By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
What got my attention recently was the video above of Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro shooting the breeze in their track suits.
Fidel Castro, of course, led Cuba for 50 years, starting in 1959. His pal Hugo Chavez has been president of Venezuela since 1999.
Chavez has been in Cuba to undergo chemotherapy for his recently revealed cancer.
He could have summoned the very best doctors to his home. He was invited to go to a world class cancer facility in Brazil. But he chose Havana.
Cuba has a cheap and surprisingly good healthcare system, but Chavez's attachment to Cuba is more than just medical - it's political. He's making the statement that he supports the Cuban model.
Unfortunately, that model is crumbling. It is totally out of sync with the modern world.
Chavez has gone so far as to talk of a "Venecuba", a merger between two allied states. These kinds of ideas - these two men - are relics of another era. While much of the region has embraced free markets and free trade, riding a wave of fast growth and rising incomes, "Venecuba" has lagged behind.
Brazil grew at nearly eight percent last year. The Venezuelan economy shrank by two percent. The year before that, it contracted by another three percent, and that's despite OPEC announcing this week that Venezuela has more proven oil reserves than Saudi Arabia. People in the most oil-rich nation in the world actually suffer from rolling blackouts thanks to years of bad leadership.
Meanwhile, Cuba and its finances are in free-fall, surviving only because of Venezuela.
Remember that Cuba has been a basket case for decades, but it was sustained by billions in Soviet aid. Then, in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. Havana lost its ideological ally and its major sponsor. The economy contracted by a third and there were dire food and fuel shortages.
Enter Hugo Chavez. When he became president, he immediately sought the blessing of his hero, Fidel Castro. Association with Castro gave Chavez revolutionary street cred. In return, Chavez has virtually written Cuba a blank check.
According to a Brookings Institute study, Caracas ships 115,000 barrels of oil to Cuba at discounted prices every day. That accounts for 60 percent of the island's oil demand. In total, Venezuela's various types of aid to Cuba is said to add up to nearly $5 billion a year. Havana returns the favor by sending tens of thousands of doctors and nurses the other way.
It doesn't sound like a fair trade. In Cuba, there are signs the leadership realizes it needs to wean itself off Venezuela's largesse. Fidel Castro's younger brother, Raul, is now president and is trying to seek out investment from China, India and Brazil. But, structurally, not much has changed in Cuba since 1991. The island nation is still run on socialist principles that have produced shortages, black markets and mass poverty.
Imagine what happens to Cuba without Venezuela's support, and imagine what happens in Venezuela if its people begin asking questions about why they suffer one of the world's highest rates of inflation, a contracting economy and one of the worst crime rates despite having more oil than any other nation in the world. One day, these two countries will look around, see that Latin America is leaving them behind, and face the future.
So remember the images in the video above of the two amigos. They might turn out to represent the last hurrah of a dying world.
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The youth in both of these countries will surprise the world when finally given the chance, so much talent, hope and promise.
Definitely, the two soul-mates – Castro and Chavez – and their anti-imperailistic and capitalistic views are history. Latin America emerges. It's neo-liberal market economy has a new face and sees the rise of a strong middle-class.
You are kidding, right? Are you ever been in Venezuela?
Sorry , I think you are crazy!!! The Venezuelan people are tired of this Chavez!!!! Let see waht happen in the 2012 president election. Chavez please stay in Cuba and leave our country !!!!!!!!
Rise of a strong middle class? Are you kidding? It was the middle class in Venezuela that ruined the country and kept its poor majority in the deepest poverty in Latin America, while siphoning off the pittance in oil profits that US Big Oil allowed them.
@Ruth, Teresa and Captain – I'm talking about the middle class in LATIN AMERICA, not Venezuela. I said Chavez is history. I hope Venezuela's people will see a better future!
What are you talking about? Castro and Chavez, capitalist and anti-imperialist? This article is about Latin America embracing free markets and shunning the Cold War communism of Cuba and Venezuela.
Teresa, I feel your pain but don't drow your trash on us. Chavez stay the he'll away from Cuba!
I HAVE been to Venezuela and Cuba on numerous occasions.30 years ago, Venezuela used to be a beautiful vibrant place with happy smiling people !
Then when I visited 4 years ago,everything had changed, all I saw was government propoganda, photos of Chavez everywhere,on the Radio on the TV.
You can't escape the guy!!!
The thing which struck me most is the fact that the people who believe in this relic,are so used to free handouts,they don't want to work and almost at every street roadwork you can se one guy armed with a Pickaxe working away, with 12 others just standing around looking at him !!!!
Its a sad place!!
Fareed Zakaria, You made a mistake in speaking of the Corinthians, without any basic search, and we're expecting an apologies. Sorry Corinthians is enough.
I don't doubt your statement for a second. However, I would qualify it a little further. Yes, they will surprise us but very likely they will do so elsewhere and not in their country of origin.
I don't think I have to even mention the Cuban exodus that the Castro brothers are responsible for.
Sadly, in Venezuela we are having the same situation. Thousands upon thousands of Venezuelans are leaving the country because of the conditions Mr. Chavez has created in the country. Most of those leaving are professionals with higher education degrees.
That is just what Chavez wants....He gets rid of all his detractors in that way so the Country becomes even mor ignorant and he can hang onto power as long as he likes....Or Lives, in this case !!!
The wealthy business owners are leaving Venezuela. If they aren't leaving, they are sending their children away for an education in the United States. I know a few Venezuelan surgeons who got political asylum because they are gay and their gay roommates were murdered in their apartments by alleged government police. These men returned home to find the bodies, instantly suspected the Chavez thugs and high tailed it to the United States as fast as possible. The government took over the asphalting business that belonged to one of the men's families. The government insists that priority jobs get done, then they don't pay the asphalt company. The government calls a week later for another job without supplying the asphalt or the reimbursement for previous jobs. This government is all about taking from the rich and extending it to the perpetual poor whose only abilities are breeding with reckless abandon to create more and more poor with less and less opportunities to go around.
Hey, Chuck, I can recognize BS when I see it. When I see a line like "taking from the rich and extending it to the perpetual poor whose only abilities are breeding with reckless abandon" I know just what class of person you are, and you and your entire class of people should be ashamed of yourselves.
I love the comment about constant breeding. It seems we are constantly hit upon with requests for donations of money to feed this or that group of poor and needy and my thoughts are always the same, tell these people to stop spreading their legs and pumping out the babies like an assembly line. It's also time a lot of the blame went to the catholic church which has marketed its product to places like South America so heavily over the years, a very high percentage of these poor are catholic and the catholic church objects to any form of birth control. I say it's time they started paying for all these babies that these poor breeders keep pumping out.
Carlos,
"Yeah! Heck, let's create that ideological equivalent in every country suffering from an economic downturn. Like, say, the United States. Let's have the government tax all of the uneducated poor people having babies, because they are a leech on society. Even though I want less government in my life, I want more government controlling the reproductive rights of...poor people. Let's say anyone making under the equivalent of $20,000 per year has to pay every time they pop out a kid. Sure, that'll shove them deeper into the abyss of poverty, but they deserve it for being so stupid, religious, and poor. If that isn't capitalism, I don't know what is!"
You, sir, are a class A moron.
That same talent, hope and promise exists in the American gay population. We have thwarted their lives with our ridiculous rules regarding marriage, gays in the military, firing them from their jobs because they are gay. Our federal government is deep in the red regarding civil and human rights for gay Americans. We are slowly digging our way out of 200 years of discrimination. Cuba is not the only country that stomps all over the unalienable rights of it's citizens.
