NationStates Jolt Archive

You'd think wth all the talk about the War on Terror that combatting it would still be a priority right?

And, as any good lawyer will say: "follow the money". If you can track the funds you can catch the people or at least put dents in their funding.

But if you judge by the effort put into tracking down the funding of these groups you come to one inescapable conclusion:
Aparenlty Castro is still the greatest threat to the USA (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040430/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terrorism_financing&e=1)

:roll:

Hmm..I can see three reasons for this:

1) The US is still in Cold War mode when it comes to Cuba, as the article stated.

2)Bureaucratic inertia-they've been doing it for so long, it's all they know to do.

3) Cuba's right there, thus it's easier to track down violations and collect off it.

Note: I'm not saying these are good reasons, just possible reasons why it is the way it is.

"what ever happened to that Bin-Wazisname?"

You mean Saddam? :P :lol: :cry:

"what ever happened to that Bin-Wazisname?"

You mean Saddam? :P :lol: :cry:

Hehe...that's cold. :lol:

I think the reason could be the following. The US has a load of excess intelligence capacity but insufficient information on terrorists and the like. So they are keeping their apparatus busy on routine stuff that has been going on forever. Then, if/when they do get some actionable intelligence, they will redirect their manpower.

Hmm..I can see three reasons for this:

1) The US is still in Cold War mode when it comes to Cuba, as the article stated.

2)Bureaucratic inertia-they've been doing it for so long, it's all they know to do.

3) Cuba's right there, thus it's easier to track down violations and collect off it.

Note: I'm not saying these are good reasons, just possible reasons why it is the way it is.

Not arguing the bad reasons.... just wondering who's been asleep at the switch on this for two and a half years after 9-11. You'd think somebody would have asked the basic "so how many resources you got looking for this" by now. Or that somebody in the Treasury department might have noticed the switch in priorities....

Hmm..I can see three reasons for this:

1) The US is still in Cold War mode when it comes to Cuba, as the article stated.

2)Bureaucratic inertia-they've been doing it for so long, it's all they know to do.

3) Cuba's right there, thus it's easier to track down violations and collect off it.

Note: I'm not saying these are good reasons, just possible reasons why it is the way it is.

Not arguing the bad reasons.... just wondering who's been asleep at the switch on this for two and a half years after 9-11. You'd think somebody would have asked the basic "so how many resources you got looking for this" by now. Or that somebody in the Treasury department might have noticed the switch in priorities....

Hmmm...you may be overestimating our government officials Zep. :wink:

I think the reason could be the following. The US has a load of excess intelligence capacity but insufficient information on terrorists and the like. So they are keeping their apparatus busy on routine stuff that has been going on forever. Then, if/when they do get some actionable intelligence, they will redirect their manpower.

So... you think the treasury department is hoping somebody else in charge of invesitgating finances will stumble across a bank book somewhere? That seems a stretch.

I dunno, it seems that if you have excess capability you still put it on the most pressing job. The information will never just apear until people start digging for it....

-Z-

Hmm..I can see three reasons for this:

1) The US is still in Cold War mode when it comes to Cuba, as the article stated.

2)Bureaucratic inertia-they've been doing it for so long, it's all they know to do.

3) Cuba's right there, thus it's easier to track down violations and collect off it.

Note: I'm not saying these are good reasons, just possible reasons why it is the way it is.

Not arguing the bad reasons.... just wondering who's been asleep at the switch on this for two and a half years after 9-11. You'd think somebody would have asked the basic "so how many resources you got looking for this" by now. Or that somebody in the Treasury department might have noticed the switch in priorities....

Hmmm...you may be overestimating our government officials Zep. :wink:

Ohhh... so they're like ours? lol.

Yeah.... silly me for assuming that one or two of 'em might pick up a newspaper occasionaly and notice the whole "at war" thingy... what the hell was I thinking?

I dunno, it seems that if you have excess capability you still put it on the most pressing job. The information will never just apear until people start digging for it....
It probably isn't as pressing a concern as they make out. They could well be content to keep their resources in a holding pattern, because they have nothing to aim at, and it could be that they know that right now there is nothing to aim at.

Hmm..I can see three reasons for this:

1) The US is still in Cold War mode when it comes to Cuba, as the article stated.

2)Bureaucratic inertia-they've been doing it for so long, it's all they know to do.

3) Cuba's right there, thus it's easier to track down violations and collect off it.

