I do not recall this event for some reason, but how in the hell did we let this go without reprisal. [/rhetorical]

Well, you see, it was different, under Clinton and later Obama.

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I somewhat facetiously said in one of these threads that recolonizing the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America is actually not the craziest or dumbest of ideas. They are simply incapable of operating as independent sovereigns.

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Recolonized by which countries? Surely no current European nation has such an ability even if they did have such a desire.

yippee2 said:

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I am happy for the Cuban people don't get me wrong....but aren't there other Americans who have been killed or imprisoned by many other countries?

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It's as much political as it is justice, but none of us should begrudge the move.

The US would be happy to arrest a hundred more tyrants and put them on trial if they had the means to do so.

Most just get blown up by bombs or missles.

aggiehawg said:

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I somewhat facetiously said in one of these threads that recolonizing the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America is actually not the craziest or dumbest of ideas. They are simply incapable of operating as independent sovereigns.

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Recolonized by which countries? Surely no current European nation has such an ability even if they did have such a desire.

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And the last thing on Earth we need is to do it ourselves. If they became US territories, then the people can freely move and reside in the 50 states and vote once residency is established. And just like that, millions of more democrats. No thanks.

Sam reason I opposed any silly notion of annexation of Canada. Maybe Alberta, maybe.

aggiehawg said:

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I somewhat facetiously said in one of these threads that recolonizing the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America is actually not the craziest or dumbest of ideas. They are simply incapable of operating as independent sovereigns.

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Recolonized by which countries? Surely no current European nation has such an ability even if they did have such a desire.

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By America!

I understand the impossibility, but a man can have dreams and Trump likes the impossible.

As with Puerto Rico, if we are going to de facto manage a country we should reap all the benefits. To often we just reap the costs.

The concept is you make their ****hole not a ****hole and they can stay put.

Though many Puerto Ricans moved to the US, many did so to take industrial jobs and mainly during tougher economic times. But it's not like PR decamped to the US.

The vast majority of ANY population prefers to stay put. People have to be highly motivated to move and start fresh somewhere.

WOW 🚨 Florida Rep María Elvira Salazar exposes California Rep Maxine Waters took multiple trips to Cuba to visit Fidel Castro

“Madam Waters, for decades, you traveled to Cuba dozens of times to visit Fidel Castro personally, whom you consider your friend”

“Socialism up close… pic.twitter.com/eWusmYriau

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) May 21, 2026

The Nimitz CSG is now in the Caribbean, fwiw. I think this is her final trip.

Castros had a lot of big name supporters and friends. Now they can rejoin them in hell.

Do you really think Jimmy Carter is in hell?!

akaggie said:

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Do you really think Jimmy Carter is in hell?!

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His final sin was voting Kamala. Did he repent?

I know good Christian men don't undermine their country to break bread with murderous dictators during the lengthy retirement.

There was utterly nothing 'good' about Jimmy. Were he still on this mortal coil, he'd be bloviating about helping the Castro regime and cosplaying about caring about the people of Cuba in doing so while undermining American foreign policy, without a doubt.

I used to work on Cuba sanctions at Treasury. The administration is doing something unprecedented.

It’s broadening the scope of sanctions on the regime to include enablers in third countries. There’s a lot of exposure to Cuba in Canada, Spain, and elsewhere. Lots of commercial… https://t.co/2b3m9g9u23

— Max Meizlish (@maxmeizlish) May 20, 2026

Good write up today about the US and Cuba situation and how it relates to Trumps overall strategy. Their assessment is that the VZ action was more of a setup to resolve Cuba than it was about resolving VZ. To me both have strategic importance but not sure any order or distinction matters much.

Below is just an excerpt.

Really need to plan some wellness checks for Sean Penn and Oliver Stone at this point. Seriously.

And Michael Moore.

Do we have a Rubio dressed in Castro garb sitting on the couch in Oval meme yet? I may have missed it.

Seriously, Cuba and the Donroe Doctrine, if it continues to play out nicely, may ensure Rubio 2028.

flown-the-coop said:

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Do we have a Rubio dressed in Castro garb sitting on the couch in Oval meme yet? I may have missed it.

Seriously, Cuba and the Donroe Doctrine, if it continues to play out nicely, may ensure Rubio 2028.

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We do.

aggiehawg said:

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I actually do believe that. It could be a wonderful place.

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It was during the 50s, Riviera of the Caribbean. But had a corruption problem with Batista and the Mafia.

Mafia won't be a problem. Elections will take care of the dictator problem. The American Cubans returning will make sure of that.