Hey Chuckie, are you Chuckie from the horror movie, or did you just forget to take your meds today?
I move that from now on, in news articles, etc., Raul Castro is not referred to as Fidel's "younger" brother, but as Fidel's "less-old" brother. Just seems to portray things more accurately.
How did the youth of america with all their freedoms stave off near bankruptcy of their country?
For all his sins, Castro is not the worst political leader in modern area. Osama Bin Laden & Saddam Hussein were far worse. Gadaffi is getting there.
I can't wait until Cuba is finally out of communist hands and becomes at least as good as Puerto Rico.
Fareed please stay clear of subjects you know nothing about your not helping any one here with your views of Cuba and Venezuela stick to what you know best that other part of the world
Gee, thanks for the insult, Mr. Castle.
-Signed: All the people who -in addition to Zakaria- worked on this article
Ron castle might be a chinese propagandist. They are tasked with defending all adversaries of the US online, as part of their proxy fight with us.
Some are polite but intent on sabotaging discussions that won't work in their favor.
Multiple people worked on this? You have to be joking. How many people does it take to cut and paste an e-mail from NED?
Cuba vs. U.S.– Cuba has higher Life Expectancy, lower Infant Mortality, Universal Healthcare, and . . . food security policies praised worldwide.
Duh! People in jails have excellent health care.
Food security policies praised worldwide? Methinks not. Cuba despite having vast amounts of (wasted) fertile land, imports 80% of the food it consumes, a situation which Raul Castro himself has described as unsustainable.
The United States incarcerates more people than the USSR ever did AND more per capita than any country. Cuba doesn't rank.
FAO praises Cuba’s food security policies
http://www.greenantilles.com/2011/03/11/fao-praises-cubas-food-security-policies/
Cuba also holds another record: one of the countries with the highest incidence of stupidity and mental defects in the whole world.
This has to be the only viable explanation to the fact that despite living in paradise thousands and thousands of Cuban risk their life every year to escape from the island.
Ah Richard, put down the comic books and return to the real wold, it needs your great and insightful commentary.
Great. You should go live there.
Hey Pilkington, back to basics,. Since Cuba does not allow its people to emigrate, it in effect has incarcerated all of its citizens. Please slow down, think, write down your "thought" 5 times, proofread, and only then post. It will clean up some of the nonsense that gets posted by zealots such as yourself.
Real World: IF ONLY– millions of inner-city American youth had somewhere to escape to.
Inner city kids do have someplace to which they can escape. It's called school. Even though the inner city school may not be of the highest standard with the best educators possible, it is still school and there are still dedicated, intelligent teachers willing and able to engage these kids. The problems for these inner city kids began at toddlerhood with their parents, in their homes. The parents abdicated their most important responsibility. Educators are not babysitters.
Cuba has not been "sending tens of thousands of doctors and nurses the other way...." to Venezuela. They may be sending a few thousand to the "bodega" clinics which usurped the standard central saluds of Venezuela. Why open new clinics instead of updating the existing services? Why, if Cuba has sent all these medical professionals to Venezuela, was it necessary for Mr. Chavez to seek treatment in another country? If it isn't good enough for him, why would it be good enough for his voting public? There's a real vote of confidence.
All the different tables I have reviewed show the U.S. either tied with or slightly exceeding Cuban life expectancy.
Cuba has a better record for infant mortality. The U.S. exceeds in mortality by approximately 0.10 – 0.50
Food security varies widely by country. Much of what I read contained incomplete or skewed data about Cuba. Those from the eastern districts suffer from anemia, low birth weight (to young teen mothers) and some other ailments. Cuba has been forced into organic farming (a positive for the general population) due to lack of petroleum based enhancers and derivatives after the fall of the USSR. It's difficult to accurately determine the food basket for Cuba, by percentage. By contrast, data was forthcoming for the U.S. with 85% of households food secure throughout the entire year of 2009, and 14.7 percent of households food insecure at least some time during 2009. Mr. Pilkington, most readers would appreciate actual facts and figures to substantiate your comments.
You're so full of it. Is that why people risk their lives to come here? Have you ever been there? I've been there many times. Unless you're smoking the funny stuff. All I saw was poverty at its worst.
people in jails have terrible healthcare especially in the us. there is a reason most dont have any teeth
I agree. To me, this is the "good side" (if there is one) of communism. But alas, I'm afraid it isn't so easy and far so much more than that.
Mr. Zakaria, have you ever been to Cuba to receive health care? Please, I'm sick of the liberal media around the world supporting a cause that has absolutely no saving grace! Why would mothers risk losing thier children when they take to the high seas in search of freedoom? As for that wonderful healthcare that all uninformed US-bashers repeat ad-nauseam, my grandfather died there because he could not get the medicne he needed. Yes, I defnitely think you should stick to your geographical area of expertise.
Cuba has great doctors. Why? Because they actually become doctors to help people rather than for the money. Though they have doctors, they don't have the medicine to actually treat their patients. The reason why some say it's better than U.S healthcare is because in my opinion people don't have to worry about a huge medical bills after a doctor's visit. It's called peace of mind. People leave Cuba because they have an idealized view of all they can acheive in the United States. Then they come to the U.S. and realize if you get sick you amass huge bills, money doesn't fall off trees, and you actually have to get your lazy behind to work to pay your bills. You can get an education and make decent money-if you're lucky, yet hey, you get stuck with the huge loans if your parents can't afford to pay your education or you're unable to do it yourself. Oh, I'm starting to miss Cuba... NOT!
I don't like this article. I think it's poorly written. What serious journalist calls Cuba a basket-case? I think they're other words that can be used to describe the state the country has been and is currently in.
Do you, by any chance, have lived in Cuba?
I am Cuban, Mr. Castle, and I left my country after many years with Castro in power. That authorizes me to say that you are the one that knows nothing about Cuba. I do not know if you live en Venezuela, but if you don't then the same principle applies about your comments. There is nothing more ridiculous that someone talking just for the pleasure or, perhaps, to try to make people believe that "I know everything".
Sorry, Mr. Castle, you know nothing about Cuba.
Nope, never been to Cuba...or Venezuela (but my Spanish teacher came from there). Someday when all is well, hope to go to both.
Sir: Please correct the spelling of Hugo Chavez in the first paragraph.
no!
The report was concise. So concise, that it left out a lot of facts. Hugo Chavez came to power because democracy had failed. Romulo Betancourt, in the 1950's said that the Venezuelans needed to "sembrar el petroleo", to sow the oil, and with the emergence of OPEC in the 1970's, they really had the opportunity to do that. They failed. Los ADecos and los Copeyanos let the oil money simply pass through the patronage gravy train and be wasted. In fact, they borrowed money, using the oil in the ground as collateral and wasted that too.
The price of oil crashed when non-OPEC countries found oil. The Venezuelans couldn't borrow money and paying back what they had borrowed precipitated a Peru-like inflation. The negligence of the leaders of the non-communist parties amounted to rolling out the red carpet for Chavez.
You can blame Venezuela's standard of living on Chavez, but Carlos Andres Perez and presidents that followed him should take a healthy portion of the blame as well.
> Romulo Betancourt, in the 1950's said that the Venezuelans needed to "sembrar el petroleo"
Actually, it was the writer Arturo Uslar Pietri, el 14 de julio de 1936.
> Carlos Andres Perez and presidents that followed him should take a healthy portion of the blame as well.
