Op-ed:

Raul Castro's Puppet-On-A-String

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on American Political Radio

“His election is not by chance. It was planned by us in group, and we decided that he’s the best option in our opinion.”

- Raul Castro on Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermudez becoming Cuba's next president

For six decades they ruled with an iron first...first Fidel and then Raul...the infamous Castro brothers. Turning the once beautiful island nation of Cuba into a third world nightmare of sorts, this once thriving nation saw its economy and infrastructure crumbling under the 'bearded one's' communist rule.

And the Cuban people hoped that economically things would at least get a bit better upon Fidel's death, but those hopes were short lived for Raul was cut from the same cloth as his brother but just in a slightly less in-your-face mode.

So as a new Cuban president now takes over the reigns of power know this transition is not quite what it seems on the surface for Raul's hand-picked successor is nothing but a Castro puppet-on-a-string. How so...with Raul Castro remaining in place as First Secretary of Cuba's Communist Party...the most powerful position of all...and with Raúl’s son Col. Alejandro Castro Espín heading intelligence and domestic security for the army and interior ministry...Raul's actual control shows no real signs of abating especially with his now being freed from the day-to-day responsibilities of a figurehead presidency. And this means the agrarian revolution started by his brother Fidel...a revolution fueled ever forward via pages taken from the communist manifesto by a man who in reality was not unlike a Mafia don...that revolution remains in place...at least for the time being anyway.

And so with orchestration courtesy of all-powerful Raul Castro...who was also the founder and head of the Revolutionary Cuban Armed Forces...party loyalist Migel Díaz-Canel...who came up through the ranks...became the sole candidate nominated to head Cuba’s Council of State...the presidency if you will. And then in a vote of 603 to 1...remember there are no direct 'by the people' presidential elections in Cuba just the nominating of municipal representatives who in turn pick the president...the 57-year old Diaz-Canel...Cuba's then national assembly vice-president...became what was being portrayed as a consensus builder when in reality he is anything but.

So now as the reigns of power shift somewhat to a younger but still decidedly communist leaning generation, know that this generation born after the revolution is still a generation indoctrinated into the ideals and tenets of communism, socialism and most decidedly Castroism. This translates into Diaz-Canel's presidential “anointing” being but a dog and pony show for all the world to see while the Cuban people's sorry lot in life will see no change for the better as this so-called election was but a regurgitation of socialistic continuances of everything that was.

And while last year then President Raul Castro himself spoke that economic reforms were soon to come, even going so far as to say that, “We haven’t renounced the pursuit of private-sector work”...know those words were also just for show for now President Miguel Diaz-Canal has said that, “There is no room for those who aspire to a capitalist restoration...We will defend the revolution and continue to perfect socialism.” In other words, it's more of the same old, same old, for what the Cuban people have to look forward to is as per Diaz-Canal's own words, a “continuity to the Cuban revolution,” and that if any changes are to be made that they will always be in the “context of existing Cuban socialism.”

So why did Raul Castro bother to relinquish the presidency when Miguel Diaz-Canel is Raul Castro...just minus 30 or so years of age?

Before that question can be answered certain facts must be known, first of which is that during his two terms as president, Raul did bring a certain amount of “cautious reform” to Cuba including the introduction of term limits (two 5-year terms total), in fact he himself will step down as the head of Cuba's Communist Party in 2021. And Raul together with then President Obama (calling him that still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth) opened diplomatic but somewhat shaky relations with the United States in 2014; he lifted some restrictions on commerce and travel for Cuban citizens; and he also initiated the legalization of the sale of real estate. 

But even those reforms in no way went nearly far enough in regards to actual economic reform as new licenses for up and coming small private businesses...businesses like restaurants, taxi companies, and operations aimed at the “big money” tourism industry...while still leaving the Cuban economy’s most important economic sectors like energy, mining, telecommunications, medical services, and rum-and cigar-production in the hands of the state...those licenses have not only slowed down but have for all intents and purposes stopped with Cuba's rank and file Communist Party officials claiming that they need to make sure these new private businesses are paying taxes and obeying the law. 

Translation: private business owners and young so-called “upstart entrepreneurs” were making more money than said rank and file Fidel loyal officials were. Jealousy and envy are powerful weapons in the hands of those who wish for a slowing down or a halting of economic reform for to them economic reform signals a flaw if not a failure of the revolution's socialistic collective agenda.

And failure of the revolution remains most decidedly not an option.

So where will this once minister of higher education and former Raul Castro bodyguard's hand fall in all of this, for if now President Miguel Diaz-Canel delays for too long the public's call for much needed and much demanded economic reform, a dangerous precedent will be set with both generalized economic collapse and general discontent hanging over the horizon. And if he decides that economic reform is not to be addressed, Díaz-Canel's painting of himself as both an adherent to the economic policies of Raul Castro and as a consensus builder...while at the same time disavowing the entirety of capitalism...will all be for nought. 

“There’s no space here for a transition that ignores or destroys the legacy of so many years of struggle,” now President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in his acceptance address.

