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Cuban Eye Surgery More points for fidel and hugo The joint Cuban and Venezuelan eye surgery propaganda operation continues to score points for fidel and chávez. The BBC reports the latest country to welcome fidel's medical spies is Panama. President Martin Torrijos visited Havana to thank fidel for returning sight to thousands of Panamanians. He took 78 patients along with him. Dozens of Panamanians are arriving in Cuba for free eye operations, under a scheme called Operation Miracle. At least the BBC reporter has the good sense to recognize the program as a scheme. Operation Miracle is part of Cuba's wider plan to offer people in the region access to its medical facilities and highly-trained doctors. This year tens of thousands of Venezuelans have received free eye treatment in Cuba, and Cuba sends up to one-fifth of all of its doctors to Venezuela. In return, Venezuela sends 90,000 barrels of crude oil per day at preferential rates. As I said before, if the medical treatment is good, this is really a miracle for the poor people with health problems, but it is most likely a long term disaster for the governments involved. All in all, a propaganda victory for fidel and el Mico Putumayo. |