The presidents from the Christian Democratic party (COPEI) live in the very same homes, with the exact standards of living before and after being presidents. Soon after his death, the NYT published an article about Luis Herrera Campins, in which they cited that he was one of the rare cases of honesty. Since his car had been stolen (very common in Caracas) he walked daily to the market, a common man.
Meanwhile, presidents from the other party (AD) have mansions overseas, their lovers move worldwide in private jets.
Now the Chavistas are multiplying the corruption orders of magnitude.
Correct – Venezuela was given to Chavez in a silver platter by the previous governments. Greed, corruption, ignorance is what has destroyed Venezuela. Venezuelans looked to Chavez as something different. The cure is worse than the disease. We Venezuelans need to look forward and only look back to our history so we do not make the same mistakes. Venezuelans have to take responsibility and work hard towards improving the future. The problem is how do we get rid of Chavez, and how do we prepare for when Chavez is gone. It will take a long time before Venezuela's democratic structure is put back together again.
I believe the line we should focus on is: "Cuba has a cheap and surprisingly good healthcare system." This is the problem with an unchecked capitalistic system: can not see the forest for the trees!
What's your point? That America should throw away 90% of it's wealth and reduce ourselves to utter poverty so that the 15% of us who are uninsured can have access to more affordable care? Yeah, I don't think emulating Cuba is really the right approach. Especially since we don't have a neighbor like Venezuela who will pay for it. Of course, that's the whole point of this piece, which is very good.
Yes, I like Cubans too... uh, wait. Uh, the ones you smoke or the sandwich? Oh, man... hey teleprompter, help!!
Toothless trailer park SPERM IDIOT! You get the drift? IDIOT.
Are you by chance related to evil possessed coward murderer Breivick? The Devil Lucifer Sperm at work.
I like Cubans. I hire them to wash my laundry like all my rich republican friends.
Yes, I like Cubans too... uh, wait. Uh, the ones you smoke or the sandwich? Oh, darn... hey teleprompter, help!!
You must be mistaken. I believe you take your clothes to be dry-cleaned at our business.
No longer, not after the job was screwed up 3 times in a row. Guess Cubans are no better at dry leaning than anything else.
I shall not have any water boarding on this island. Water boarding is not nice, oh wait a minute....is Guantanamo in Cuba or can the Cubans see it from Havana?
I understand they make great housekeepers. If only I could afford to have one...or have one as a husband...which ever works.
Is free market economy really the best model? Republicans had complete control of U.S for economy during the Jr. bush years. The result was 8 millions jobs lost and global financial collapse. How is U.S model working for the whole world? I don't care for communist manifesto but U.S model don't seem that good either.
Jr Bush? Never read it that way but I love it. Miss him as president...SERIOUSLY!
Stop taking marching orders Fareed. I love the way you cherry pick the economic data for those two years, ignoring the massive growth that took place the years prior that placed Venezuela in the top 10 in the world for GDP growth. I also like how the only indicators of success you use are inflation and crime, ignoring how much the poverty rate has declined, how happy the Venezuelan people have rated, how much better the education, health care and social security benefits are.
Truly, an article lacking any insight,, accuracy, or integrity. Hope we don't see much more of this from you.
It is a broad overview of the situation. All true! I just wanted to comment that in Venezuela people are aware of the current disgrace and know that we are falling behind. Better times are yet to come, hopefully very soon. Thanks Fareed for bringing attention to this issue
perhaps if cuba's natural trrading partner, the US, hadn't done it's best to bankrupt it for 50 years we might have a better picture of how it's economy could perform. And how is that free market approach doing in Africa? Any fool can create a boom, we'll see how keen everyone is on brazil in 10 years.
Mr. Zakaria,
Your analysis is shortsighted and misinformed, I think you are really doing your readers a disservice. Please do your research before publishing pieces like this.
"But, structurally, not much has changed in Cuba since 1991." Really? Before the communist collapse, Cuba's main source of income was the aid it received from the Soviet bloc in the shape of highly subsidized trade agreements. Today, Cuba's main sources of income are medical services and tourism, which was virtually nonexistent in the early 1990s. The market reforms recently approved the 6th Party Congress are precisely about deep economic and structural reforms. In 1991, you couldn't have your own small business in Cuba. You couldn't buy a car. You couldn't buy a house. By the end of the year, all these things will be possible in Cuba. And I won't even go into the fact that Cuba has found large deposits of oil off its shores.
"It doesn't sound like a fair trade." What is unfair about two countries acting on their comparative advantage? Cuba has human capital, while Venezuela has large deposits of oil.
I could go on and on, but there's no sense in expending more time on a rather poor piece of journalism.
HM
Well Said. Obviously both countries came to an agreement that they felt benefited each of their own's country. It may sound unfair when looking at an economical point of view. But I'm sure the people of Cuba are happy to have oil as well as the many poor people of Venezuela to have doctors and health care.
Your comment was a breath of fresh air on an article that reads like it was researched by a middle schooler.
I would add that the "dire food shortages" the article talked about were corrected within a couple of years. However, they way the article was written, you would think the food shortages were corrected by Venezuela's aid. This is not true. Cuba proved to be quite capable of rescuing itself from severe food shortages.Cuba's agriculture was energy-intensive and therefore oil-intensive. Gardening became a major growth industry. Withing a few years, the Cuban daily caloric intake was restored and the diet was a lot more variable and a lot more healthy.
Gracias HM,
For shedding a little truth to counter the lies this little brown lackey for imperialism espouses. Of course he and his "intellectual" co-authors "forgot" to mention that the US has had a 50 year blockade of Cuba in effect. Just a "small" detail the "brilliant" pig Zakaria was paid to leave out of his "article" (propaganda)!
Oh, and let's not mention that Cuba is the only country in the world that NO AMERICAN CAN FREELY TRAVEL TO without a threat of jail and fines by OFAC (US State Department).
Fareed I think you got this one wrong! Why didn’t you mention the failed US embargo? That has not accomplished anything in 50 years. Or that American foreign policy is in part responsible for the rise of the Left in Latin American and Hugo Chavez? Your article left me with an empty feeling and your comments sounded unsubstantiated by your lack of evidence and history. I am a big fan of GPS, but I don’t see you as the expert on Latin American affairs, sorry.
FAREED ZAKARIA SHOULD WRITE A REPORT ABOUT PAKISTAN, HIS HOMELAND !!...AND NOT ABOUT VENEZUELA, THE BEST COUNTRY IN SOUTH AMERICA, WITH FREE HOSPITALS, FREE MEDICINES, FREE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, FREE RESTAURANTS FOR THE POOR, FREE DOOR-TO-DOOR DOCTORS, FREE EDUCATION, AND THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITH 12 MISS UNIVERSES !!!
Parroting Chavez much, Parrot?
It seems you pick up your nick name correctly as the only thing you seem capable of is repeating a bunch of inane statements which are not true.
Health care system in Venezuela is marginal at best. State run hospitals are crumbling and they lack the most basic items for doctors to provide a decent service. Doctors and nurses are paid salaries that are only slightly higher than those earned by people collecting trash on the streets. Free medicines? Somewhat true, that is, if you manage to find a state-run hospital with medicines on stock to provide them.
Free education? Education has been free in Venezuela since 1960 so this is NOT something that Mr. Chavez can be credited for. However, he has created a string of Micky Mouse universities to fool people into believing they are getting a real education when indeed the diploma they'll get will not be worth the paper they are printed on and it may be recognize only in Cuba or Nicaragua.
