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Originally posted by Mike33
I totally agree.
So why did the US support the previous dictator Fulgencio Bastista? We approve of dictators so long as they are friendly with us?
Seems it's not the fact that he's a dictator why we don't like him or we wouldn't have supported any dictator in Cuba.
This is no debate, it's a question.
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The U.S. supported Batista mainly for economic reasons. The millions of dollars (in 1950's money mind you) in contracts Batista gave to American contractors was a big factor. Unlike current U.S. policy, the U.S. wasnt in the habit of sticking our nose into other peoples business back then. Even in the 30's when Batista forced San Martín out of office, and fueding started, U.S. Ambassador Welles, stated to Batista "I will lay down no specific terms; the matter of your government is a Cuban matter and it is for you to decide what you will do about it." This of course is prior to the huge economic gains the U.S. received from Cuba.
Castro did not ask for Russias help because no other Country would help him. The revolution of 1959 was a Marxist one. Many Cubans realized that and fled the Country. Castro then seized all American assets. That was the start of economic sanctions placed on Cuba.
When Castro allowed our #1 enemy Khrushchev to build nuclear missles in Cuba, a mere 90 miles off of our coast, should we have just sat back and smiled?