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REVIEW: Turning Point: 1997-2008

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The US first got Guantanamo Bay from Spain due to its victory on the Spanish-American War. Then-baby nation of Cuba was pressured to lease Guantanamo Bay as a result of 1903 US-Cuba Treaty. Then it was superseded by the 1934 Treaty signed with Batista granting perpetual lease, with both parties needing to agree for its termination. But since Fidel Castro's revolution overthrew the Batista government, making Castro and the US enemies, obviously the US won't agree with him for the termination of the lease but continues to pay the yearly lease payments which obviously Castro would not cash except once.

America wanted to prevent the self-liberation of Cuba from Spain,which is why after the war they turned Cuba into pretty much colony(Ernest May referred to it as "virtual colony).Of course later on America forced Cuba to sign a treaty,which ironically it broke itself,turning Guantanamo into one large detention camp made to torture people.I would also like to add beautiful quote made by Theodor Roosevelt on Cubans "Just at the moment I am so angry with that infernal little Cuban republic that I would like to wipe its people off the face of the earth. All that we wanted from them was that they would behave themselves and be prosperous and happy so that we would not have to interfere".If only they were grateful enough.

The U.S. did the same to the Philippines, even fought a war. But eventually U.S. gave them their independence and even later agreed to leave their bases in the Philippines because both became friends. (Last month, the U.S. was even invited back to use the bases.) And that's pretty much where all this comes down to. As long as Cuba and U.S. are enemies, don't expect neither side to do the other any favors.

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The U.S. did the same to the Philippines, even fought a war. But eventually U.S. gave them their independence and even later agreed to leave their bases in the Philippines because both became friends. (Last month, the U.S. was even invited back to use the bases.) And that's pretty much where all this comes down to. As long as Cuba and U.S. are enemies, don't expect neither side to do the other any favors.

Hundred years ago,America implemented a system in Philippines which would work in their benefit.They controlled and used rich landowners who have the entire power of the state,they destroyed nationalist groups and created brutal Philippine Constabulary.I highly doubt we can speak of friendship between states,because when you look at state of Philippines now the system is basically intact .The elite still holds a lot of power,Philippine National Police is known well for their brutality and U.S. is pretty achieving whatever they want from that country.Unlike former Japanese colonies(Singapore and Hong Kong) that in recent years achieved economic success,ordinary people of Philippines live in misery.Being friends with U.S.A. for these small state implies being entirely obedient to it.So yeah I am not sure if Cuba has much of a choice to make.

Singapore and Hong Kong were not Japanese colonies. They were conquered briefly in WW2, that's it. They would never consider themselves former Japanese colonies. Maybe y'mean British colonies.

But Philippines is doing much better now, and they still value their friendship with the U.S. - that's the reason why the U.S. and the Philippines do a lot of things together, not because of some obedience (as mentioned, the Philippines before closed the U.S. off their bases there, and now they're the ones who's inviting the U.S. back in).

It is nice to say that,but you are also ignoring that some of the worst crime Iraq committed against it's own people were supported by USA(gassing of Kurds in Iraq is one of many examples).