But Diaz-Canel...who Raul says will now hold power until 2031...knows that if he plays his cards right a loosening on private enterprise might still be in Cuba's future without compromising Fidel's dream of a socialist utopia. And to accomplish this he must put in place a version of what's known as “market socialism”...the very system China now uses to bolster its once dragging economy.

But will “market socialism”...which is a predominant state-owned sector within an open market economy...as in a government controlled compromise between socialist planning and free enterprise...a blending of the two is you will...will that be enough to herald in the true economic reform the Cuban people both need and want? It seems only time and Diaz-Canel's promise of reform...albeit cautious reform on his timetable and willingness alone... will tell, for no matter if “market socialism” does become the answer to Cuba's economic woes it will still see businesses being publicly owned but with production and consumption being guided by market forces instead of by government planning, but sadly those businesses would still not be owned by the Cuban people themselves. 
 

But at least that's a start and reform does indeed have to start somewhere for otherwise the now Cuban stagnant economy, along with most cities and towns in a total state of disrepair, will continue on its downward spiral. Remember, the revolution under Fidel's guidance saw Cuba’s economic model being dependent upon having a patron...a sponsor...and while the Soviet Union picked up the country’s tab, if you will, Russia for the most part no longer does. And the economic help gotten from Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, both before and after his death and Venezuela's own political and economic collapse, is now almost nonexistent, leaving Cuba mired in debt and despair it seems it will never see its way out of. 

Now as for the answer to the question of why Raul Castro really stepped down. Claiming that by his stepping down he now looks forward to having more time to travel the country...I ask Raul travel to do exactly what...and all I can come up with is he will continue to push forward the revolution's now failing agenda in a last ditch attempt to ward off what might be yet a new Cuban revolution...one to bring Cuba into the 21st century and finally leave the 1950's behind.

But sadly for now the Cuban people's suffering continues on for not much relief is expected for the island nation, for while some Cuban's hoped that Raúl’s stepping down as president might be their long awaited relief from a revolution proven to have gone sour...all sadly remains status quo for now. And while there might be a new presidential figurehead in town running Cuba's daily operations...Miguel Diaz-Canel neither stirs the Cuban people's passions nor is he expected to bring much change for Raul Castro still controls the army and the party, and the reality is that he who controls those controls Cuba. It cannot be said any plainer than that.

Copyright @ 2018 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved.
***************************************************************************************************

To read more on my personal take on the situation in Cuba...and why I see it as I do...please go to my blog The Patriot Factor to read my article A Personal Glimpse Into Castro’s Hell.

***************************************************************************************************
For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article The Evolution of Monumental Idiocy

****************************************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!

Today, Tuesday, April 24th from 7 to 9pm EST on American Political Radio, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss Raul Castro's New Puppet-On-A-String; The Evolution of Monumental Idiocy; and important news of the day. 
 
Hope you can tune in at: http://listen.samcloud.com/w/73891/American-Political-Radio#history

Op-ed:
One Bad Deal Down...One Very Bad Deal to Go 
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on American Political Radio

"Effective immediately, I am canceling the last administration's completely one-sided deal with Cuba." - President Trump's words this past Friday at the Manuel Artime Theater in Miami's 'Little Havana'

Saying that the Cuban people suffered for almost six decades of communist rule, President Donald Trump, to tremendous applause, unraveled and rescinding Barack HUSSEIN Obama’s 'so-called' historic accord that opened up trade and travel to Cuba... and he did so by rightfully calling Obama's deal “terrible,” “one-sided,” and “misguided"... and that is putting it mildly.

And so in a campaign promise kept to the anti-Castro voting bloc that helped him win Florida in the 2016 election, President Trump stated that he will be "a voice against repression" and "a voice for the Cuban people." Adding that Obama's easing restrictions on Cuba did not help the Cuban people at all, especially with the Castro regime becoming even more repressive in their trying to crush the island nation's growing democratic movement, and because it still remains a regime that has failed to take any positive action on human rights, Trump went on to explain that current investments in business and tourism aided both Cuba's military...as all business relationships and deals go through the Cuban military...and Raul Castro's dictatorial regime...with any jobs created going to party cronies and loyalists alone.

Translating into any American monies given being our taxpayer dollars wasted.

And in a bold move to hold Castro accountable for still on-going and increasing oppression (in 2016 there were 9,940 short and long term detentions of political protesters, up from 8,899 in 2014) and human rights abuses ignored while Obama was president, President Trump let it be known that sanctions will not be lifted until all political prisoners are freed, until both freedom of assembly and expression is respected, until all political parties are legalized, and until free and internationally supervised elections are held, thus making it clear who is now calling the shots and who is not...and not means one Raul Castro.

See President Trump's full Miami speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JMMvOZt4-M

"The career service people, in the State Department and Treasury and in other places, are not in favor of changing this policy," said Sen. Marco Rubio during his and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's May 3rd White House meeting with President Trump...a meeting to try and get President Trump to reverse Obama's Cuba policy. And they did so even though two groups of pro-Cuba "engagement" House and Senate Republicans each sent letters to President Trump and to key members of his administration... letters asking for Cuba to remain "open"  citing the "entrepreneurial and national security benefits" as the reason for continuing Obama's Cuba policy.

