US backtracking on Cuba policy

[JohnnyO]

Read recently in Reuters that the US is starting to backtrack on their policy towards Cuba. They wanted to play bully-ball and realize its not working. So they are working Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro aka "El Cangrejo" or the Crab, Raul's grandson to put him in the mix as the next president. Rubio is not convinced he's the right guy (none of them are) but he is known for his protected business dealings in Cuba. He owns a lot of MYPIMES or small retail stores as well as the newest bars in T3. Also I have heard he owns rental car agencies. But this dude is a bad apple down to the core. I am sure he would like the position being offered but it will be only to protect his interests and multiply his assets. He has studied at the university level and served as security for Raul, ranks as a Liutenant Coronel but is more known for partying with local gals on his yacht. I think the orange haired guy likes him because he and Diaz Canel had a fist fight a while ago and this would stir things up and create more internal chaos. So the US is backpedaling and saying Cuba will need a more gradual change. In another article, I also saw that Rubio was in St Kitts for a Caricom meeting of the 15 Caribbean nations discussing Cuba policy. The Crab had a meeting there with Rubios assistants. Trinidad sides with the US and Jamaica is saying Rubio is only at the meeting to create division-ism or more chaos so nothing gets done. One of the proposals was to supply aid to Cuba. Hope that one of you more technically advantaged can post these articles.  

[JPark3]

Woah, what was the deal with the fist fight between El Cangrejo and Diaz-Canel? Any info known on what it was about?

[WestCoastSmokin]

Thank you JohnnyO, I hope to hear more soon. 

[JohnnyO]

On 2/28/2026 at 4:32 PM, JPark3 said:

Woah, what was the deal with the fist fight between El Cangrejo and Diaz-Canel? Any info known on what it was about?

Without putting too much play-by-play anybody wanna guess? It's about money. The story comes from Ignacio Jimenez a lawyer that was representing an investor Western Islands Company. Back in the day Fidel and Carlos Lage (#2 in command) fooled that investor into putting up $120 million for some projects to build golf courses, shopping malls, villas, apartments, and hotels outside of Havana. It was a straight swindle and they were never giving the $$$ back. The money was in an account in the British Virgin Islands in Lage's name. Lage got caught in some back door business dealings and was demoted and sent home. At the time, middle ranking Diaz Canel was the one to assume the account and it was changed into his name. Raul's son Alejandro got involved in trying to recover the $$$ "to give it back to the investor" but Diaz Canel wouldn't give it up. So a meeting was put in place with the initial investor, Diaz Canel (now president) and Raul's grandson aka "The Crab". The disagreement began as the Crab was trying to "help recover" the investor's $$$. Two punches, DC goes down and security jumps in to break it up. A Final note - DC's wife is on the account as she has withdrawn $$$ from the account for personal expenses. DC still has his name on the account and that will be his out. John

[El Presidente]

There is no backpeddling as far as I can see. 

The administration is happy to do deals with despots as long as they get what they want out of it (Venezuela). I don't think anyone thought Cuba would be any different. It appears unlikely there will be a popular uprising of the populace. That event would change things. Given its absence then the US administration would be looking for a more acceptable "shepherd" who would participate in  positive political and economic takeaways for the US while selling the Cuban populace on a brighter future. 

Politicians and their mates (both sides) will continue to  get rich, sacrificial lambs/s will be found and offered up, the Cuban people will be given cake (electricity). 

 

Reminds me of the line  from the song "Only for Sheep" by The Bureau

 

'You show us a new way, you sound so sincere
How sweet it must be to be able to think so clear
But you are just another in a long line of fools
Giving us freedom
With a new set of rules'