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Cuba will be the 51st state. Not DC and not PR.

Before we hand out statehood, I would like to review other options. Overseas territories or "freely associated states".

Practically zero Cubans want to become a US state. That would be a non-starter if the regime goes away. They are sick of/detest the Castro regime, but that's not to say they don't have a very strong sense of nationalist pride.

Please, no.

nortex97 said:

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Practically zero Cubans want to become a US state. That would be a non-starter if the regime goes away. They are sick of/detest the Castro regime, but that's not to say they don't have a very strong sense of nationalist pride.

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Tend to agree. They want their country back. A lot of love and pride there. And the ex-pats in the US who have largely been very successful under capitalism here, would want the same for their home country and work to make that happen.

aggiehawg said:

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nortex97 said:

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Practically zero Cubans want to become a US state. That would be a non-starter if the regime goes away. They are sick of/detest the Castro regime, but that's not to say they don't have a very strong sense of nationalist pride.

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Tend to agree. They want their country back. A lot of love and pride there. And the ex-pats in the US who have largely been very successful under capitalism here, would want the same for their home country and work to make that happen.

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Agree. Cubans in the U.S. often refer to themselves as exiles, not refugees or immigrants. My father had every intention of returning home when he left Cuba in 1959.

I highly doubt Cuba wants to be part of the US. There has always been at least a little bit of rivalry between us however lopsided that might be.

And thank goodness for that. We don't need another poverty stricken land mass in this country. Even though ex-pat Cubans here may vote Republican you absolutely can't ensure that would be the case by giving a third world people the right to vote. They would go hard Democrat as soon as they saw that freebies list.

What did the indictment of Raul accomplish? He's not going to turn himself in, and no SWAT team is going in.

B-1 83 said:

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What did the indictment of Raul accomplish? He's not going to turn himself in, and no SWAT team is going in.

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Remember Maduro? Same playbook.

nortex97 said:

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The Nimitz CSG is now in the Caribbean, fwiw. I think this is her final trip.

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Most likely unless WWIII breaks out. She was supposed to already be starting the deactivation process, but because of the delay in getting USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) commissioned, the Navy decided to keep Nimitz in active service for another 12 months.

As a descendent of one of the drafters of the Ostend Manifesto, I'd be down with US control of Cuba

I doubt the future leadership would be as corrupt as the thieving a-holes in Ukraine, Minnesota or California, but in a perfect world ONLY private bailout funds by wealthy Cuban exiles would be used to turn that country over.

For certain if any major influxes of money were directed by Democrats, 90% would end up in the pockets of friends and acquaintances and the DNC.

If any US tax dollars are involved put Ron D in charge of it, directed by Rubio.

Caribbean resorts are chomping at the bit for Cuba to open to capitalism.

Burrus86 said:

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Caribbean resorts are chomping at the bit for Cuba to open to capitalism.

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Can you imagine the supply chain issues of constructing a world class resort there now? Even if the commies leave today it will take years before you can depend on a load of concrete much less lumber.

Sandals Havana will find a way.

B-1 83 said:

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Burrus86 said:

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Caribbean resorts are chomping at the bit for Cuba to open to capitalism.

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Can you imagine the supply chain issues of constructing a world class resort there now? Even if the commies leave today it will take years before you can depend on a load of concrete much less lumber.

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I think you are overestimating those supply chain issues. Ninety miles from Florida? With Guantanamo already there?

Rapier108 said:

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nortex97 said:

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The Nimitz CSG is now in the Caribbean, fwiw. I think this is her final trip.

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Most likely unless WWIII breaks out. She was supposed to already be starting the deactivation process, but because of the delay in getting USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) commissioned, the Navy decided to keep Nimitz in active service for another 12 months.

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That is way too many wars - Ilhan Omar

Burrus86 said:

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Caribbean resorts are chomping at the bit for Cuba to open to capitalism.

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That is actually one of the reasons, in the last 30-40 years, that Mexico has been so supportive of Cuba. Lot better if most gringos can't go there.

Most folks don't know, but Cancun is man made, the sand was even brought in from Veracruz. it was a totally planned development whose initial intent was to be a Cuba like attraction to the US, sans gambling. Quintana Roo wasn't even a Mexican state until 1974/5, it was just a territory with limited MexFed presence. 2/3rd of the US population lives closer to Cuba than to Cancun or the Mexican Caribbean.

Cuba opens up and develops it will come right outta the back pocket of Cancun and that whole deal the Mexicans created down there. Punta Cana has hurt them as well.