Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura arrives in Cuba
ANITA SNOW
Associated Press Writer

HAVANA - Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura arrived here Wednesday to attend an American agribusiness show, ignoring pleas by the U.S. State Department and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to cancel the trip.

"The great thing about the United States of America is that you don't always have to agree," Ventura said about efforts by pro-U.S. trade embargo advocates to dissuade him from making the trip.

"Florida has the most companies here, so what's Gov. Bush's response to that?" Ventura asked reporters after stepping off the charter flight from Miami Wednesday afternoon. Ventura said he hoped to promote Minnesota business during his stay.

"As governor it is part of my job to do everything I can to help the Minnesota economy," Ventura said after he was greeted on the tarmac by Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import concern Alimport.

The former professional wrestler said a meeting with President Fidel Castro was not yet on his schedule.

If such an encounter does occur, "I haven't thought that much about" what may be said, Ventura added. "But I'm a spontaneous person. I shoot from the hip."

Ventura is a longtime opponent of the 40-year-old U.S. embargo against Cuba.

Gov. Bush wrote his Minnesota colleague earlier this month, asking him to call off the trip.

"You are not the first and undoubtedly will not be the last," Bush wrote. "But we should never forget that the people of Cuba don't share the same basic freedoms and rights that the citizens of Florida and Minnesota enjoy."

Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Otto Reich also made a similar plea, criticizing Ventura and U.S. business leaders for planning to attend the U.S. agribusiness exhibition opening in Havana on Thursday.

Reich, who was born in Cuba and left for the United States after Castro came to power, said Castro uses American politicians who visit the communist nation "as props."

He also said he hoped Ventura and the business leaders wouldn't engage in "sexual tourism" while visiting Cuba - a statement that riled the Minnesota governor.

"I found Assistant Secretary Reich's comments offensive and at the very least, he and President Bush owe my wife and children a personal apology," Ventura said at the time.

A State Department spokesman said Reich's remarks were intended as general advice to business travelers and were not directed at Ventura or the Minnesota delegation.

At last count, 288 American exhibitors were scheduled to show their products during the show, that runs through Monday.

Ventura plans to return to the United States on Saturday.

I have never understood what this nation sees in this loser.

Screw the Cubans, let them rot.

You gotta love Jesse. He has the guts to tell Gov Bush and the Pres where to go stick it! Gov Bush of course is terrified of the Cuban ex pats. Rather hypocritical of him since his daddy, former President George Bush Sr. sent several hundred Cubans on a boat back to Cuba. Many of these individuals were political criminals, Mentally Ill, Retarded or homosexuals. In short they were the people who did not have a role to play in Castro's Cuba. Like Bush Sr. loved talking the talk about fighting communism but when it came to walking the walk he was all talk and no action.

I agree Criminal. The point is that people condem any politicians visit to Cuba. Whats the point? Where's the hatred, where's the reason not to?

Originally posted by Manu
I agree Criminal. The point is that people condem any politicians visit to Cuba. Whats the point? Where's the hatred, where's the reason not to?

Well, for me I can't attest that there is much logic to my bitterness, truth be told. Having grown up in the latter half of the cold war (born in 69), I lived in constant fear of the bomb, and communism. I used to have nuclear nightmares. Ever had one? They are not fun. My old school even had a nuclear fallout shelter next door. From the standpoint of the cuban missle crisis, I just can't forgive that. I can't forgive Castro for bringing the world that close the end, and as long as that pig still lives, and communism still survives in that insignificant country then to hell with them. Ditto for the North Korea's and China's of the world.

Here are a couple of Commies, Castro and his Soviet mentor, Khrushchev.

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/fidel/castro-
khrushchev-2.jpg

Little does America know that The Castro Revolution in Cuba was just like Korea, and Vietnam in expanding Russia and to a lesser extent, Chinese influence. People may not agree but if we are to take The Monroe Doctrine seriously, Cuba must be liberated from that ugly, meglomaniac Castro. Cuba's economy and quality of life would improve dramatically if they were able to sell cigars and allow increased American tourism. American tourists....Wait a second, let me give that some thought.
:p

Okay I thought about it. A huge waste disposal system has to be set up first in Cuba to accomodate the American tourists junk and stuff they throw away. Castro can be the first to be dispensed with along with used feminine hygiene products, etc.