Castro ... in Greece w/pic

This does not read KACTPO but rather it's KASTRO using the Greek alphabet.

There is no promotion of socialist ideals but rather KASTRO BAR was a cool place within walking distance of where I was living in Katakolo and it wasn't a bar with bunch of old drunkies falling asleep in their beers.  It was much more a family cafe ... which went all kinds of nuts after dark.  This was prime time beach party bar at night and they were shut down for it for a while when I was there.  Too much partyin', you yahoos (larfs).



On the KASTRO side over here, we're immensely pleased to see the measures Obama has been putting into place with Cuba and we look forward to good times for both countries once trading opens again.  Obama has said specifically he wants to end the trade embargo.  It's not even close to legitimate to say America blacklists trade with Communist countries as Cuba may be one of the last with whom an embargo exists.  North Korea is sure to be on that list but probably not many others.


Making conflict too expensive has an excellent effect on long-term peace because then even the bankers don't want to screw it up ... it costs them too much money.

Similarly, starting a conflict with China over those ridiculous little islands can't possibly happen as you may make a point about the islands but U.S. and Chinese economies collapse as a result.  How's that for a strategic masterstroke.

It's not much different with Russia because it's immediate death to NASA if America halts trade because of the loss of their Soyuz launch facilities in support of the ISS and it's also a significant impact to Boeing and Lockheed because that's where they have been buying launch boosters for their efforts into space.  (NASA is moving strongly back toward using American-built boosters but they aren't there yet)


Peace ... and do it if for no better reason than it's good for business.

I sure do miss that KASTRO BAR even though I could hardly understand anything anyone said but you learn how to deal and it's such an immensely good feeling to find communication when it seems most improbable.  I really did love those Greeks (even though I was deeply troubled by the sorry state in which Turks often lived there).