Thankfully their letters failed.

See Sen. Marco Rubio's Miami speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP8xpDUTaUM

“We will enforce the ban on tourism. We will enforce the embargo. We will take concrete steps to ensure that investments flow directly to the people so they can open private businesses and begin to build their country’s great, great future, a country of great potential,” Trump said as he challenged the Cuban government to "come to the table" to work towards an agreement that is in the best interest of the Cuban, the American, and the Cuban-American people. And Trump said that best interest included Cuba's returning to face American justice both cop killer Joanne Chesimard and what he calls the Cuban military "criminals" who shot down and killed four members of Brothers to the Rescue.

Also, travel policies will be adjusted to make it harder for individual 'people-to-people' travel...tough luck Beyonnce and Jay-Z...but family travel will continue to be authorized as will U.S. based money transfers that Cuban-Americans send to their families on the island. And while we will retain formal diplomatic relations with Cuba via the newly re-opened U.S. Embassy in Havana, the 'wet foot, dry foot' policy will not be reinstated out of safety concerns for those trying to make such a dangerous sea voyage.

And while no changes will go into effect until both the Treasury and Commerce Departments issue new regulations that conform with Trump's new policy, the Cuban government's response to Trump's change in policy came swiftly and it came via a statement in the state-run newspaper Granma, "Again, the United States Government resorted to coercive methods of the past... the Cuban Government denounces the new measures to tighten the blockade, which are destined to fail as has been shown repeatedly in the past, and which will not achieve its purpose to weaken the revolution or to defeat the Cuban people, whose resistance to the aggressions of any type and origin has been proven over almost six decades."

But really...who cares what Raul Castro's propaganda rag has to say.

So now that Obama's bad Cuba deal has been rightly relegated to the trash heap where it belongs, Trump has one more bad deal of Obama's to get rid of...the multilateral agreement yet "catastrophically" bad Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)...more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal...probably the worst deal ever made by a U.S. president.

And this was a deal Obama touted as a crucial move towards what he called "detente with Iran" and towards regional peace, and was a deal that was supposed to restrict the nuclear ambitions of the rouge nation in exchange for lifting financial and oil sanctions imposed not just by the United States, but also by the European Union, and the United Nations.

But the reality remains that this was a deal that did not address Iran's foreign policy.violations, and was a deal made through blackmail of sorts what with Obama's 'warning' Congress that blocking the deal could spark not only start a Middle East war, but that U.S. credibility worldwide would be seriously damaged if Congress refused to abide by the deal's terms reached...a deal with a country that went from having 164 centrifuges in 2003 to 19,000 at the start of talks in 2013, despite broad and expansive U.N. sanctions.

And it did not matter to Obama that it was a very bad deal made with a country who has repeatedly in the past and who continues today to spew its intent to wipe Israel off the map while it touts as noble both violence against both American troops and the world's innocent civilians alike...for Iran is indeed the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and plays a major role role in regional military conflicts.

A deal I call 'aiding and abetting' the enemy...a deal of treason and nothing less...for Obama's very bad deal does little to block Iranian’s path to securing nuclear weapons as this deal actually gives Iran a 'pathway' to nuclear weapons capability. 

Remember, under this still in effect deal of Obama's, Iran is allowed to enrich uranium using the thousands of centrifuges it already has in operation, is allowed to conduct nuclear research and development, and is in charge of monitoring their own adherence to the nuclear restrictions. And dare we forget that in only ten years...in what is referred to as Iran’s 'breakout time'...their rush to secure a nuclear weapon drops to almost zero for as per the deal they will be allowed to begin building hundreds of advanced new centrifuges annually, while at the same time being allowed to expand its long-range ballistic missile program...the very program that would afford Iran its needed delivery system not to reach Israel but to reach who they call the 'Great Satan'...as in these United States of America.

So it is no wonder why this Iran deal of Obama's must join the Cuban deal in the trash heap, and must do so post-haste for it is a deal that not only assures Iran of eventually securing nuclear weapons, but it is a deal that also funnels tens of billions of dollars to terrorists hell-bent on destabilizing the entirety of the Middle East making full-blown war a possibility...allowing the so-wanted Levant to come to fruition.

And yet President Trump...who must review and sign the sanctions relief waiver every 120 days based upon Iran's complying with their end of the deal...just one month ago passed up his first chance to withdraw us from this very bad deal. And while Trump knows that it would be legally possible for him to nullify said deal, he also knows that his doing so could possibly isolate us from the international community. And besides, we already have unilateral sanctions placed against Iran that go back decades that the nuclear deal has no bearing on...sanctions recently extended by Congress.

So the question remains, is President Trump trying to renegotiate a better deal with Iran possibly his true goal? Probably not as it would be much easier for him to totally kill the existing deal because said deal still in effect did require demanding negotiations between many parties, with those parties now highly unlikely to want to renegotiate again. And while the deal did reign in Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities to some degree in return for the previously stated lifting of economic sanctions, it was our European allies not us who economically benefited the most from the deal with oil-rich Iran. And these folks would not want to jeopardize those benefits no matter the fact that any Western company that invests in Iran actually becomes complicit with a terrorist regime.

