Embargo on Cuba

[Capitalist]

The United States has ended the Embargo on all Food & Medicine into Cuba.

The Embargo on tourism and material goods remains!

Cuba is now free to purchase non-capitalistic goods.

[PYROMANIAC]

Half way there.......

[Capitalist]

I am one of the few Cubans that is for POSSIBLY ending the embargo. (Although this is still a very grey issue for me)

I think ending the embargo may actually bring down Castro more than help him. Although ending the embargo with China has only made the Chinese Government/Military Stronger and the Chinese People weaker. However Cuba's close proximity to the United States and smaller population may be a factor that may make for a different scenario than what happened in China.

I don't want open trade with Cuba to become another Tricky Dick & Mao "American owned Chinese Slave" Pact. My fear about ending the embargo with Cuba is that Castro's military will become stronger, yet his people will remain weak. However, American influence may inspire Cubans to counter-rebel the Castro/Guevara psuedo-revolution.

[peaccenicked]

Capitalist try and get your facts straight.
"The Cuban revolutionary government began to nationalize U.S. property( with an offer of compensation, which was rejected). The U.S., in retaliation, initiated the embargo.

When the Soviet Union offered to become Cuba’s new supporter, and preferential trading partner, Cuba agreed, thus setting the stage for four decades of enmity and confrontation between the U.S. and Cuba.

In 1989, when the soviet block began to disintegrate, the U.S. moved to normalize relations with all the communist and formerly communist countries. China, the largest communist country, was granted " most favored nation" status. The embargo was even lifted against Vietnam, with whom we had fought a brutal war in which millions had perished.

During this time of normalizing relations, the embargo against Cuba has been strengthened, first with the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992which deprived Cuba of the right to trade with U.S. subsidiaries (at the time, $ 700 million worth of trade); then with the Helms Burton Act of 1996, which codified the embargo and deprived the President of any discretionary power to end any aspect of the embargo.

The U.S. formerly justified the embargo on the basis of Cuba’s alliance with the Soviet bloc and support for armed revolution in Latin America and in Africa( non of which pertains today), now the U.S. calls for the complete overthrow of Cuba’s( elected) government, prior to any negotiation toward a normalization of relations

The U.S. now rationalizes the embargo by claiming that Cuba is the most egregious violator of human rights in this hemisphere. Respected human rights organizations, however, have never accused Cuba of the kinds of genocide, torture, disappearances, maltreatment of children, women and minority religious/ethnic groups, that go on routinely in countries all over the world with which the U.S. has perfectly normal, even preferential relations.

Is Cuba a threat to U.S. national security? A Center for Defense Information study notes that Cuba spends in one year on its military what the U.S. spends in twelve hours."
from article, i cant find anymore.





(Edited by peaccenicked at 3:51 pm on Jan. 19, 2002)

[Capitalist]

Cuba is a threat

Maybe you forgot about the Cuban Missle Crisis - almost led to the annihilation of the entire world. Just because they are small - does not mean they are not a threat.

Just because the United States may have violated human rights - does not excuse Cuba and China from doing it either.

As for my facts - they are straight.

I think Nixon ended the embargo on China for 1 main reason. USA needed an ally against the Soviet Union.

Which in my mind makes Nixon somewhat justified.

We allied with Stalin to take out Hitler

The USA does ally with evil to take out greater evil.

Does not mean it is right - but sometimes it is the only way or viable tactic.

[Imperial Power]

peace o jeez if I'd known they offered financial compensation for what they were stealing that would have made it all better.

[nkarne69]

Capitalist, you called the Cuban revolution a "pseudo-revolution" earlier, if you ask me any revolution which can turn a mafia-run country into a worker state is a great revolution. Also as far as human rights abuses in Cuba go, you're right there are some. On the other hand Cuban workers aren't exploited for the benefit of corporate America, and little innocent girls aren't kidnapped and sold into prostitution much like they are in many countries which we have open trade with. If you ask me Cuba's human rights record is way better than that of any Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, etc. At least women aren't given forced circumcision there and blacks aren't enslaved (as in Mauritania, another country which the US is friendly with.) The idea that Cuba is one of the worst human rights violators is absurd. I'll grant you their domestic human rights record isn't as good as the US's but if you were to take into consideration the military aid the US gives to countries like Indonesia to squash attempts to organize unions in Nike factories etc. and the fact that we allow US citizens to profit from slave and sweatshop labor in foreing countries I would argue that the human rights balance falls more into Cuba's favor.

[Dreadnaht1]

I can assure you Capitalist, the Cuban nation is a 100% non-threat to the U$ nation. If you could get your facts straight you would know that the Cuban Missile Crisis hardly involved the Cuban nation. The ISLAND of Cuba had Soviet missile silos on it. SOVIET. The Castro regime had little say in the actual missiles. He just gave them a go ahead and it was justified one. The U$A did try to attack Cuba first. So, while the U$A is a threat to Cuba, Cuba currently has no allies nor money to become an overseas threat to U$A.

So, it would be justified for me to say that U$A needs to be dealt with because it is a magor threat to the Cuban nation. Cuba is, and has been, in danger for over 40 years now. I think it's time something must be done! I think Cuba should initiate an embargo on the nation of U$A!

Why must you think that the U$ is so great and better then everyone else!? It's not! It's a whole lot worse! Just because the Cuban nation is poor does not make it a worse nation! Ugh, why must you be so stupid?

-Dread