No subject

leader of the revolution Fidel Castro had to retire on doctor=E2=80=99s
orders -- has stressed that securing the country=E2=80=99s food supply is a
high-priority for the nation=E2=80=99s security, at a time when the world
situation makes the food question more pressing, serious, and urgent.

The reform in food production (with shades of a revolution within the
revolution) has barely begun. One immediate objective will be to
reduce the bleeding caused by food imports, which cost the country
$1.6 billion in 2007. This figure will rise some 20 percent in 2008,
with the country spending a total of $1.9 billion to import the same
tonnage of food as in 2007. To this end, work is being done to
improve the retail and wholesale sectors, with measures that include
its sale's price depending on the quality of the product in order to
increase the availability of foodstuffs to replace imports.

In this new test, Cuba can draw on the experiences of the efforts the
island had to make in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet
Union and the European socialist camp, which left the country
virtually without trading partners willing to challenge the criminal
blockade imposed by the United States government with the aim of
wiping us out, a blockade that dates back almost to the victory of
the revolution in January 1959 and that was enacted into law in 1962.

Cuba=E2=80=99s advantage in this stage of its confrontation with the United
States is that, although extreme rightwing forces govern the
superpower, the world context is now different and it is the empire
that is more isolated.

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Yahoo! Alerts =09Yahoo! News - My Alerts - Edit Alert
Sunday, July 27, 2008 10:26 AM PDT

Raul Castro fails to announce reforms in Cuba
AP via Yahoo! News Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:16 PM PDT
President Raul Castro warned Washington that Cuba would keep its defenses u=
p no=20
matter who wins November's U.S. presidential election, but failed to announ=
ce
any new changes to the communist system during a speech Saturday.

No Reforms On Cuba's Revolution Day
CBS News Sun, 27 Jul 2008 4:14 AM PDT
President Raul Castro announced no new reforms during his Revolution Day ad=
dress,
but warned that Cuba would stay focused on defense regardless of who is ele=
cted=20
U.S. president in November.

Florida Travel Agents Fight Higher Bond on Cuba Trips
New York Times Sat, 26 Jul 2008 3:47 PM PDT
Travel agents in South Florida filed a lawsuit against the state challengin=
g a new
law requiring them to post a one-time $250,000 bond and disclose the names =
of clients
in order to continue their business with Cuba.

Russian missiles in Cuba? Or is Moscow deploying a hoax?
Sun-Sentinel Sun, 27 Jul 2008 7:06 AM PDT
The Tribune's Alex Rodriguez casts a wary eye on mysterious reports of a re=
newed
military presence in Cuba MOSCOW =E2=80=94 If true, the news would have bee=
n nerve-rattling
indeed.

Cuba marks communist anniversary
Deutsche Welle Sun, 27 Jul 2008 5:40 AM PDT
Cuba has marked the 55th anniversary of the start of the communist revoluti=
on there
led by former president Fidel Castro.

Cuba-Portville 13-14-year-olds in NYS Final 4
Olean Times Herald Sun, 27 Jul 2008 8:30 AM PDT
ORCHARD PARK - Cuba-Portville is making this whole New York state Junior Le=
ague=20
baseball tournament seem pretty easy. Already having dispatched its area fo=
es with
no hiccup, Cuba-Portville ventured outside the Southern Tier Monday night a=
nd encountered
similar results.

Castro: Cuba Won't Let Defense Drop
Hartford Courant Sun, 27 Jul 2008 0:07 AM PDT
President Raul Castro warned Washington that Cuba would stay focused on def=
ense=20
regardless of who wins November's presidential election, but did not announ=
ce
more changes to the communist system during a major address Saturday night.

No new reforms as Cuba marks revolution
EuroNews Sun, 27 Jul 2008 5:29 AM PDT
No new reforms as Cuba marks revolution

Florida Travel Agents Win Delay Of Cuba Trips Law
The Tampa Tribune Sat, 26 Jul 2008 9:18 PM PDT
Teresa Aral, a travel agent in South Florida, was relieved after learning s=
he did
not have to pay the state a quarter of a million dollars to keep booking tr=
ips to
Cuba.

U.S.-Cuba tourism could shake up region
Miami Herald Sun, 27 Jul 2008 0:39 AM PDT
For years, I have thought that Mexico and most Caribbean countries want Cub=
a to=20
remain a dictatorship subject to U.S. travel sanctions for as long as possi=
ble,=20
because an eventual opening of U.S. travel to Cuba would badly hurt their o=
wn tourism
industries.


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     WALTER LIPPMANN
     Los Angeles, California
     Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
     "Cuba - Un Para=C3=ADso bajo el bloqueo"
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