> Yeah. If they did that, they'd be effectively a U.S. colony in less
> than two years. Maybe less than a year. What's pie-in-the-sky about
> this is that you just can't accept the fact that the U.S. just won't
> tolerate a socialist regime anywhere in the western hemisphere, and
> will do everything in its power to destroy it.
>
> Doug
Couldn't they institute all the reforms Brad asked for (copied below) without allowing dissidents to accept US funding? And yet we can be relatively sure Castro won't.
1. Castro shall do nothing to establish a particular religion, or to restrict the free exercise of religion in Cuba. Castro shall do nothing to abridge freedom of speech, or of the press. Castro shall respect the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition him for a redress of grievances.
2. Castro shall not quarter his soldiers in any house without the consent of the owner.
3. Castro shall respect the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects. He shall respect their right not to be searched and seized unreasonably. The state security services shall carry out only such searches and seizures which have been approved by independent judges holding life tenure, who have examined the evidence, and concluded that there does indeed exist probable cause for the search.
4. Castro shall not execute any person unless an independent body of citizens--a Grand Jury, let's call it--has decided that there does exist reason to believe that the person should stand trial for such an infamous crime, and unless a second independent body has decided that the person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. No one shall be compelled to be a criminal witness against him or herself. No one shall be deprived of life or liberty without due process of law.
5. Castro shall grant all accused of crimes a speedy and public trial by an impartial and independent jury.
6. Castro shall not require excessive bail, and shall not impose cruel and unusual punishments.