S. building, which holds the offices of the U.S. Interests Section, a diplomatic post one notch below an embassy. The flags block the view of the billboard from its intended audience: the heavy traffic along a seaside highway in central Havana. The flags loom over an outdoor amphitheater already freighted with symbolism: Its name is Anti-Imperialism Park.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"That Fidel, he's smart -- very smart," said Luis Garcia, a retiree who lives nearby.
My guess would be that the media has a list of people who are more than happy to say how wonderful they think Castro is.
Yep, we can start with Jimmah Carter, Dan Blather and go from there.
I don't think the article was "cheering Castro."
Read the whole thing.
Wrong. A US interest section is part of another embassy of a nation friendly to us in countries where we have no diplomatic relations. Our Havana US operations are at the Swiss embassy. IIRC no direct US personnel are there but it would be the host country's embassy people, contracted by the US.
Just the tone of the title indicates that Castro is "mightier" than the United States.
I believe you're right.
I agree. Hardly "cheering" Castro.
I disagree -- the US embassy's electronic billboard bugs Castro but he can't get rid of it entirely.
And information is getting through, like Castro's wealth.
The article sounded as though the US billboard was having a positive effect, but that it's impossible for the terrorized citizens of Cuba to admit or comment upon that fact.
Well, with qualifications.
Forbes magazine, the billboard reported, had just named Fidel Castro the world's seventh-wealthiest head of state, with a fortune estimated at $900 million.
&&&
And who says crime doesn't pay?
What we need is direct telepathic broadcasts - but the technology is not to fall into civilian hands or one wouldn't be able to get rid of the ads.
The answer to both questions is the US isn't bad and the Cubans are not free!
What dumb asses the WAPO has running it! Lefties are blind to what occurs in communist countries, they are the stupidest people on the face of the earth, refusing to see or hear what is transpiring or what has taken place in communist countries!
Forbes magazine, the billboard reported, had just named Fidel Castro the world's seventh-wealthiest head of state, with a fortune estimated at $900 million.
This is the key, let this tidbit spread, and it will. The great Castro, just another swindling thug, starving his people.
The press usually gets it wrong, but when they do decent stuff, we need to cheer them on. Way to go, WaPo for getting the message out!
Interesting...all dressed up but he has no place to go.....hah!
This is the key, let this tidbit spread, and it will.
**
I certainly hope it will.
Interesting, though, that this is the first time I had seen that fact. I guess all of the Castro lovers in the MSM are less than enthusiatic about spreading that story.
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