But how and with what justification could President Trump legally pull us out of Obama's very bad nuclear deal...and is he just waiting for the right time to send it to the proverbial trash heap where it belongs? I truly believe he is.

And why do I believe so...because said deal is only valid as long as all parties uphold it. And with Iran's continuing and active role as the leading state sponsor of terrorism has shown them to have already broken their end of the deal...a deal that forbade their giving released sanctions monies to terrorist groups.

And that is exactly what Iran has done in their giving money to known terrorist groups in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, including their giving monies to militias fighting the U.S. backed anti-government rebels in Syria...as in Obama's buddies the 'anything-but' Syrians rebels who are tentacles of ISIS and al-Qaeda....and their giving monies to U.S. designated terrorist group Hezbollah.

And also let's not forget the U.N. resolution passed immediately upon the nuclear deal going into effect that called for Iran not to undertake any activity whatsoever related to ballistic missiles...ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons...well that too Iran has broken.

Translation: whether alone or together both these instances are deal breakers of the first degree...deal breakers that give President Trump the much needed leverage, ammunition, and just cause to pull us out of a deal that should never been ratified by Congress in the first place...and he could do so by using our veto power as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to kill any continued sanctions relief.

So as President Trump continues his review of Obama's very bad nuclear deal, coupled with the fact that the U.S. remains the primary influence over the international financial system, makes both U.S. and international banks more than a bit leery about resuming full ties with Iran. And with our continued unilateral sanctions against Iran still in place allows us to continue to question Iran's intent to comply with the agreement they so desperately wanted. And that basically assures us that in time President Trump will pull us out of the deal that should never have been.

And that together with Obama's Cuba deal now being relegated to the trash heap truly is yet another step forward in helping to 'Make America Great Again.'

Copyright © 2017 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor 

************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!

Today, Tuesday, June 20th from 7 to 9pm EST on American Political Radio, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'One Bad Deal Down...One Very Bad Deal to Go' and the fact that 'It's Time to Investigate the Investigators.'

Hope you can tune in at: https://americanpoliticalradio.com/platinum-plus-player/

Op-ed: 
On Brussels, Terrorism, and Obama
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on http://www.americanpbn.com/

“This is my No. 1 priority...“I’ve got a lot of things on my plate, but my top priority is to defeat ISIL, and to eliminate the scourge of this barbaric terrorism.” 
- Barack HUSSEIN Obama's reading a teleprompted response to the recent ISIS terrorist attacks in Brussels

While designated terrorist group CAIR whines and throws a tantrum about presidential candidate Ted Cruz saying there is need for more “enhanced surveillance” of muslims here in America in the wake of last week's ISIS admitted terrorist attacks in Brussels, our president, Barack HUSSEIN Obama, dedicated an entire 59 seconds or so to remarks about said attacks, as he was too busy kissing Raul Castro's butt at a baseball in game in Cuba, before hurrying off to do the tango in Argentina.

Turning his back on Belgium, a NATO partner and ally, these actions should not be unexpected as this is the very same man who went golfing right after he gave our nation's 'official' but so not heartfelt condolences on national television to the family of James Foley...the captured American journalist whose head ISIS cut off and then sent the unspeakable act, via video, over the internet for all the world to see...for all the world to learn and to fear the true horror that is ISIS.

And last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in Brussels...simultaneous triple bombing attacks taking place six miles apart from each other, two at the airport in Brussels and one at the main downtown train station...were the third major terror attack on European soil in just over a year. Preceded by two attacks in Paris...the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket attacks, and the attacks at the Bataclan theater and soccer stadium in the French capital last November. And by basically shunning the people of Brussels let's not forget that this is the same man who did not attend the 'Solidarity March' where world leaders locked arms together in support of eliminating terrorism... most specifically islamic terrorism...after the above said horrific Charlie Hebdo Massacre that left over 20 dead...a massacre done simply because of magazine cartoons depicting the pedophile 'so-called' prophet mohamed upset the islamists oh so-delicate sensibilities.

And now ISIS has stated that they have over 400 operatives in Europe ready to strike again...and to strike again soon...to help assure that Europe sets its time clock back 1400+ years to the year 632 when islam began.

And with the qur'an and its 109 verses that call muslims to go to war with all nonbelievers for the sake of islamic rule...for the sake of assuring that we infidels submit to their 'made-up' god known as allah...including qur'anic verse (2:191-193) "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out” and Sura (9:5) ”...slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush...” know these are just two of the many verses of which the kumbaya sorts and bleeding heart liberals sadly still refuse to believe or accept as islamic truth.

And now we have the likes of Barack HUSSEIN Obama warning 'We the People' not to fall into the trap of condemning and retaliating against 'so-called' moderate muslims here in our country...you know the very muslims who refuse to condemn these or any acts of terror perpetrated on Westerners or on Middle East Christians for that matter. In fact, the majority of muslims, both here in the U.S. and abroad, actually condone these acts...actually celebrate these acts...for remember their silence remains deafening...all while they continue to claim that these acts of terror are justified revenge for their self-perceived ongoing killing of muslims worldwide.

