Cuba - Tim Wohlforth, Bogdan Denitch, David McReynolds

[maria.gilmore]

A serious question:  what exactly has restrained the US government all this
time and to this day from literally invading Cuba, especially after the fall
of the Soviet Union?   I understand it might have been antagonistic to the
FSU to do it before '89, but why hasn't it happened since?  Why not just go
in and kick Castro's butt?  There's no one in the world to tell them no, and
make it stick, is there?   It occurs to me that it would be bloody to go in
and actually take the island, and the probable US casualties could be
unacceptable to the public here; would that be sufficient to hold the govt.
at bay?   Is it Western world opinion?  (I have a hard time believing the US
military-industrial-govt. complex gives a rat's ass what anybody else thinks
anymore, but that could be my attitude talkin'. )    That prolonged
minuet/mambo over Elian...why did that happen?

I apologize if this question seems dumb or naive; referrals to sources of
good information to help me understand this situation would be welcome, as
well as a discussion.

I just wonder...it was triggered by Doug's question about how do you
maintain a socialist revolution in a place like Cuba, so close to a giant of
an enemy, without having to close your society and curtail civil liberties
to at least some extent.   I wonder why the giant didn't swat the gnat oh,
say, 12 years ago.   It could have been done, and with little resistance
from the US public, I think.   In terms of power, the ONLY reason Castro's
Cuba exists is because the US suffers it.   So what has stayed the giant's
hand?

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