How are we able to have a base and Gitmo in Cuba?

[napi21]

I probably should know this because I'm sure old enough, but I'e been thinking about this since they built Gitmo. If we are such enemies of Cuba, why and how can we have a base there?

[lenidog]

1. Wikipedia to the rescue. They give all the details

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay

[queeg]

2. Frightening how soon we forget

that the US fought a WAR in Cuba

[rwenos]

3. Spanish-American War

We got Gitmo in the settlement with the Spanish government. Along with (basically) the right to colonize and exploit the Philipppines.

Charming war, that. Hearst called it the "Splendid Little War."

Crimes of exploitation and colonization, more like.