The United States Failed Cuba, Not Fidel Castro Or The Revolution

All those things we wanted for the people of Cuba, vigorous democracy, thriving economy, vibrant freedoms--the same fucking things we want for ourselves but somehow don't have in our exceptional America, either--those things were rendered impossible by six fucking decades of imperial oppression of Cuba.  Cuba was fighting an existential war, and it was the powerful United Fucking States that could not defeat the nearly powerless island nation.  The Cubans and Castro fought the US at every turn, but the economic and military pressure made it impossible for Castro to loosen his grip on the government.  Had Castro faltered for a second, the weight of US imperialism would have wiped out the advances of Cuban society and turned the country into another Haiti.  Castro battled against that outcome every day, so when these self-righteous reactionary hypocrites bemoan the lack of anything in Cuba, they should stare into a mirror for a while first and see what's looking back.