Cuba? (Iran, illegal, regime, revolution)

[Dexterguy]

What I don't understand is why do the U.S. STILL have a embargo on Cuba? I think that we should be more concerned about other countries other than Cuba at this moment. Countries like China, Iran, North Korea we should have embargos on them, if any country! I believe that trade with Cuba would be a good thing for the U.S. and Cuba. Cuba would probably pick up on tourism because of all of the Americans that would go there to vacation. And the United States would benefit by trading only 90-approx. 130 miles from the shore, vs. trading across the world with China. Also lifting the embargo would really cool down the illegal immagration problems for Florida. In my opinion this was a problem 40 years ago, and now needs to be fixed in 2008, now the U.S. has bigger problems to deal with. Any other suggestions on the topic??

[Moth]

Good points, but perhaps a little elucidation is in order.

Firstly, the Cuba issue is more of a South Florida/New Jersey vs Havana conflict than a Washington vs. Havana conflict. Policies, even inane ones are often made by energized and organized minorities- by that I simply mean small groups. Every country has these issues that the majority find silly, but persevere due to the small groups' efforts.

Secondly, the embargo does not cover food and medicine and indeed the USA sold the most food to Cuba this past year.

Finally, do not kid yourself. Castro loves the embargo and would (and has) stop at nothing to preserve it. It gives him the ultimate scapegoat for his failed system. The last thing Castro wants is hordes of opinionated American tourists broadcasting their ideas about freedom and democracy all over his prison. He does just fine with hordes of fawning European and Canadian tourists praising his paradise even though they know they would never live there.

[Old Gringo]

I've never understood the "China = good, Cuba = bad" policy.

[Rggr]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

I've never understood the "China = good, Cuba = bad" policy.

I agree. We're not very honest with ourselves about our relationship with China.

[macmeal]

It has to do with Testosterone. Once 'digging in your heels', it isn't easy to 'back down'....

[Upton]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

I've never understood the "China = good, Cuba = bad" policy.

I think it's called I want votes from all the Cubans in Miami

[macmeal]

Originally Posted by Old Gringo

I've never understood the "China = good, Cuba = bad" policy.

We've done worse than that. So intent are we in demonstrating the "China=good" that we've agreed to go along with "Taiwan= bad". It's like taking up with your new girlfriend and helping her spread nasty rumors and disrespect about your wife, just to keep in 'good' with the new 'squeeze". Shame on us, and shame on Sam Walton !...

[golfgod]

Part of the reason is MONEY. Specifically from BACARDI (iirc) and a few other companies who want the US gov't to insure that they either get back their expropriated property, or that the taxpayers REIMBURSE them for it. That money flowed from those companies (probably some casino/mob) money too, into the VERY DEEP pockets of GINGRICH, DELAY and a few other ULTRA RIGHT WING republicans.

BTW, I'm no fan of Castro, but if anyone thinks that under Batista that Cuba was "a land of milk and honey", and anything remotely resembling an egalitarian democratci society, YOU ARE DEAD WRONG. It was your worst nightmare of a BANANA REPUBLIC.

Micheal Corleone only saw a small part of it, and he realized that the system in place had to fail.

golfgod

[macmeal]

Originally Posted by golfgod

BTW, I'm no fan of Castro, but if anyone thinks that under Batista that Cuba was "a land of milk and honey", and anything remotely resembling an egalitarian democratci society, YOU ARE DEAD WRONG. It was your worst nightmare of a BANANA REPUBLIC.

Micheal Corleone only saw a small part of it, and he realized that the system in place had to fail.

golfgod

Not only was it a "banana republic", it was the place Americans went to "do stuff they couldn't do at home" (mostly NAUGHTY stuff), as guests of the corrupt regime. There's a REASON communists used to be successful at revolutions--many times they DID improve life somewhat, for the lowest classes. Trouble is they did it by "busting so many heads" and destroying so many wealthy people, the "cure" was as bad as the "disease".
MOST communist dictatorships, though, were ushered in with popular support from populations so "fed up" by their treatment by the 'rich' that they willingly "threw them out". Only later did the 'romance sour' as these 'saviors' turned out to be as ruthless as anyone else.

Even here in the US, there was a strong communist connection with organized labor, back in the early part of the 20th Century. So ruthless, unresponsive, and harsh were the "captains of industry" that the 'workers' were willing to do anything to 'get back' at them. It DID get violent, but luckily, the US system was resilient enough (and the American dream had enough credibility), that we didn't have a more SERIOUS problem.

[Yeledaf]

Plus Castro had no objections to nuking us with Russian missiles. So f*ck him.

Go die, jefe. Soon.