So any nutcase in Vz does not have to become a martyr to get his/her 74 virgins, they have 12 miss Universes right here on Earth. Wow, how can I move to this country and enjoy those awesome side-benefits?
Also Parrot, Fareed Zakaria is from India and not Pakistan. You get your facts right first! And yes, Venezuela is in a mess right now and Chavez is largely responsible for that. The sooner you come to grips with reality, the better the future for your lovely country.
Cradle, while most informed readers know that Fareed is from India, clearly there are more parrots in Pakistan, hence Parrot associated him with that near-failed state. You just ruined his day.
Parrot, you are a communist troll, I've seen your record of replies here in cnn overtime Cuba, Venezuela or communism is mentioned, there is no purpose replying or answering to your short-sighted views.
every time.... sorry for the mispelled
Hi, LA....you are cooeagruus and adventurous! Good on you for accomplishing all of this in such a short period of time....an inspiration to the rest of us! I hope to see you at HOST in the Fall. Current work load hasn't allowed me to participate during the summer. Best wishes, Dawne
All the people praising all the FREE stuff you get in Cuba and Venezuela! Could someone explain to me why there is NO FREEDOM OF SPEACH though!! Why no single newspaper, TV station or radio program can mention anything negative about the government or their PRESIDENTES?? Why don't you just AUTO-DEPORT YOURSELF if it's soooo wonderfull over there???
Dear Mr. Zakaria,
I am extremely disappointed with such a one-sided and biased article which you have written. This article, which you have published, smacks something which the likes of Fox News or some other right-wing news media would have published. I strongly urge you to do your due dilligence and thorough research on the state of Venezuela, prior to the election of Hugo Chavez, before publishing such a biased and right-leaning article.
Prior to Chavez's presidency in Venezuela in 1999, over 50% of the population of the country were in the poverty level, despite the fact that Venezuela possessed one of the largest deposits of petroleum in the world. In addition, the vast majority of the nation's oil wealth was siphoned off due to the corruption of the oligarchy and to support the lavish lifestyles of Venezuela's pro-US and pro-Western light-skinned (show I saw European-descended) elite. The nation was similar to an apartheid state such as South Africa, with the exception that the darker skinned lower classes only had the right to vote, but were discouraged from the lighter-skinned upper classes from doing so.
In addition, much of the national wealth of the country was being carted off to feed the profit margin of multinational oil companies, many of them American – while Venezuelans were left to deal with the pollution and pillage environment.
Most Venezuelans, who were largely darker skinned individuals, in other words, of largely African and indigenous or mixed racial background, did not receive free healthcare, subsidized food, or any other supports during the era prior to Chavez from their state (despite the wealth it possessed), while the lighter-skinned elite pocketed the large majority of the nation's oil wealth. All of that changed with the election of Hugo Chavez in 1999.
Chavez introduced subsidized housing, welfare, food co-operatives, medicine to the masses. Most importantly, Chavez introduced empowerment for the darker skinned masses of Venezuela and enfranchised the population. Finally, the lower classes in the country had a voice.
It is very easy to not do proper research and write a highly one-sided and propaganda-type articles, which I believe your article is. In addition, you have completed ignored the fact that until the recession of 2008-present, Venezuela had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America, poverty in the nation was more than halved, indigenous Venezuelans got access to their lands, land was reformed and slave – like country and rural residents were finally able to own land , as opposed to a European colonial elite.
If you call positive changes that Chavez brought to the country socialistic and populist, then so be it. At the end of the day, Chavez brought true democracy as opposed to the modern feudalism we see currently in the US, where you hail from, where 90% of the national wealth is horded by a mere 10% of the population, there is rampant political stagnation, mass racism against minorities, and people of black and Hispanic background form the vast majority of the poor and uninsured in healthcare in the US.
If that is what you want for Venezuela, then I would say that I am truly glad that Hugo Chavez is the president of Venezuela.
Good day to you sir.
Drink the Kool-aid dude, Hugo man thanks you. Oh, and by the way, mass racism against minorities, and blacks and Hispanics? So they are not minorities, or are you being redundant (yes, go look up the definition, genius)? Final question, what is a Hispanic?
You seem to be the one who can't read. He said 'mass racism against minorities', then in an additional remark said 'and people of black and Hispanic background form the vast majority of the poor and uninsured in healthcare in the US.'
Any problem with that?
Scared of another BAY of EVIL PIGS? The Devil Lucifer Sperm at work in your household. Evil soul.
If you like Venezuela so much move there and experience it yourself. Just stay a couple of weeks. If you come back unharmed tells us the real story.
i was a visitor to Caracas in 1969. To tell you the truth an earthquake had just happened 5 years previous and all the downtown buildings were fairly new. The hotel was older and beautiful and the pineapple is to die for. Martguerita Island was a paradise – the bus ride to the interior... road. not a good road but the jungle was amazing. The food was terrible except for the Grand Marnier souffle, the beef was all tough. – the people were friendly. So maybe after that time they descended into poverty and then ascended into Hugo Heaven, its quite possible – I only know what I experienced.
So I guess that gave Chavez the right to STEAL businesses and land from their owners?? So tell me, what is the percentage of millionaires in VENEZUELA now?? Does it have the same percentage of MIDDLE-Class citizens as the USA does?? At least here you lose your house to the mortgage company if you cant make your payments, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUY A HOUSE BECAUSE YOU WORKED FOR IT, NOT BECAUSE YOUR PRESIDENTE STOLE IT FROM THEIR OWNERS!! Here everybody has the chance to study and decide FREELY on a profession or career and enjoy the money you earned whichever way you chose fit!! AND YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OUT LOUD WITHOUT BEING THROWN IN JAIL!! IF YOU DONT LIKE IT HERE, MOVE TO CUBA OR VENEZUELA AND TRY PUBLISHING ALL THESE COMMENTS ON THE GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER!! AND PLEASE, DO US ALL A FAVOR, AND STAY OVER THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU DESERVE TO LIVE!!
Great post.
One point that you didn't mention was that priior to Chavez coming to power, oil was at under $15/barrel. The price of oil rose largely to Chavez's leadership in OPEC, as opposed to the previous Venezuelan president who helped keep prices of oil lower, in order to appease his US masters.
Well at least they are not worried about reaching a debt ceiling deal. What makes you believe that our healthcare system is the best in the world. How many people are dying every year in the US for a lack of healthcare coverage? Stop lying to people.
And is Cuba aborting 4000 humans a day?
I came from Cuba, the healthcare? if your a foreigner it's great. citizen? wait in a huge loby with 400+ other's. If you have a family member whom is a doctor, you are lucky and can be seen sooner than later. surgeries? my aunt had to wait over 2 years due to delay caused by water shortages, in the foreign hospital? $$$ you get bottled water and no delays. A food program that is praised all over the world? try 1 pound of rice for a month for a family of 4, half a chicken and 6 eggs. that is your quota for the month. oh don't forget the 2 packs of smoke as well, they are "populares" brand but their cheap line of smokes, a pack will run you maybe 25 US cents. unless you lived it, you don't know it. For my Cuba, it's no Castro no Problem. but truly Fareed, I have to agree with Mr. Castle up there in the post that the writers of this article do not have a clue and are actually promoting these 2 commie fools whom deserve each other.
Well, that would certainly "cure" the alleged obesity problem that we supposedly have in the US. You shouldn't be smoking anyway-not regular cigarettes, and certainly not the "funny looking" ones.