Note: I'm not saying these are good reasons, just possible reasons why it is the way it is.

Not arguing the bad reasons.... just wondering who's been asleep at the switch on this for two and a half years after 9-11. You'd think somebody would have asked the basic "so how many resources you got looking for this" by now. Or that somebody in the Treasury department might have noticed the switch in priorities....

Hmmm...you may be overestimating our government officials Zep. :wink:

Ohhh... so they're like ours? lol.

Yeah.... silly me for assuming that one or two of 'em might pick up a newspaper occasionaly and notice the whole "at war" thingy... what the hell was I thinking?

Human stupidity is greater than either of us can comprehend, Zep.

We're just too damn smart for our own good.

I dunno, it seems that if you have excess capability you still put it on the most pressing job. The information will never just apear until people start digging for it....
It probably isn't as pressing a concern as they make out. They could well be content to keep their resources in a holding pattern, because they have nothing to aim at, and it could be that they know that right now there is nothing to aim at.

Well, that is pure guesswork on your behalf as to what they might or might not know. Hell, it might be pure guesswork on thier behalf too.


I will just point out that there is a commission-full of people in Washington right now who have been discussing the fact that there were little pieces of a larger puzzle scattered about that nobody threw the resources at to get the full picture from. A bunch of people each of whom had on small pieces of a puzzle that didn't look like a smoking gun on it's own. But an amalgam of information was know that might have prevented a tragedy if the resources had been put on the task.

Did we learn nothing from the intel failures before 9-11?

I just goes to show that the still see communism as a greater threat then then they do terrorism.

What happened to Bin Laden?

Hes being kept in a Saudi Prison/hosptial facility by Bush's buddy the prince.
Come close to the election...he'll be trumped out like a prize turkey..."Look guys! I (we) got im! Vote for Bush!"

Oil prices will be dropped a few dollars a barrel.....all in time for Novembers election.

Coincidence?
I think not.

As for Cuba....

Im thinking the current U.S policy is.....

That crusty old bastard HAS to kick off sooner or later right?
Lets worry about the next guy, and maybe get some "democracy" rolling over there once Castro has snuffed it.

What happened to Bin Laden?

Hes being kept in a Saudi Prison/hosptial facility by Bush's buddy the prince.
Come close to the election...he'll be trumped out like a prize turkey..."Look guys! I (we) got im! Vote for Bush!"

Oil prices will be dropped a few dollars a barrel.....all in time for Novembers election.

Coincidence?
I think not.

As for Cuba....

Im thinking the current U.S policy is.....

That crusty old bastard HAS to kick off sooner or later right?
Lets worry about the next guy, and maybe get some "democracy" rolling over there once Castro has snuffed it.

Ahhh... Bush won't care about Cuba that much....no profit for Haliburton to be had...

:wink:

Well, I don't know. I have been following that commission's work a bit, but not daily or anything. I guess it is interesting to see their dirty laundry aired on satellite TV. But I am not that interested in the implications, or what they know or don't know. As you say, I'm just speculating that they have nothing to aim at. And I conceed all I can really do is speculate.

To me, the intelligence / terrorism bit of the War on Terror actually holds very little interest. I watch the diplomacy and resource war stuff intently, but what they are doing with their intelligence and so on? I don't see it as being particularly important. So I guess I am content to make some idle speculation on the intelligence stuff and focus on the real meat.

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

At the risk of sounding cynical, I would note that the Cuban exile lobby in Florida has historically advocated vigorously to maintain all sanctions against Cuba, and indeed to press further for Castro's ouster. Given the tenuousness of the republican hold on Florida, the Supreme Court notwithstanding, a cynic might wonder if vote pandering is in play. Naw, they wouldn't that....

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

Start the tourist industry?

lmao!

Cuba has a HUGE tourist industry. It's just that Yanks still can't go...

-Z-

It used to be that we could by going to Mexico first, and then flying from there. But, thanks to Mr. Bush, we can't do -that- either. It doesn't help when fencing championships are held in Cuba, either (good thing it didn't go through until after then, for people like me).

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

Start the tourist industry?

lmao!

Cuba has a HUGE tourist industry. It's just that Yanks still can't go...

-Z-

Oh no....we'll have to change all that.

You know how we Americans get when you guys get to play with toys that we cant have....

We blow up the sandbox and install a puppet regime.....so there!