Now sadly Obama's words stated upon hearing of the Brussels attack are even more chilling...more telling...for he stated that neither ISIS nor their acts should be allowed to disrupt Americans’ lives, including his own...uncaring selfish bastard that he is. Still refusing to say the words 'islamic terrorism' for fear of crossing and drawing the wrath and ire of his brethren, this most traitorous of presidents went about his merry way traipsing through Cuba and Argentina, turning a blind eye to the fact that not only were Europeans murdered that day but so were four Americans with a dozen others injured including an American military family...Americans who, at the time of this writing, still have not had their names released to the public...on just whose orders I wonder.

So instead of immediately returning home to orchestrate America's response to the attack on our NATO partner, especially with Brussels being the home of NATO headquarters, and with U.S. European Command and NATO now on high alert, Obama's lackluster response becomes even more telling of where his true loyalties lie. And while Jens Soltenberg, Secretary General of the NATO alliance, stated that, "We have decided to increase the alert state at NATO Headquarters. We remain vigilant and continue to monitor the situation very closely," Obama basically turned his and America's back on NATO and on Brussels...shades of his turning our country's back on Israel I would say.

So while world leaders unite to condemn the Brussels attack...just as they did after the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris...still in shock Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel described the attacks as a “black moment for our country,” while Britain's David Cameron calling on the world to “stand together” to defeat terrorism as Britain ramps up police presence and security checks at key transport hubs while his government is looking at increasing the number of armed response units available in the event of an attack in the UK. And while French President Francois Hollande said the deadly blasts had struck at “the whole of Europe,” adding that, "This war against terrorism needs to be carried out with cold blood," France has now deployed an extra 1,600 police officers to border crossings and air, sea and rail infrastructures including adding enhanced security measures at the UK-Belgium and UK-French borders.

And what is Barack HUSSEIN Obama doing while Europe basically gears up for all out war against islamic terrorism...a war we here in this country should be standing strong and united with our European counterparts as a secure Europe translates into a secure America...first, instead of increasing NATO spending and our military presence in Europe, Obama has basically cut our European presence by about 30% during his two terms in office, manpower needed to aid NATO in it's fight against the muslim invasion of Europe...and yes it is an invasion...and second, Obama has started the process of bringing into this country thousands of unable to be vetted 'so-called' Syrian refugees...male refugees primarily of military age whose loyalties and allegiances come very much into question.

Treason on all accounts I would say...treason as response to the bombings continues to come in from Turkey, Israel, and Putin's Russia. Turkish officials claim to have warned Belgium officials not once but twice about the terrorist ties of Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, one of the suicide bombers. And it's now being reported that Israeli intelligence agencies sent specific warnings to Belgium authorities about an immanent attack on the Belgium train station, but what was ignored by European intel agencies was the fact that intel of that type should automatically have been expanded to include airports as well, and it wasn't. And Russia's response included condolences to Belgium of course as well as expressing solidarity to join in the fight against islamic terrorism. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said that the West's politics of 'double standards' had led to terrorist attacks, and that the “frozen diplomatic relations between NATO and Russia” have slowed the fight against terrorism.

Led to the terrorist attacks and slowed the fight against terrorism Russia claims forgetting that not too long ago one of their own commercial jets was shot out of the sky by islamic terrorists killing all aboard. And while muslim sympathizers continue to make excuses for the terror acts now engulfing Europe saying they are a most legitimate response to grievances against the West...and most specifically justification against America...Barack HUSSEIN Obama's lack of serious response has America aligning with the enemy instead of with our allies even though he knows well that more attacks are coming...and coming soon...with the next 'big one' saved for American soil.

So the only question that remains is will that attack happen while Obama dances the night away or will it happen while he kisses more Castro butt...or will Obama get his brethren to wait until the next president takes over so as to keep his legacy safe. A distinct possibility but at what price...Europe cannot take much more as his brethren overwhelm their borders...as his brethren destroy the very civilization from which America was born.

*****************************************************
RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!
 
Saturday, March 26th from 11am to 1pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss Trump's smear campaign against Ted Cruz, the fallout from the Brussels bombing, and Craig unloads with the snark cannon.

Tune in at: www.americanpbn.com

Op-ed:
For Political Reasons Alone
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots on CPR Worldwide Media cprworldwidemedia.net.

"Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism..they should have remained on the list...and it sends a chilling message abroad that this White House is not serious about calling terrorism by its proper name."
- Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican presidential candidate and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Western Hemisphere sub-panel

Well Obama has gone and done it again as he continues on his roll to undermine America’s standing in the world...this time by removing yet another one of America's enemies from the State Department's list of terrorism sponsors. First he removed Hezbollah, then he removed Iran, and now he's removing Cuba...a country just 90-miles off Florida's coast...proving once again where his true loyalties lie.