Mr. Plexie,
Please look it up in an encyclopaedia about what I mean by the term minority. As you will see that as of the 2010 US census, people of European/white ancestry represent about 63.7% of the US population, while individuals of African ancestry form 12.6%, Hispanics form 16.3%, Asians and Pacific Islanders represent 5.9%, while finally Native Americans form 0.9% of the population in the US. Hence, in the US, people of color are minorities as of right now.
In addition, 90% of the US wealth is concentrated in the hands of 10% of the population. Most Americans from the middle class are losing their standard of living owing to bearing the burden of much of the nation's taxes and falling into the lower or working classes, while the rich keeps getting richer. Mind you, it is these rich business people and owners, who are also doing a diservice to the country by moving their jobs overseas, while their profit margin and share earnings are going through the roof. They are in short benefitting at the expense of mainstream.
Anyway, Hugo Chavez tried to fix much of the inequality, racism, and intolerance of his society, whereas even in the US, if you do not have any money or if you are poor, you have to pay huge sums to see a doctor, you have little or no land or property if you are a racial minority, and you are even discouraged from voting (please note the 2000 elections, when many African Americans were prevented from voting).
The US is a classic modern day feudal society, where the wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the few, it is strongly racist towards people or color and other minorities, and many republicans are turning against Mexican and other Latino/Hispanic immigrants, who work extremely hard and are keeping alive the nation through their hard work and dedication.
We need more presidents like Chavez who will stand up to the masses as opposed to corporations and corporate welfare – look at the trillions which were handed down to big banks and large corporations during the 2008-2010, as opposed to the common people. The billionaires riding private jets and ferraries got a fat check, while the lower class and the middle class had to pay for it through their taxes.
If Mr. Zakaria proposes that Venezuela goes back to the feudalism it was prior to Chavez, then it would be a big mistake for the people of Venezuela.
America is not a perfect place either and one should not lecture when they themselves are in such dire straits caused by the pro-business and the pro-rich policies in the US, which led to the economic crisis, housing crisis, value of the dollar falling, now the debt crisis.
"Most Americans from the middle class are losing their standard of living owing to bearing the burden of much of the nation's taxes and falling into the lower or working classes, while the rich keeps getting richer"
The wealthiest 1% of Americans pay nearly 40% of all income tax in the United States. The top 10% of American wage earners as a whole pay nearly 70% of all income taxes. The lower 50% of all American wage earners pay about 3% of all US Income taxes. If the top 10% already pay 70% of all income taxes what would make you happy? If they paid 80%, 90%, 100%?
John, not that I'm agreeing with everything said above by any means, but you're also only looking at half of the picture. When you look at taxes paid versus amount of wealth owned, the picture starts to look very different. For example, you noted that "The lower 50% of all American wage earners pay about 3% of all US Income taxes. It's also true that he lowest 40% own about 0.3% of all of the wealth. And the richest CORPORATIONS have so many tax loopholes that they're not paying anywhere near their fair share. For example, Exxon reported billions and billions of record profits last year, but did not pay a cent in taxes. There is inarguably growing inequity in the US–to the point of where, if it continues, we'll start to look pretty much like a third world country, with mansions next to shacks.
@Cliff You wrote that "For example, Exxon reported billions and billions of record profits last year, but did not pay a cent in taxes. "
According to Exxon's SEC filings for 2010, they paid over 21 billion dollars in Income tax. So technically it is true that they did not pay "a cent", but your statement is very misleading.
I have included the link to their income statement below:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=XOM+Income+Statement&annual
BTW, the same link shows that they paid over 15 billion in 2009, and over 36 billion in 2008.
You could have researched your statement before spewing nonsense.
Chavez actually went to Cuba to remove cancer from Venezuela.
Excellent post
Is Cuba that much ahead of Venezuela in health care? especially in the field of oncology? Why is Chavez opting to be treated in Cuba instead of Venezuela or Brazil? Doesn't he have any confidence in Venezuelan doctors?
Funny how Americans are now trying to claim the likes of Lula and other leftists for themselves. Even in Peru, where they wanted the pathetic daughter of a former dictator we forced into power to be elected. Next, Obama will be going to Bolivia to chew coca leaves with Evo. Chavez and Castro are a thing of the past, only because Latin American nations no longer have to deal with excessive violent US involvement. Only Ortega sticks with the strict Chavez model, but he's a self-parody now. Remember when the Sandinistas established democracy in a nation we'd kept under dictatorship for decades? And allowed a peaceful transfer of power – a basic starting point for a successful democracy – even though the opposition only won because Americans had been terrorizing Nicaraguans for a decade? In short, you neglect to mention that the US has worked against all the positive developments discussed here and was rightly rejected far more so than Castro and Chavez have been.
john stevens
You are living an illusion about nicarugua. All the polls and the media before the elections stated the sandinistas were going to win by 15 points or more. If it was about us influence the people would have said they were going to vote for opposition because of us, but no the people were scared of sandinistas, so they kept to themselves and then handed the opposition a overwhelming victory. The only reason Ortega is in power is because he made a bargain with A right Wing Corrupt former president who looted the country.
I'm sure plenty of voters were scared of both sides, but that civil war had been instigated by the US-funded Contras. Again, try explaining why a peaceful transfer of power took place and democracy still exists there, despite complications. You can't. Because the Reagan admin., acting illegally because of Congressional opposition, did everything it could to undermine democracy.
Chavez now plays for the Yankees, but he is rehabbing from an injury. He was a good member of the A's.
Funny how great Cuba's medicine is. LOL
Chavez has Cuban doctors go to veneuela the goes to Cuba to be treated by a doctor brought in from Spain and consulting with doctors in Brazil.
Michael Moore? Where are you?
Most likely in Venezuela trying to make another one of his "liberal senseless" movies. The last one was such a comedy I can't wait for another one.
Is the Spanish language that similar they can understand each other? I've always wondered about that.
Truthseeker, there are a number of things that are wrong in the US, there a number of trends that are troubling, with that I agree. Having written that, I am glad we do not have a H Chavez to screw it up more. He, like you, likes to play the class and race cards, ignoring facts. To wit, one simple example; Latino immigrants work hard and do jobs n-oone else wants to do. This is true when it comes to the agricultural industry, yet they now work in places where traditionally less skilled Americans of all races worked, but now cannot afford to because Latinos are willing to work for lower wages (hotel industry, construction, ...). Then there is their offspring, they too are in America, but will not work those jobs, and yet with a High School dropout rate of nearly 50%, they have few options. People such as yourself will see it as racism when they are unemployed or underemployed, reality is it is inevitable. It is good that Vz has Chavez who clearly has solved that conundrum.
Dear Mr. Freed Zakir:
I watched your CNN – GPS show of July 24 and I was extremely disapointed regarding your inaccurate and misleading reporting regarding Cuba and Venezuela.
Since March of 1993 I have visited Cuba Cuba on research 71 times. My main focus is the Cuba economy.
Venezuela has few investments in Cuba but the mainland Chinese do. The Chinese are currently helping to restructure the Cuban economy and they have many large investments in Cuba. More projects are in the works which will result in billions of dollars of new capital investments.
President Raul Castro has made numerous major changes for the Cubans. Some of these include a major down sizing of the number of state workers , small business ownership , the ability to buy and sell homes and Cubans are now allowed to be in resorts and hotels with the same rights as tourists. This year + – 1 million Canadians will visit Cuba as tourists.