Step 1.

Wait for Castro to shuffle off mortal coil.....


Step 2.

Buy Cuba.

Step 3.

Dont allow the French onto our new island.
(Still bitter.)

Step 3.

Use Cuba as prison island for gays, Liberals, "ethnic groups" .....
and other "malcontents".

Step 4

Blow raspberry at China.

It used to be that we could by going to Mexico first, and then flying from there. But, thanks to Mr. Bush, we can't do -that- either. It doesn't help when fencing championships are held in Cuba, either (good thing it didn't go through until after then, for people like me).

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

There used to be a lot of people from Boston, Syracuse etc that used to head north and vacation in Cuba through Canadian travel agencies as well. I know that they have tightened up the rules, but to be honest since it didn't effect me I really didn;t pay attention. I think you're allowed to go through Cuba, you're just not allowed to spend any money there as that is deemed to be helping him.

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

Start the tourist industry?

lmao!

Cuba has a HUGE tourist industry. It's just that Yanks still can't go...

-Z-

Oh no....we'll have to change all that.

You know how we Americans get when you guys get to play with toys that we cant have....

We blow up the sandbox and install a puppet regime.....so there!

Step 1.

Wait for Castro to shuffle off mortal coil.....


Step 2.

Buy Cuba.

Step 3.

Dont allow the French onto our new island.
(Still bitter.)

Step 3.

Use Cuba as prison island for gays, Liberals, "ethnic groups" .....
and other "malcontents".

Step 4

Blow raspberry at China.

Sorry.... We already bought it.

:wink:

I won't argue to hard on the China bit though... lol

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

Start the tourist industry?

lmao!

Cuba has a HUGE tourist industry. It's just that Yanks still can't go...

-Z-

Oh no....we'll have to change all that.

You know how we Americans get when you guys get to play with toys that we cant have....

We blow up the sandbox and install a puppet regime.....so there!

Step 1.

Wait for Castro to shuffle off mortal coil.....


Step 2.

Buy Cuba.

Step 3.

Dont allow the French onto our new island.
(Still bitter.)

Step 3.

Use Cuba as prison island for gays, Liberals, "ethnic groups" .....
and other "malcontents".

Step 4

Blow raspberry at China.

Sorry.... We already bought it.

:wink:

I won't argue to hard on the China bit though... lol


You guys bought it?

Canada?

Oh..No problem then......

We know you need the money.....look at the value of the canadian dollar..

We may just keep all the Canadian Hockey players as ransom.

Say.....Forty Billion?

As to the original question, Zep, I just finished Richard Clarke's book Against All Enemies and the main lesson I took away from it is that the hardest thing to change in this world is a bureaucracy. It has the inertia of a neutron star rolling downhill (If such a thing could happen). Thus, Cuba will be an issue until Castro is dead and probably beyond.

There is only one reason that I can see for this. It keeps the budget for intelligence high. In the event that the monies used to keep an eye on Cuba are needed elsewhere they can be used for that. But, going to Congress and asking for additional funding for secret reasons will not likely yield much.

Is there money in Cuba?

No..not really....but there might be security in having the closest nation to you aside from Canada, no longer a Communist bastion..and possible puppet regime.

Do a little econmic revision.....start the tourist industy.....five star resorts....

Strip mining.....

Might be a nice little earner.

Start the tourist industry?

lmao!

Cuba has a HUGE tourist industry. It's just that Yanks still can't go...

-Z-

Oh no....we'll have to change all that.

You know how we Americans get when you guys get to play with toys that we cant have....

We blow up the sandbox and install a puppet regime.....so there!

Step 1.

Wait for Castro to shuffle off mortal coil.....


Step 2.

Buy Cuba.

Step 3.

Dont allow the French onto our new island.
(Still bitter.)

Step 3.

Use Cuba as prison island for gays, Liberals, "ethnic groups" .....
and other "malcontents".

Step 4

Blow raspberry at China.

Sorry.... We already bought it.

:wink:

I won't argue to hard on the China bit though... lol


You guys bought it?

Canada?

Oh..No problem then......

We know you need the money.....look at the value of the canadian dollar..

We may just keep all the Canadian Hockey players as ransom.

Say.....Forty Billion?


We need the money?

Hell, we're the ones with budget surpluses for 8 years running.

Besides, I hear that GW is buying up Haiti for you guys instead...

:twisted: