His trip might have been 1/4 "official". Was "trade", not political, and according to him more charitable than trade. Not government sponsored, but an outreach by his group to a particular medical community.

He didn't visit government dignitarys, though the government might have been more involved than he said, I doubt it. He's a bit grandiose.

Your reference is very interesting, and easy reading. A problem I have is that when discussing Third World countries (ever wonder what the "Second World" countries were? Everyone knows the First and Third World.) one can paint them any way they want to see 'em, because it's all going on. And it doesn't seem to be much different in any of them.

Why is it refugees from Cuba are regarded as political refugees, and the folks coming in from Mexico and other Latin American countries are regarded as economic refugees? I strongly suspect that it's all economic.

"Second World" countries were the former Soviet "Republics". They were better described as Third World countries with First World weapons.

Thanks for the link, though. Interesting.

Arf