Hey guys, I have 2 questions about 2 talking points used by liberals.

1: SOVIET COTTON INDUSTRY IN CENTRAL ASIA AND IT’S IMPACTS I’ve heard many people claim that Soviets established these cotton industries to deliberately damage Central Asian states and prevent it from developing(this comes from [Pakistani] Muslim friends[am Muslim and Pakistani myself] who also make the claim that Soviets were totally anti-Islam and oppressed Muslims of Caucasus and Central Asia). How do I counter this claim (all 3 of these claims)

2: FIDEL CASTRO URGING CUBANS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN HIS FINAL DAYS I’ve heard this claim too that the economic condition of Cuba worsened so much that Castro removed his army from the borders and told people to Run to USA and many people desperately “swam” to USA How do I counter this point? (due to exams, didn’t had the time to read basically any book about Castro, hence why asking this question)

Thanks