Currently the Cubans import a great deal of food from the U.S. which is being paid for with loans from China. The U. S. has a very positive trade balance with Cuba as the U. S. buys nothing from Cuba.
If you would like more details on the emerging super economy of Cuba please feel free to request such. Bye for now.
Gordon Robinson – abuc12@yahoo.ca
Gordon buddie, super economy?
Walter Duranty won a Pulitzer for his report of how wonderful things were in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, denying there was widespread famine and generally reporting whatever Stalin wanted him to write. Looks like you're following in his footsteps when it comes to Castro. Oh, and you apparently are not Canadian, but also Chinese like many of the posters on CNN. Your email might say .ca but your "My main focus is the Cuba economy" when it should say Cuban, is a mistake typical of Chinese speakers. Nice try.
John, the fractured English from someone with an Anglican handle is a dead giveaway, but please do not point that out to the lout.
According to Gordon Robinson, cuba is embracing capitalism and it is improving their economy. I say its about time. they should make it completely capitalist like china. Bring back casinos and nightlife and they will have a great tourist industry. Cuban could be a rich country with the proper structure.
Yeah, then Chavie can chase girls and gamble between chemo treatments.
Fidel Castro would like to remind you that his repressive military dictatorship was better than Bautista's repressive military dictatorship.
Hmm; Bautista hits homers. Batista was the Cuban dictator owned by the US crime families.
...and Batista allowed the Yankees to come into cuba and have a good time with the local girls and then depart to their respectable family lives in the mainland. Castro saved the people of Cuba from this indecency committed by the rich americans. Viva Castro!
There's a better and more widespread story to be told about third world poverty, misery, deprivation, shortages, and the like right smack in the USA in places like West Virginia, California, Texas, practically anywhere that is largely hidden from the glass office towers of the corporate world, These are places where people live hand to mouth on government food stamps, where tent slum cities exist, where people die at an early age from lack of access to basic health care, where crime is rampant, where teenage pregnancy is at epidemic levels, and where the ever present security apparatus of the state keeps a lid on everything. The Amerikan third world exists everywhere. You needn't throw stones at other countries.
The reality is you are right. There are many people in a free market who are poor. But the other reality is that we have the richest poor people in the world! As our economy grows the rich growth wealthier faster and the poor also grow at a slower rate. But it is better than a centralist system that slows the growth of everyone.
The richest poor people with an average of $48,000 of debt. Rich eh! Why do you think the rich invented the word frankfurters. That is to transform the lousy hot dog made of the entrails of animals, into a fine dining meal for the lower class. ...and you love it!
its the sunset, its everything a sunset is. – But the sun is only setting in the west.
You could learn more from this article by what it leaves out then what it has in it. You mention how Cuba is a"basket case" without the slightest mention of a useless 50 year embargo. You mention how the leadership of Chavez has led to a contraction in their economy without mentioning the huge gains in eradicating poverty, increasing education, and health care. You speak of how their model is crumbling and is so out of sync with the world, is this the same world dominated by multinationals and Wall st. that have been so successful in exploiting resources and labor for their own short term profitability. The same world where the disparity in wealth has become so obscene that the middle class is an endangered species teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Why don't you bring up how the U.S State Department has been using 68 million of your tax dollars a year supporting anti Chavez political opponents. Imagine for a moment how the U.S would react if China financed an American politician who had a communist agenda. I'm quite sure that would be interfering with the sovereign independent Republic of America. Yet the U.S feels perfectly within it's rights to do the same in South America. Why not mention something about ALBA and the progressive gains South America has made to counter U.S bullying in the region. Why bother with the little details, your conclusion were drawn long before the article was written and the facts you mention are there to support only that conclusion. This is not journalism, this is Propaganda!
Yes, that "basket case" he calls Cuba is what happens when a country is left with very few resources like the Embargo that has only served to hurt the Cuban people rather than the president directly. Of course Cuba is going to embrace a man/Chavez and a country that is willing to support them and not castigate it's people because of political differences.
Well said. You must remember that when people are paid to do a job, they will go all out to prove their worth. Yeh this man is worth a lot to the propoganda machine of the west, and he will be dedicated to this job just as much as the dedication of a born again christian to the church. He has to prove that he is not one of them terrorist.
Take from the few haves.... give to the many have nots.... and you will be a popular leader... reelected for 50 years... simple!
Well the problem is that the rest of latin america is struggling too. And to top it, you have Ecuador and Bolivia – Venezeluan wannabies.
And what about our beloved Mexicanos? We mustn't forget them.
LET THEM DIE A LONG PAINFULL DEATH IN EACH OTHERS ARMS.
I love it when Cubans give it to me in the @ss. Barry likes it too, but told me to keep it on the down low.
My husband likes it the same way as you do. We'd be so happy to straighten up some Venezuelan and Cuban gays in our clinic, provided they have cash, private insurance, or Medicaid...hate that Medicaid but love the checks that come from it!
Michelle Bachmann and her FAT, corrupt, greedy husband are Welfare CHEATS. Even their kids have been taught how to cheat in their school exams just like their dumb imbecile mother, Michelle Bachmann.
Venecuba?
Two shi*holes for the price of one.
i think both Fidel and Chavez are a dying bread, soon to be forgotten
I’m a Cuban born and I have spent over 30 yrs doing business in the region, Venezuela is done if they don’t wake up soon, there is more people killed in one weekend in Caracas than any war….Crazy..
Fidel is a fossil and needs to die already, hopefully he will take Chavez with him back to hell were they both belong
End the Embargo with Cuba the responsible way by trading directly to the Cuban people, not to the Castro Regime. Transform U.S. Guantanamo Bay into something more productive, meaningful, and symbolic. Make Guantanamo Bay a DEMOCRATIC FREE TRADE ZONE
it's only a matter of time before the big corporations suck the life out of Cuba.Get ready for Mcdonalds,Starbucks,Luxury Housing only the rich can afford.Cuba will be a playground for the rich like Puerto Rico is,while things for the poor people remain the same.
THAT'S when I'll go to Cuba! Mind you I don't go to Starbucks even in this country but at least I have the option. Someday, maybe not in our lifetime, but someday.
If you want to turn all the animals out of their cages just mention Cuba or Chavez.You people are a disgrace.
Having just returned from 10-day visit to Cuba (not my first time) it is clear to me that the people no longer believe in the Revolution. It is a relic from the past, an obsolete set of ideals that were never fulfilled materially. Sad!
theory often never materializes
I love old relics but they have to be valuable.
As you have read ~ with regards to Cuba "no es facil" ~ it's not easy and that goes for any conversation regarding Cuba but what we can do is to continue to regard Cubans and Venezuelans as human beings that deserve opportunity for growth and happiness ~ I have traveled to Cuba many times since 1996 and here is a Glimpse of Cuba through my eyes ~ It's a slide show with about 80 images of the Cuban people ~
http://roylleraphotographers.com/2008/11/15/glimpse-of-cuba-photography-of-the-cuban-spirit/
It may be this hemisphere's last hurrah. I wonder if it's too late to emigrate to Canada? (Although they are tied to the US, as well.)
Mexico is sucking the life out of the Southwest and California, and Congress is ready to take the rest of us over a financial cliff because of politics. The states are broke because everyone is afraid of taxes. So screwed, and everyone wants to chant their own ideology.
without credit, soon the US will be begging for oil from Venezuela and affordable sugar and medications from Cuba,
We are just few days off for this prophesies to be realized. US is F*********G BROKE thanks to imbecilic 1st grade reading skill GW Bush.
