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I defied the embargo and visited Cuba last year, figuring it was my best chance to see what Communism was really like, without supporting someone as odious as, say, Saddam or Kim Jong Il.

I had a fantastic time on my trip - the Cuban climate is wonderful, the people friendly, the women stunning. And Cuban Communism, well, it certainly made me feel the Cuban people were tragically shortchanged - but it was interesting to see.

Castro isn't as bad as Kim Jong Il, but that's mostly because in Cuba's tropical climate, things grow if you stick them in the ground. For that reason, his system works badly, but just well enough that people don't starve like they do in North Korea.

But this sort of thing sickens me.

I doubt that I'll return to Cuba until Castro's gone. In the end, I have this nasty feeling the pro-embargo types were right. The more tourism, the more repression.

Besides, would I really like to fly in a Yakolev Yak-42D again? Soviet jets are best left for those with true courage. Built in the 80s, feels like it was made in the 50s.

D

I got to know some Cubans when I lived in Key West in the late '60's. Great people. Some didn't understand why we were involved in Viet Nam on the other side of the globe while leaving Castro fat and happy in Havana. I told them the bum Kennedy failed to support the Bay of Pigs invasion which would have safe bet, because the Soviets hadn't even bonded up Castro at that time. Then JFK closed the case after the Cuban Crises by agreeing not to invade.

I hope you realize the tragic mistake that you made. By going to Cuba, you gave money to an evil tyrant who has killed thousands of his own people, not to mention several Americans.

You say you want to see what Communism is "really like." Try reading Against All Hope by Armando Valladares, a prison memoir from Castro's gulags. Maybe then you will see what Cuban communism is "really like"

Andrew