Guantanamo Bay

[sickofmorons]

Can anyone explain why, if America and Cuba are such enimies that the Americans have a military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cubs?

[spacechimp]

Because Cuba knows that it would have absolutely no possibilty of defending itself if the USA were to attack.

[spacechimp]

was to attack*

[sickofmorons]

Fair enough, and in light of recent world events this may sound ridiculous, but surely they cant just go putting military bases wherever they want?

[Harley]

They lease it see here http://www.historyofcuba.com/history/funfacts/guantan.ht m

[Clanad]

The first U.S. presence on Guant�namo Bay was a Marine battalion that camped there on June 10 1898, and the first American casualties of the Spanish-Cuban-American War were two marines killed there the following day.
Five years later, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt signed an agreement with Cuba's new government, leasing the bay for 2,000 gold coins per year.
The U.S. Naval Base at Guant�namo Bay, the oldest existing U.S. military base outside U.S. territory.
The issue of returning Guant�namo to Cuba is complicated by the agreement signed by Batista (President of Cuba) in 1934. The agreement states: "Until the two Contracting Parties agree to the modification or abrogation of the stipulations of the agreement in regard to the lease to the United States of America of lands in Cuba for coaling and naval stations� the stipulations of that Agreement with regard to the naval station of Guant�namo shall continue in effect." So, here we are today...

[Clanad]

Ooops... didn't add source... History of Cuba by J. A. Sierra...

[sickofmorons]

Thank you very much Harley and Clanad.

[Tweed]

spacechimp - You were right the first time

[spacechimp]

I'm quite sure it should be "was to attack".

[paddy_36]

'if the USA were to attack' is correct - subjunctive mood. You are speaking hypothetically, so this is the correct form of the verb for these circumstances.

[spacechimp]

It depends whether you view the USA as singular or plural. I was viewing it as singular, therefore I say was.

[paddy_36]

It's nothing to do with singular or plural in this case. It's subjunctive, therefore 'were'.

[spacechimp]

Well, I'm clearly wrong. I haven't even finished English GCSE and the state of our education system is disgraceful, so I don't think I could have been expected to know.

The reason I wasn't sure is that "if he were to go to..." doesn't sound right to me. I tend to only talk hypothetically about myself, in which case I do say "if I were". So it would seem that my singular/plural thoughtline was plainly wrong.

[jedimistress]

I thought it was because the Americans can do what they like on their bases. The have them all over the middle east and the world. I thought it was US soil, and the countries have no jurisdiction, could be wrong but don't shout at me if I am please.