Thaw in US - Cuba relations

[CountDeMoney]

Meh, they were spies, but not the traditional type.

With rare exception, the Cuban intelligence service doesn't really spy on the United States in the traditional sense;  what's much more important is keeping tabs on the dissident and exile community.  These mutts were more like counterintelligence operatives on US soil.

So says the Castro apologist.

Meh, it's just the nature of the Castro regime's foreign intelligence goals for decades, which is to maintain the security of the state from external influence. 
That's why the Cuban intelligence service has always been very top-notch:  it's small and focused, with very precise aims (to monitor the exile community) and very localized operations (the Miami and NY/NJ region).  They don't give two shits where the USS Nimitz is this week, or the latest ballistic missile defense system technology;  they want to know who's over here planning to make things messy over there.

[CountDeMoney]

You're an intuitive one, Xiacob, so I know you already realize all these Chinese "student associations" on college campuses aren't necessarily being organized and run by students.

Don't think I had to rely on my intuition for that one, ComradeDeMoney

The Party is all dialed in on your ass as it is.

[derspiess]

Seedy: hates the KGB, but loves him some KGB-trained DI.

[CountDeMoney]

Seedy: hates the KGB, but loves him some KGB-trained DI.

Yeah, that's why I have a poster of Felix Dzerzhinsky that says "Be Watchful and Vigilant".   

I appreciate the KGB's methods like one appreciates the simple brutalism of the single wing offense: even on 3rd and long, you know they're going to hit that 2 hole, they're going to tell you they're hitting that 2 hole, and by golly, even if they're stuffed, they're going to hit that 2 hole again.

[derspiess]

Yeah, that's why I have a poster of Felix Dzerzhinsky that says "Be Watchful and Vigilant".   

Well, we knew you were a sociopath.

[CountDeMoney]

Yeah, that's why I have a poster of Felix Dzerzhinsky that says "Be Watchful and Vigilant".   

Well, we knew you were a sociopath.

Much more colorful than J. Edgar Hoover.  And by colorful, I mean without the feather boa.

[derspiess]

Urban legend.

[Josephus]

So says the Castro apologist.

What? You don't think Castro has anything to apologize for?

History will absolve him.

[Razgovory]

Meh, they were spies, but not the traditional type.

With rare exception, the Cuban intelligence service doesn't really spy on the United States in the traditional sense;  what's much more important is keeping tabs on the dissident and exile community.  These mutts were more like counterintelligence operatives on US soil.

So says the Castro apologist.

Says the Cheney Apologist!

[Jacob]

Meh, they were spies, but not the traditional type.

With rare exception, the Cuban intelligence service doesn't really spy on the United States in the traditional sense;  what's much more important is keeping tabs on the dissident and exile community.  These mutts were more like counterintelligence operatives on US soil.

So says the Castro apologist.

Says the Cheney Apologist!

BAM!

[The Minsky Moment]

Fidel was a sunuvabitch.  Was.  Now he is counting minutes before dying time.  Raul is no budding Disney star either.  The Venezuelan sugar daddy is in full collapsing mode.  This is all about getting in for the inevitable business opportunities before Canada and Spain get even more entrenched.  Straight up realpolitik.

[Razgovory]

Well it's an exciting and dramatic shift.  Support of torture and holding people without charges or hope of trial to deep concern for human rights abuses.  All in one week!

There is one defeat for the Cubans.  This guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Posada_Carriles  Who blew up an airliner back in the 1970's wasn't being sent off to Cuba because of fear he might be tortured.  With the GOP endorsement of torture, I figured he was going to get sent to Cuba to answer his crimes any day now.  This new position makes that less likely.  Perhaps next week there will be a change of heart.

[Siege]

Raz, I wish I could interrogate you.
Don't worry, I know you don't know shit.

[DontSayBanana]

Way late to the party, but just wanted to mention that the only real effect this has had for me is to hate Marco Rubio that much more.  I realize he's got a personal grudge, but that dude seriously just went off the rails- I almost felt embarrassed on his behalf.   Almost.

I love that he was so quick to play the Russian sanctions card.  Considering some of the rumbling about Donetsk mentioned elsewhere, I think we can safely say the Russian sanctions over Crimea have accomplished more in 9 months than the Cuban embargo has in 530.

[Razgovory]

Raz, I wish I could interrogate you.
Don't worry, I know you don't know shit.

My country takes a dim view of middle eastern terrorists torturing American citizens.  You'd probably get drone striked.