<< The cause of the Roman Empire collapse was war, and weak leaders. >>
Some historians believe lead poisoning helped it along.
<< My argument is this; the courts should have had the child's best interest in mind, now what was in the child's best interest? >>
Apparently you believe that it is in the best interest of the child to be taken away from his father, probably forever, so that he can grow up in a foreign country.
<< what has transpired in this situation is nothing short of a travesty with a little boy suffering for the political ideals of his native land. >>
Or more accurately, a little boy suffering as a pawn in the big game of politices by ssome greedy relatives who obviously didn't consider Elian's best interests as highly as they did their own political agenda.
Cuba is not Communist, it is under a dictatorship. Learn your PoliSci.
Tee explained it perfectly with his explanation. I would hire mercenaries to get my kid back from any realtives who held him for their own personal political agenda. And I wouldn't feel bad about it either.
That being said, I return you to "The Bay of Pigs II" starring bigvince and DonaldDuck82.