we all hear about it but when/how/why is Cuba cool with it? and when did it happen?
2007-09-17 16:22:33 · 8 answers · asked by T-monster 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
1902: when we gave them independence following the Spanish American War.
They also put in the treaty that we would come to their aid if they ever had an evil tyrant ruling them. It was the consolation prize for us refusing to make them a territory which both they and Spain wanted.
2007-09-17 16:30:31 · answer #1 · answered by John T 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay is the oldest U.S. base overseas and the only one in a Communist country. Located on the southeast corner of Cuba, in the Oriente Province, the base is about 400 air miles from Miami, Florida. The terrain and climate of Guantanamo Bay make it a haven for iguanas and banana rats.
In December 1903, the United States leased the 45 square miles of land and water for use as a coaling station. A treaty reaffirmed the lease in 1934 granting Cuba and her trading partners free access through the bay, payment of $2,000 in gold per year, equating to $4,085 today, and a requirement that both the U.S. and Cuba must mutually consent to terminate the lease.
Diplomatic relations with Cuba were cut in 1961 by President Dwight Eisenhower. At this time, many Cubans sought refuge on the base. U.S. Marines and Cuban militiamen began patrolling opposite sides of the base's 17.4 mile fenceline. Today, U.S. Marines and Cuba's "Frontier Brigade" still man fenceline posts 24 hours a day.
2007-09-19 14:24:29 · answer #2 · answered by elizabeth c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was taken by the U.S. after the Spanish-American War along with the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. Guantanamo first served as a coaling station for Navy ships. It later became a home port for ships that were patrolling the South Atlantic in World War Two. We lease the base from the government of Cuba. However, the Castro government has never cashed any of the checks we sent them for the rental payment. It's not the first time we have housed "guests" of the U.S. there. We used it for a temporary resettlement center for Haitians who were fleeing that nation several years ago. During the resettlement of Indochinese refugees after the fall of Saigon in April of 1975 some thought was given to use of Guantanamo for that purpose as well. But, logistic and administrative support was going to pose some difficulties, so the resettlement centers were set up in Florida Arkansas and California, with the use of Guam as a "way station".
2007-09-18 00:25:02 · answer #3 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
JohnT, it the war was actually fought in 1898. But yes, we took it by force from the Spainish in 1898 in this little conflict known as the Spanish American War. I believe it was Marines who laned there and have been there ever since. The presence of Guantanimo futhered the Monroe Doctrine (the belief that the US would protect all Americans, North, Central or South.
2007-09-18 00:05:24 · answer #4 · answered by m 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't matter if they're cool with it or not - we won it in the Spanish American war. Gitmo is more than just a prison - it's a naval base.
2007-09-18 12:32:19 · answer #5 · answered by Wayner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did someone implement Fahrenheit 451 and burn all the history books? Do they still teach reading in public school? Is google broke?
2007-09-18 00:52:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
we helped kick spains *** and win Cuba their own country, in return we rent out Guantanamo
2007-09-17 23:29:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let them try to take it...
2007-09-18 00:06:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