The Collapse of American Global Diplomacy.

Discussion in 'Politics' started by SouthAmerica, Feb 23, 2006.

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    AudiQuattro: What do you think happens to Cuba when Castro croaks? Civil war in Cuba maybe?


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    February 23, 2006

    SouthAmerica: No.

    After Castro dies of old age – Many investors will move immediately and they will build hotels, casinos and so on – it will be a great opportunity to invest in an island that will prosper from tourism for many years to come.

    When Castro dies – that will be a turning point in Cuba’s history – and will open the door for foreign investment in that island.

    I don’t see any chaos or civil war in the horizon in Cuba after Castro’s death – I see a great opportunity for investment and economic development.


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    #11     Feb 23, 2006
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    Dis: Diplomacy does not work unless backed up by a threat of force and/or economic sanctions.


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    February 23, 2006

    SouthAmerica: Have you ever heard of the old saying: “You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar."


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    #12     Feb 23, 2006
  3. Wishful thinking, do you really think that Israel will be passively waiting for this to happen and will not take preventive measures - like kicking the palestinians out of the West Bank and Gaza and annexing the area, or simply completing the fence.
     
    #13     Feb 23, 2006
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    February 24, 2006

    SouthAmerica: Here is another example of the deteriorating international relations with South America.

    Today, we have the most incompetent US state department at least on recent US history – they can’t handle anything anywhere – what a bunch of idiots.

    It is time for Secretary of State Condi Rice to turn in her resignation – and hope that George W. Bush would choose someone with high credentials and a seasoned diplomat for that position.

    The Secretary of State job is away above Condi Rice’s head – she looks like an amateur most of the time – that is not a position that you learn as you go.

    It is time for the US to appoint a real secretary of state for that position, because right now the US is projecting to the world an image of complete incompetence and arrogance – and it looks like “US Foreign Policy” is in a major mess.

    At this point I am not sure Condi Rice knows even what is going on in Russia – her area of supposed expertise – never mind what is going on in Middle East and in the rest of the world.

    She is incompetent – She should be “Fired” immediately.


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    “Venezuela suspends some U.S. airline flights”
    By Patrick Markey
    Reuters – February 24, 2006


    CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Venezuela will cut some flights of U.S. carriers, including Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and American Airlines in the latest dispute between Washington and the world's No. 5 oil exporter.

    The restrictions on U.S. passenger and cargo flights came after Washington refused to lift U.S. limits on Venezuelan carriers put in place in 1995 due to concerns over safety standards, Venezuela's INAC aviation authority said.

    Relations between Venezuela and the United States hit a low earlier this month when left-wing President Hugo Chavez expelled a U.S. military attache accused of spying and Washington responded with a tit-for-tat expulsion of a Venezuelan diplomat.

    INAC did not name the U.S. airlines, but Roberto Pulido, president of the Venezuelan airline association, said the measure would cancel some flight frequencies of Delta, American and Continental when it goes into effect on Mar. 1.

    "The INAC has exhausted all conciliatory avenues with the U.S. aviation authorities... and has not been able to reestablish rights the bilateral accord gives to Venezuelan air carriers," the Venezuelan agency said. Washington said on Friday it could weigh possible countermeasures should Caracas goes ahead with suspension.

    "We are working to resolve this serious dispute. If Venezuela proceeds with its announced plans, we will consider options for an appropriate response," U.S. State Department spokesman Eric Watnik said in Washington.

    He said Venezuela had not consulted Washington before notifying U.S. carriers that their flights would be canceled or sharply reduced from Mar. 1. He said the move violated a 1953 U.S.-Venezuela Air Transport Services Agreement.

    EXECUTIVE TALKS

    Pulido, an airline association representative, said U.S. airline representatives would meet with Venezuelan authorities later on Friday to discuss the measure and its impact. "We are very disappointed by this unilateral action by the Venezuelan government and are working closely with the US departments of state and transport as will as our peer carriers, who received similar notice," Delta spokesman John Kennedy said.

    Continental Airlines said in a statement that it would maintain its daily Caracas to Houston flight and a weekly Caracas to Newark flight while it clarified the situation.

    U.S. officials say former soldier Chavez and ally Cuba are undermining democracy in the region. He counters that Washington wants to overthrow him to stop his self-styled socialist revolution and control Venezuela's oil reserves.

    The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority in 1995 said Venezuelan authorities had failed to fully comply with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and rated them a category 2, which restricted Venezuelan carrier flights to United States.

    Venezuela briefly canceled direct flights by U.S. carriers in 1996 after Washington threatened to downgrade Venezuelan aviation authorities further with a full ban on local flights to the United States.

    (Additional reporting by Magdalena Morales in Caracas and Jeremy Pelofsky and Sue Pleming in Washington)


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    #14     Feb 24, 2006