And so this past Tuesday, more than a half century after U.S./Cuban ties were broken and mere days after a first-time meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas in Panama...a summit Cuba had NOT attended since its inception in 1994...but just two months after Obama extended a 19-year-old so-called state of emergency against Cuba for their threatening to shoot down U.S. airplanes or sink U.S. ships in the waters north of Cuba...this most miserable of presidents told Congress that he had made the final decision to remove Cuba from this all-important list because according to him the Cuban government "has not provided any support for international terrorism over the last six months."

Forgetting...or much more likely ignoring...that first, terrorism knows NO time frame and second, terrorism comes in many guises NOT just in the guise of suicide bombings and beheadings...and terrorism in Cuba today equates to how the Cuban people are NOT only oppressed in the political sense but are living without basic human rights, dignity, and necessities. And in a country basically stuck in the 1950s, eleven million people continue to live at a poverty level that would astound while at the same time the Castro brothers and their ilk...true to form of dictators everywhere...want for nothing.

 
“Since President Obama came into power, his administration’s policy toward the Castro regime has been: ask, and you shall receive." 
- Florida Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehtinen, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Cuba...a designated state sponsor of terror since 1982 due to its promoting armed revolution by terrorist organizations especially in Latin America and Spain...now has Obama saying that Cuba "has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future."

And our traitor-in-chief expects the American people...expects Congress...to accept the 'word' of a dictator over the 'actions' of said dictator NO matter that Cuba continues to support and facilitate actions by other nations and groups that pose a national security threat to the United States, for example their helping North Korea evade international sanctions imposed on them by the U.N. And for these and other actions, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) has said that Cuba should also remain on the terrorist list because it continues to harbor fugitives wanted in the U.S...fugitives like FBI-wanted convicted cop killer Joanne Chesimard who now goes by the name Assata Shakur, and who routinely espouses revolution and terrorism against the U.S...and William Guillermo Morales, a suspect in the 1970's NYC bombings claimed by the Puerto Rican FALN terrorist group.

And know that Cuba still provides a 'safe haven' for members of both the Marxist FARC rebels out of Colombia and members of the violent Basque separatist group ETA; that Cuba illegally held and imprisoned American businessman Alan Gross for five years; and so much more but all that matters to Obama is with his removing Cuba from the terror list it could result in diplomatic relations being restored via the opening of a U.S. Embassy in Havana and a Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C...a would-be feather in his currently tarnished legacy cap.

Also of note is that we do NOT gain economically from Obama's pandering to the Castro brothers as it's Cuba's needing to 'behave correctly', if you will, if they are to start any serious attempts at economic development and recovery...a much needed development and recovery Cuba claims the long-held embargo prevented them from doing...especially with their conducting business with American banks and international institutions. But according to a New York Times report Cuba 'found' a bank to do business with even before Obama's announcement, because get this...the Treasury Department usually takes “steps to ease the situation and facilitate” any such agreement.

I was never aware of that little bit of subterfuge, but with the Obama regime anything is possible if his royal highness deems it so.

And do NOT forget that this current 'behaving correctly' by Cuba is only until Raul Castro gets what he wants from Obama...as in a lifting of said embargo...for Cuba today remains as repressive and oppressive as ever. And while Obama's decision will most assuredly help the Cuban government attract both U.S. and foreign investments, the amount of American dollars needed to 'modernize' Cuba will reach up into the billions.

And what do 'We the People' get for our investment...nothing but our taxpayer dollars being used...being wasted...to support and bolster yet another dictatorial regime that does NOT like us very much...sad isn't it.

But while Obama took this step to restore diplomatic relations with the communist nation unilaterally...yet another in a long list of him going it alone...saying that times have changed and that he believes Cuba is NOT the “political thorn” it had been...under U.S. federal law a country cannot be removed from the terrorist list if it has NOT changed its policies and so long as the country is still supporting acts of international terrorism. And these are things which Cuba continues to do as they have taken NO tangible steps toward democratic reform as well as their continuing to have close ties with both Iran and Syria...with Syria still being on the terrorist list...making their recently issued government statement that “Cuba rejects and condemns all acts of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations,” nothing but empty words.

Thankfully, but with the outcome for the most part predetermined, Cuba's terrorism designation must remain in place for another 45 days before it can be approved...meaning Congress can and most likely will block Obama from taking Cuba off the terror list through a joint resolution prohibiting the move, but know Obama will veto it and with NOT enough votes to override his veto Barack HUSSEIN Obama will once again screw our beloved America while further emboldening the regime of yet another dictator of yet another communist country.

And so the man who just slapped Cuban-Americans in the face by his recently saying, “We don’t want to be imprisoned by the past...when something doesn’t work for 50 years, you don’t just keep on doing it. You try something new,” forgets history's most important lesson as said by George Santayana...”Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” and repeating it with a communist nation sitting but 90-miles off our coast could have very serious ramifications indeed.