FelipBR, keep on dreaming because dreaming does not cost anything, as in the past the United States has never begged neither Cuba nor Venezuela anything, I wonder what makes you think that the United States will beg oil from Venezuela and sugar and medications from Cuba? Pareciera que vives en otro mundo, fuera de la realidad.
I have some credit (never enough), and use credit cards almost exclusively (I carry very little cash). But credit due is credit earned.
What about the usa? Expensive healthcare, recession, lies and more lies, Cuba has an embargo that doesnt make any sense, we still suffer from stupid McCartinism
Also here we are trading with China wich is comunist....duh? Acommunist country.
Fareed Zakaria writing this assorment of half truths is no surprise, that is his job. For starters, I dare anybody to find a video or quote of Chavez saying the word Venecuba. Do a google search for Venecuba and you wil find the real creators of the word: Oppenheimer, Montaner, and their venezuelan (with lowercase "v") toadies. What he has said is that Cuba and Venezuela belong to the same Nation, Latin America, the "Great Motherland". Venezuela's economy did contract a little as a result of the drop in oil prices and the global banking crisis, after FIVE YEARS of continuos growth at an average rate of 12% per year. And yes, we suffered rolling blackouts as a result of the second worst "El Niño" drought in history. Mr. Zakaria would probably be very happy if Venezuela had run to the IMF to borrow money after it was confirmed that we have 20% of the crude oil reserves of the world. After all, that is what governments before Chavez had been doing since 1974. Under the current Cuba Venezuela Agreement Venezuela ships 92 MBD of oil to Cuba with mixed long term/short term financing. According to PDVSA, an average of 97.8 MBD were sold to Cuba in 2010. In addition, PDVSA sent 55 MBD to be processed in the Cienfuegos refinery for the Caribbean market. Under the Cooperation Agreement, PDVSA provides oil at market price with short/long term financing, while Cuba provides technical assistance in a wide range of activities, from sports training to sugar production, agriculture, tourism, education, sales of medicines and medical equipment. There is also the Health Agreement, which is not part of the Cooperation Agreement. Under the Health Agreement, patients who require it receive free full medical attention in Cuba's "surprisingly good healthcare system"... Hooray!!
"Duh! People in jails have excellent health care."............................................
Are you talking about the millions of people in American jails? DUH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What bothers me is Venezuelans who join Zakaria in disparaging their own Country, and who most likely have never set foot in a Venezuelan public hospital... ah, the humanity!!
I think "Cubazuela" sounds better than "Venecuba".
For sure he sounds better than imbecilic 1st. grader GW Bush.
your article is biased.
Cuba is on the decline but the free enterprise democratic country across the river is at the bottom of the barrel. It will soon default on loans, employed Cuban socialist policies to survive in the last 2 years (Castro is laughing all the way to the grave), have over 2 percent of its citizens in jail, parole or under watch, people from all walks of life losing their homes and unemployment is staggering. You can buy a house in the industrial capital of the world, Detroit for a month's salary and have a good time picking out the good ones. The automobile capital produces cars that have to advertise "imported from Detroit" to compete with the imports. Wow. These are just a few things that americans have to wake up to. Castro's island was isolated for 50 years and survived. Venezuela has been also isolated since Jiminez, the us backed dictator, allegedly stole a lot of money and brought it to the us in 1959. Iran has done very well in its isolation. China isolated itself for decades/centuries and is the world leader in everything. Can the US survive 30 days of isolation and embargo from the rest of the world. Wake up and smell the roses man. As long as i took to type this the us govt has allegedly supported terrorist organizations directly and indirectly to the amount that could feed the whole of Harlem for a year. Take the splint from thine eyes then talk. Castro is a man to be respected. He is a world class leader. Viva Castro y viva Chavez!
Hi Fareed and Amar, To be honest, I'm disappointed with the lack of normal Zakaria insight of this post. It's not particularly insightful, more of a review, I expected more. There are many aspects of Cuba worthy of your considerable attentions Fareed, newsworthy is the manipulation of Lincoln Diaz- Balart's attachment to the appropriations bill for one. The new Cuban law changes permitting golf course development, or the underwater discoveries off Pinar Del Rio, or the oil leases. Simply put, there is a lot going with Cuba right now that is fresh. I look forward to Fareed sharing his unique perspectives when tackling Cuba in the future, not stating the obvious.
The Castro/Chavez make-out flag. Well, the good news is that they can go to New York and finally tie the knot. Not judgin'... just sayin'...
Hey shut your F********G mouth. At least they are NOT impotent like your GOP crazy IDIOTS you worship. You must be a real FREAK yourself. Seek help from GOP Welfare CHEATS, Michelle Bachmann and her FAT, corrupt, greedy husband. Whilst you're at it ask them to check the gaping butthole up your maggot filled stinky ASS. Will ya?
I came across several people who have asked my former countryman Mr. Zakaria to stick to his areas of expertize.
But why does he write on every subject he probably knows nothing about?
I am not disputing the fact that Mr.Zakaria is NOT smart, intelligent, educated or any of that, given his credentials as a Yale Grad., inspite of the fact that his affluent/influential Indian background may have helped him a tiny bit in reaching those stellar heights! But even with that understanding, it's just impossible for someone to be an AUTHORITY on every issue ailing America and the world. In that sense, truly he is an expert in bringing together different schools of thought, and presenting them as his own ORIGINAL FORMULAE FOR SUCCESS! Often times in the process of biting too much, he does overlook several facts, and does over simplify issues.
We can also very easily see that Mr.Zakaria is ambitious and aiming for public office (such as the Secretary of State). Given the obvious disadvantages he faces as a recent immigrant, no doubt he is shoring up his credentials by focusing on a variety of key issues that Americans are seized of, that can typically keep him in the limelight.
Having said that a little bit of analysis of Mr.Zakaria’s writings reveals his immense ability to bring in his passionate issue of propping up Islamic causes, and trashing America & the west in any discussion. In that quest he bashes up anyone/anything that comes in the way – notably America, America’s freedoms, and America’s fairness, albeit…..…so covertly that, most gullible readers can’t even decipher!
While many times the message is very subtle COVERTLY designed to appeal to American conscience albeit with a lot of half truths, and cherry picked facts, at other times it is more daring, or even totally deceiving.
This one looks like one of those over-simplified poor effort at showcasing his understanding of the Venezuela and Cuban revolutions and their leaders' relationship!
Good try Mr. Zakaria! But not enough to convince people who have a far more intimate knowledge than you do about these nations!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
A lot of Americans are waiting to read/hear YOUR TAKE on the NORWEGIAN ATHEIST MONSTER who has already been branded as a CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVE by the STUPIDLY politically correct/left leaning NYT, LA Times, the BBC and some in his native Norway also (much to your relief!).
Fareed Zakaria is the one that is out of style.
The United States has been sold off, piece by piece, to the highest bidder. Our manufacturing to China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Viet Nam, etc, etc. Out High Tech to India. Our Low Tech to Mexican Illegal Aliens.
What is left of the U.S. is a dead hulk that has not yet laid down in the grave. But, it is dead and not retrievable. No more middle class, which is what the U.S. was all about. The American Dream is dead and burried.
Castro and Chavez, despite the fact they are dying, still cling to power. Their reign has caused countless deathless and untold suffering. Hard to believe that some American liberals have shown admiration for these immoral, corrupt and violent individuals.
