Discussing Cuba: Journalist Predicts Trump Golf Course At The Bay Of Pigs
As worldwide contemplation continues over the death of Cuba’s Fidel Castro, a U.S. journalist has humorously predicted within ten years there will be a Trump golf course at the Bay of Pigs and, whether or not this comes true, optimism seems to be growing among those who left because they were not welcome on Castro’s island-nation.
Just to be clear, the Bay of Pigs invasion, according to Michael Voss and his posting of events over at CCTV, involved fighting and bloodshed in 1961 that took place on “an isolated inlet on Cuba’s southern coast some 200 kilometers from the capital Havana.” The account given in the online post there:
“The CIA had predicted that once the invading force landed on the beaches there would be a popular uprising here against Fidel Castro. In the end the exact opposite happened.”
Leaving the possibility of a Trump golf course near the Bay of Pigs for a moment, on the weekend news show Face the Nation, reporter Manuel Bojorquez of CBS stated that there will be a public gathering Tuesday at Havana’s Revolution Square for people to pay their respects to Castro.
“His remains will then be taken down a symbolic route from Havana to Santiago, Cuba, essentially retracing in reverse the victory march he took with the revolutionary army in 1959. His funeral will be held next Sunday in Santiago, known as the cradle of Castro’s revolution.”
Host John Dickerson interviewed a senior research fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Julia Sweig as well as Jeffrey Goldberg who was “the last American journalist to interview Fidel Castro,” according to Dickerson.
It turns out Castro was quite concerned in 2010 about the Iranian nuclear program and the potential for a nuclear war in the Middle East, according to Goldberg.
“And so having a conversation with one of the most incendiary area figures of the Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the more interesting moments of my life.”
Goldberg said he had Julia Sweig with him on the trip in 2010 as well. Ever the fact-finder, Goldberg revealed this historical tidbit:
“The key memory or one of the key memories of this is when I asked him if he regrets asking Khrushchev in 1962 to annihilate the United States with nuclear weapons. And he paused and he said — in essence, he said, that was probably a bit too much.”
Sweig stated that she found Castro to be “conversational” and they discussed 1950’s history together. Asked if Castro changed as he became older, Sweig said she thought so.
“And he was pointedly — at least directly — stayed out of his brother’s way, as his brother, Raul, advanced a modest reform process.”
Goldberg added that even though Fidel “mellowed,” it was “not to the degree that he seemed to be very happy with Barack Obama’s opening to Cuba.”
“Fidel Castro, for 50-plus years, needed the confrontation with the United States in order to — that was his reason for living in a kind of way. And Obama subverted in a very obvious sort of way the Fidel Castro narrative.”
Also discussed on the weekend show was the future U.S. policy towards Cuba with a President Donald Trump.
“Well, look, president-elect Trump is a hotel guy,” answered Sweig. “He’s a business guy. When he takes the White House, he will hear from a number of American companies that are now flying commercial planes starting this week to Cuba, building hotels on the island, American people, universities, museums across the board, Cuban-Americans” themselves investing in their family’s businesses on the island, voting with their feet.”
She anticipated that President Trump would have a big choice to make. “Does he want to go back to the Cold War and pick a fight and punish 11 million people for the trespasses of two guys named Castro, or does he want to take the opportunity coming in 2018, when Raul Castro says he will step down, to really shape the direction of the two countries’ relationship?”
And this is the point where the journalist made his prediction about the possibility of a Trump golf course.
“No, no, I would just not be surprised if, 10 years from now, there is a Trump golf course at the Bay of Pigs. Just mark my words.”
Reporter Carlos Suarez posted an article, covering a Little Havana community of dissidents, at 10News online. Suarez quoted the president of the Bay of Pigs Veterans Association, Humberto Arguelles, on the death of Castro.
“I want to thank President-elect Donald J. Trump for the truthful and morally correct words of encouragement to the Cuban people that he issued upon the death of the tyrant.”
So, what did President-elect Trump say about the death of Cuba’s Fidel Castro?
“Today, the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.”
Below is the tweet from ABC News with the statement from Trump.
JUST IN: President-elect Donald Trump on Castro’s death: “Today, the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator.” https://t.co/cvwva18EY3 pic.twitter.com/6vPiXPPaGM
— ABC News (@ABC) November 26, 2016
Vice President-elect Mike Pence tweeted the news that Cuba’s Fidel Castro has gone on to his eternal reward, with no remorse and although optimistic for the future of Cuba and Cubans, no mention of new hotels or golf courses either.
The tyrant #Castro is dead. New hope dawns. We will stand with the oppressed Cuban people for a free and democratic Cuba. Viva Cuba Libre!
— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 26, 2016
[Featured Image from AP Images]