Op-ed: 
Concessions to Tyranny Obama-Style
By: Diane Sori

“Barack Obama is the worst negotiator that we've had as president since at least Jimmy Carter, and maybe in the history of this country.”
- Florida Senator Marco Rubio, son of Cuban immigrants who came to the U.S. in 1956

Yesterday...in yet another tactic to divert and deflect our attention away from his unilateral authorization of 9,000 unapproved Syrian muslims being let into our country over the next few months...'We the People' got yet another lump of coal in our Christmas stocking from the traitor- in-the White House as Barack HUSSEIN Obama...coming but a day after Congress recessed for the Christmas holiday...has now taken it upon himself through executive action to LIFT the embargo against Cuba...a country on the U.S. list of nations that sponsor terrorism.

With his announcing that the U.S. will work towards 'normalizing' and restoring full diplomatic relations with the island nation just 90 miles off Florida's coast...including opening an embassy in Havana and easing restrictions on remittances, travel, commerce and banking, including allowing the use debit cards in Cuba as well as raise the level of remittances allowed to be sent to Cuban nationals to $2,000 every three months from the current limit of $500. And this means Obama is allowing even more American dollars to be sent out of this country going to non-Americans.

So once again and true to form Obama is violating standing U.S. laws by dealing directly with the communist/marxist country of Fidel and Raul Castro...dealing directly with a country 'in bed' with our enemies. And all this comes as Cuba releases American contractor Alan Gross...after his having served five years most recently in a Cuban prison hospital ward...for so-called 'humanitarian' reasons but the reality is this release is for anything but.

NOT done for humanitarian reasons for the reality is this release was done to mask yet another paying of ransom of sorts to an enemy...just like Obama did with that now come back to haunt '5- for-1' trade of five high-ranking Taliban terrorists for one low-level army deserter named Bowe Bergdahl. However this time, to secure Gross' release Obama actually used his clemency power to commute the sentences of the last three of the five Red Avispa members...allowing the three to be simultaneously released as Gross was released. This 3-for-1swap...of those convicted of spying on anti-Castro groups here in America (including Miami-based 'Brothers to the Rescue') with one of those being released convicted of 'conspiracy to murder' when the Cuban military shot down two of the 'Brothers to the Rescue' civilian planes...was ill-conceived from the start as Gross was NO spy but this deal of Obama's does make it seem as if he indeed was.

And so another prisoner swap has been completed where America once again comes out on the short end for this was an Obama-planned and executed swap...and you just know that cannot be good.

Alan Gross...who worked for Development Alternatives, out of Bethesda, Md., was a man who had traveled to more than 50 countries as an international development worker. Arrested in 2009 and falsely convicted in 2011 of spying for bringing standard satellite telephone equipment that was capable of cloaking internet connections into Cuba, the Castro government claimed this equipment was going to be used in a U.S.-led plot to overthrow said government. Gross was finally released yesterday after 18 months of secret 'back channel' talks at the highest levels of both governments...talks that were largely hosted by Canada and encouraged by Pope Francis.

Hmmm...Obama willingly talks with a communist government...after all he is a communist himself...but NO talks were conducted with our 'supposed' friend Mexico for the release of Sgt. Andrew Tahmoorissi...just saying.

And now the U.S. and Cuba...once the 'Jewel of the Caribbean' but sadly now a cesspool of poverty of Castro's own doing...are going to immediately begin talks to restore full diplomatic relations to end the five-decades-old embargo against Cuba. Saying he will send 'major' amounts of money to the Cuban people...people who will now go from having the Cuban government supporting them...'them' as in Cuba's version of our welfare gimme-gimme sponges...to a by-proxy form of our American government and our taxpayer dollars supporting them. And all the Cubans who came here LEGALLY...including in what is the still legal and in effect 'Wet foot-Dry foot policy... just got a slap in the face from the traitor-in-chief as did any and all others who came here LEGALLY.

And what happens to all the Cubans who lost everything when Castro took power...the Cubans who were forced to flee the island in fear of their lives...when Castro 'stole' for himself and his minions all the property, monies, and tangible assets from those who opposed him...from those whose family members he murdered. And do NOT think for a minute that Castro didn't have people murdered for Castro had a direct member of my husband's family murdered...executed actually...as in lined up before a firing squad in front of his family, shot in the knees to force him into a hoped for 'begging for his life position' (he NEVER caved), and then had countless bullets fired into his body until dead. His crime...my husband's uncle was resistance member Humberto Sori-Marin, the Cuban Agricultural Minister who was actually working for and in tandem with JFK on the 'Pay of Pigs' invasion to overthrow Fidel Castro.

And now Sen. Rubio said he will (rightfully) try to use his upcoming key roll on the Foreign Relations subcommittee in an attempt to block Obama's "dangerous and desperate attempt to burnish his legacy at the Cuban people’s expense." And the incoming Foreign Relations chairman, Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, said this panel will be “closely examining” the implications of the administration’s new Cuba policy.

Also, former Florida governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush recently told a gathering of the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, "I would argue that instead of lifting the embargo we should consider strengthening it again to put pressure on the Cuban regime." Obviously, Obama did NOT give a damn about Bush's thoughts nor did he even heed RINO extraordinaire John Boehner words that "Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom – and not one second sooner."