I suspect if you were to have a world referendum on who is the more respected leader in the world for the past 50 years, choice between any american president, past and president, and Castro, Castro will will by a great margin.
Thanks for kind words Dawn. I hear you are a very busy peosrn these days. Look forward to connecting in the fall.
U R a donkey, Mr. Zakaria!
Fareed Zakaria go get a job at Foxnews! This published garbage is the same old cold war antiquated thinking that Foxnews promotes. There is a complete lack of analysis or any work put into this article, just like Foxnews material. Fidel and Hugo are two leaders that can states that their countries do not owe a penny to the World Bank, the IMF or to Walls Street banksters! Greece and the other PIIG would like to be able to stay that now! (Something that I cannot states I also owe Wall Street Bankster my mortage.) This is a fact that you either ignore or decided not to state as it would weaken your argument.
I also watch you segment on Sunday on Cuba and Venezuela, where you showed old and dilapidated buildings in these countries; but this does not state much for either county. I have never been to Cuba or Venezuela, but I have been to many cities this county and have see similar dilapidated buildings, not just in inner-cities, but in white rural areas (trailer trash on both sides of the road for miles and miles). So again this does not proof anything about Cuba or Venezuela.
Your article also does not point out that Cuba has survived a blockade that deprives the Cuba people not just of technology, but badly needed food and medicine. And this is a blockade sponsored by a Christian county, shame on us!
Finally, you state that these counties system are being bypassed by Latin America, but do not mention that many Latin American counties are seeking the advice of Fidel and Hugo, and are implementing leftist economic policies modeled after Cuba and Venezuela. Chile, Agentina, Equador and Bolivia to name a few. Again you either ignore this information or decided to not mention it as again it would weaken your agreement. In fact you do not mention Mexico engaged in a drug war (30,000 dead), as people have the capitalist choice to starve or become drug dealer to feed their families, the same goes for Colombia, both counties have followed the economic policies of the IMF, Word Bank, and Wall Stree Banksters.
Cuba and Venezuela do have a hard road ahead, but they are not collapsing, what has collapsing is the financial system developed by Wall Street banksters, that was bailed out by a corporate socialism for the rich controlled government. Fareed you work for CNN not FoxNew or Rush Limbo, we expect much more from you, believe me!
After reading your comment I really feel sorry for you because you do not understand what the Cuban people have been iving for 52 years. The same misery Cuba lives everyday. If Venezuela doesn't change they will liveit also.
As a Cuban-American who left in 1967 at the age of 13 things have not changed at all for Cuba, but have gotten worse.
We still have some family in Cuba that we need to help with such small things like aspirin and toothpaste because they don't have it. When our family left in 1967 we were brushing our teeth with soap and eating one meal a day if we had enough food. If things were like this in 1967 they are 10 times worse now. The situation in Cuba has nothing to do with the colllapsing financial system from Wall Street. How do you explain the Soviet Union's change. China is comunist but they don't live like Cuba.The free healthcare system Chavez is getting is only for the elite not for the regular Cuban ctizen. If you're a regular citizen you are required to bring your own food and sheets to the hospital. How's that for free healthcare?
Beeeeners one and all. Now, finish washing my car and go back to your country.
"Cuba has a cheap and surprisingly good healthcare system". Really, Mr. Zakaria? Have you interviewed Dr. Darsi Ferrer? Or have read the Ph.D. dissertation in medical anthropology from Emory University about the medical paradise of Cuba? Is that why Cubans in exile send millions in medicines to their relatives in Cuba every month, including simple stuff like aspirin? Or did you just watch Sycho, by Michael Moore?
When you have to go to the hospital and have to sell your house and computer to pay the bills just remember how bad the Cuban medicare is! I suspect you wil LOL in financial pain.
You have to sell your house/computer/sometime your closest to pay your bills in america, but not in Cuba. Currently Cuba and Brazil follow a good healthcare system. Don't imagine yourself something b reading the stories written from air-conditioned rooms.
Fareed, I thought you are one of the talented persons on international affairs, but now i realized that you are too a sycophant for capitalistic ideology that never sustain in the world. A simple fact is that all western countries with capitalistic open markets are now struggling to survive against recession, but some countries (with not a complete capitalistic markets) are doing well. you know what are these countries! Cuban and Venezuelan may be behind the modern technological gadgets, but at least they may live with humanity! Nothing can beat a humanity with socialistic culture. Common Fareed, don't do your job for just getting money. Because today's your job is tomorrow's history. historian should never be a faultier. siva
Chavez didn't go to Cuba for it's world-class health care. Chavez went to Cuba for the same reasons that the Saudi King, the Jordanian King and others come to the US for treatment. It's to ensure that no one turns off the oxygen or cuts an artery during surgery in their own countries. Dictators ALWAYS leave their own country and go elsewhere to have surgery. Chavez's paranoia is well deserved. His people SHOULD turn off the O2 if they ever get the chance,
I love our grandstanding in the face of impending default on national debt and abandonment of space program. A government has to be first of all minimally functional in the sense of following up on commitments and having civilization move forward rather than decay. The way we are going now, I am afraid our last hurrah is couple of decades in the past.
My parents fled Cuba in 1960 when my upper middle class grandparents lost almost everything. The source of Mr. Castro' staying power was never the Soviet Union or even the Cuban Military. It is the country's domestic intelligence service and it's vast network of informants across the country. With regard to Mr. Chavez, the same Venezuelan military that tried to depose him in 2002 is no doubt eyeing the situation. They have dreamed of running the country again ever since losing power in 1958.
Unfortunately oil prices and Venezuela oil reserves will make the agony much longer.....
The single most important item here is: Brazil 8% growth vs Venezuela -2% growth!
Lula de Silva = Correct!
Chavez/Castro = Incorrect!
how about dropping the embargo you dumb fak!
No where in this article it is mentioned the genocidal 50+ year old embargo that the United States maintains against Cuba. How can you expect a small country with just 11 million inhabitants to prosper when it is being sanctioned by the most powerful country in the world and the latter also sanctions foreign businesses who deal with Cuba? This article is not only biased but it also demonstrate a high level of ignorance by the writer.
Castro promised elections right after the Revolution. The US promised to lift the embargo (not a blockade – way different) right after the elections that Castro promised.
Come on Fareed Zakaria answer to my questions and Yasmani Isaac questions; stop hiding!! What about the Blockade? You have my email.
A blockader would mean the US stops other countries from dealing with Cuba. An embargo means only the US itself does not trade with Cuba. The US promised to lift the embargo (not a blockade – way different) right after the elections that Castro promised.
This is a very factual, and truthful video which summarizes the situation in Venezuela, even though it does not includes
all the evils. Chavez has been detrimental for our country, we cannot let him continue his circus in 2012.He has been a disgrace for our country
Giselle, if capitalism is so wonderful why don't Cuba refugee's go to Guatemala, or Honduras where workers have no rights and shot on the spot for demanding better working conditions (the only ones keeping count on the death totals is Admesty International). But instead you come here, to the most developed country in the world where your Republican dad's through million of dollars at you. (But if a Mexican kid wonders across the border just flick him right back with an INS agents' boot. That American Capitalism!
http://roylleraphotographers.com/2008/11/15/glimpse-of-cuba-photography-of-the-cuban-spirit/
The end of an era. LMAO
What are you talking about?, here in the US, millions of us lost their home, can not effort health insurance, rising prices in gas, food,taxes,etc.No jobs. I am sure can talk like that with your good salary as the "perico" of CNN
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