So the bottom line in Obama's announcement is that he is now rewarding a dictator who continues to oppress his people, thus setting in place an extremely dangerous precedent that could actually put American lives in danger. And how so...simply because this trade and Obama's now official recognition of the continuing Castro regime begs America's enemies to kidnap and use Americans overseas, both those serving in our military and in the private sector, as bargaining chips to get what they want. And with America's enemies being Obama's friends they will surely get whatever they damn well please.

“This entire policy shift announced today is based on an illusion, on a lie, the lie and the illusion that more commerce and access to money and goods will translate to political freedom for the Cuban people,” so said Sen. Rubio. And how right he is as this NOTHING but a politically opportunistic move that Obama has now set in motion will do NOTHING but allow Fidel's hand-picked successor...his younger brother Raul Castro...to remain in power unchecked for Castro has the upper hand as Obama vindicates the very actions of yet another dictator against his own people.

"Todos somos Americanos" Obama said which translates into "We are all Americans." But know these words are a direct slap in the face to the Cuban people for the Cuban people are NOT Americans just as Americans are NOT Cubans...just as Barack HUSSEIN Obama is NOT an American himself...need I say more.

Op-ed: 
The pictures say it all*
By: Diane Sori

As the saying goes, ‘Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words’ and in the case of Barack HUSSEIN Obama…America’s most narcissistic of presidents…there are many pictures to speak many words…and those words are all so NOT good.

But first a little history and presidential protocol. Simply, America does not recognize royalty or social rank, and when our president interacts with foreign leaders he is representing our country, ‘We the People', and our Constitution.

This means that when Barack HUSSEIN Obama in his capacity as president bows to a foreign leader…does the so-called ‘bro-handshake’ with a Communist dictator…hugs a Communist leader…he is representing us and thus we are doing these things right along with him.

And while technically it’s NOT even right for an American president to bow to the Queen of England or the Emperor of Japan ...but being that England, Japan, and the US are the staunchest of allies it can be somewhat overlooked...but when an American president…as in Barack HUSSEIN Obama…does these things with dictators… does these things with America’s enemies…does these things with Communist thugs who share none of America’s values, virtues, or ideals…he does this on behalf of us all.

And that should have every one of you hopping mad for America bows to NO one.

Bowing, hugging, and ’bro-handshakes' of any kind done...and all done with a big smile on his face...before or with foreign leaders who are NOT America's friends…done before or with communist dictators…shows a lack of respect to America and an internal weakness of the American people in allowing this president to continue to do this.

The simple fact is right now America NO longer leads…sadly our number one super power status has been overtaken by Vladimir Putin’s Russia (and by a man who bows to NO one)…for with Barack HUSSEIN Obama at America’s helm catering and bowing to the enemy has become the norm. Obama believes that all nations should be equal…all leaders on the same plane of power…all answering to his supported and oh so-wanted ‘One World Government’ order.

But I pray that is NOT America’s destiny for that was NOT the goal when America was founded, and last time I looked the Constitution was still the law of this land.

We Americans…especially we American patriots…know what we must do to protect both our Constitution and our way of life as laid down in that very Constitution…and we know we cannot allow Barack HUSSEIN Obama to defame, dishonor, and negate our Constitution any longer as he caters to, condones, and aides America’s enemies in words, pictures, and deeds.

Thomas Jefferson foresaw a man like Barack HUSSEIN Obama someday ascending to the presidency when he said, “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you” and now it’s way passed time for us to heed those wise words.

And as Obama’s actions define who he is our actions must define who we are…or our inactions will be America’s death knell. ‘We the People’ must demand in a united voice that Congress impeach and then arrest this president…a president who bows to our enemies…a president who bro-handshakes with Communist dictators…a president whose every action and every LIE dishonors all America is…a president who said and this is the most grievous of all, “It doesn’t matter since for all intent and purposes the US

Constitution is dead”.

And Congress must NOT back down to a fabricated race card that Barack HUSSEIN Obama and his minions love to pull out as need be to keep those we elected to work for us in line. It’s high passed time to do what we all know needs to be done for three more years of Barack HUSSEIN Obama bowing to our enemies, cavorting with our enemies, embracing our enemies, will indeed become America’s demise.

And like I said at the beginning, ‘Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words’ but with Barack HUSSEIN Obama I’ll let these but a few of many pictures say it all…tell you all…better than I ever could.

And if these pictures bowing and kowtowing to our enemies are NOT a call to action then I do NOT know what is.

____________________________________________________________ 

* Photo 1: Obama bowing and shaking the hand of Cuban dictator Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's funeral this past Monday in South Africa, 2013
   Photo 2: Obama bowing low to the Saudi King Abdullah at the European G-20 Summit, 2009
   Photo 3: Obama warmly shaking the hand and smiling with Libya's dictator Moammar Ghadafi at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, 2009
   Photo 4: Obama bowing head to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko during a visit Republican with Senator Dick Luga, 2010
   Photo 5: Obama 'bro-handshaking' and laughing it up with dictator and America hater Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, 2009
   Photo 6: Obama warmly shaking hands with Hugo Chavez and patting him on the shoulder at the same summit, 2009
   Photo 7: Obama bowing to Chinese Leader Hu Jintao at the Nuclear Security Summit, 2010