October 11, 2003
Cuban Embargo Should Be Lifted
Here’s a question that begs a thoughtful, well reasoned answer: what interest(s) does the United States have in the further isolation of Cuba, and a continuation of an embargo I believe most of the world sees as a failure despite the (confusing) rhetoric of the Bush Administration to the contrary? Now that the Cold War is long over and the Soviet Union has been added to the list of nations securely affixed the “also ran” column, and has long since deserted Cuba, what is gained by further punishing the Cuban people with an embargo that has failed to deliver democracy to island nation, or bring Castro to his knees?
Stating that, "Cuba will soon be free," President Bush in a Rose Garden speech on Friday, October 10th, 2003, outlined a raft of new indicatives designed—in theory—to bring about the demise of Communism (Castro) in Cuba and from its ashes plant the seeds of life affirming Democracy.
The new measures include (Source—BBC.com):
- Strictly enforcing (via the Department of Homeland Security) an existing US law forbidding Americans from traveling to Cuba for pleasure.
- Cracking down on illegal money transfers.
- Imposing controls of shipments to the island.
- Aggressive campaign to inform Cubans of safer routes to reach the United States.
- Increasing the number of Cuban immigrants in the US.
- More US radio, television, satellite and internet broadcasts to break the "information embargo" Mr. Castro had imposed on his people.
Bush stated that Castro has answered his recent diplomatic overtures designed to ease restrictions on trade and travel between the two countries "with defiance and contempt and a new round of brutal oppression that outraged the world's conscience." Really, has there been a great outcry across the world relating the Castro’s treatment of the Cuban people we have not heard about? Bush went on to say, "Clearly, the Castro regime will not change by its own choice, but Cuba must change."
Change, why must it change? And who are we (Americans or the Cuban exile community) to once again be the instruments of that change? Where is it written that democracy should be the political system of choice in every nation? Shouldn’t be up to the people actually living in Cuba to decide what shape and form their government should take, and not some self-styled exile community with little or no vested interest outside of monetary and or material gain at stake. And certainly the U.S. government should not have a vote. If they (the self-styled Cuban exile community) were really that concerned with change in Cuba, why aren’t they there in Cuba bringing about such a change instead of living in South Florida basking in the glow of American freedoms? If Castro fell from power tomorrow and the seeds of democracy were allowed to flourish how many of them would return to Cuba immediately and help the country realize true freedom whose foundation rests on the rule of law and the equality for all?
Our (the United States government) policy towards Cuba indeed needs to be re-addressed, but not like this. I have always been a strong advocate of ending the embargo, not only because it hasn’t now, and will not in the future work, but also because it’s just wrong. It’s a double standard we dared not impose on China, or the former Soviet Union, and only impose on Cuba because it is politically expedient to do so. I believe that if we lifted the embargo and reestablished trade with Cuba, the country would take a similar path as China, embracing capitalism in small steps, thereby allowing the flowers of democracy to bloom slowly in the sunshine of the free market economy. Once freedom has tempted the palate, its taste is hard to excise from the hearts of those who have sampled it.
The Bush Administration latest salvo across Castro’s bow amounts to little more the political hubris designed to win the votes of the so-called Cuban exiles in the upcoming 2004 Presidential election. It has nothing to do with the real needs, or wants, of the Cuban people. And the new policies certainly do not spring from a place of compassion, or genuine concern for the state of the Cuban society. If that were the case common-sense and rational thought would prevail and the Cuban exiles would not be allowed to dictate American Foreign Policy as it relates to the now militarily insignificant island some ninety miles south of the Florida coast. Mr. Bush, end this embargo!
Posted by V. Edward Martin at October 11, 2003 08:53 PMAn issue worth covering, Edward. Cuba poses no threat to the U.S. While it seems every week we get new information indicating the greatest physical threat sources to the U.S. are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Yet, we don’t seem to hear of any cogent plan for dealing with those threats.
I am reminded of my boyhood in the inner city of Detroit where the bullies always seemed to elevate their bullying esteem by punching on those who posed no threat of self-defense.
It is a tragedy in the making that our foreign image so carefully built over decades by actions largely praised around the world, is now being trashed in a matter of months.
Great subject selection.
Posted by: DRRemer at October 14, 2003 07:02 AMAs long as we maintain that China deserves Most Favored Nation, then Cuba deserves the same. End of story.
Posted by: rev_matt at October 14, 2003 02:44 PMFellas, fellas, fellas,
Your one-sidedness cracks me up.
“It is a tragedy in the making that our foreign image so carefully built over decades by actions largely praised around the world, is now being trashed in a matter of months.”
Where around the world are we so largely praised? In the past 6 years, I have been to France, Italy, Spain, all the Countries of the persian gulf save Iran and Iraq, Thailand, Australia, Japan, the Phillipines, and Vladivostok, Russia. All during my Naval Service. In every one of those countries, except France, the people were nice to me while they bashed the homeland as arrogant and wasteful. In France everybody is an asshole for the most part.
Don’t take your opinions from liberal press, GO to the places that you say so favorably supported America until the most recent “matter of months.”
In Japan, men and women will see Gaijin (Round-eyed whites) and will largely say or do one of two things. “NO GAIJIN!” when you try and enter their restaurant or bar or gift shop, or they will let you in with a stone face and count out a peace sign as you enter which, to the uneducated American looks like a friendly gesture, when it really represents the following: One… Two… We will never forget.
I also fail to see any suggestions of your own in your berating of current foreign policy.
“While it seems every week we get new information indicating the greatest physical threat sources to the U.S. are Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Yet, we don’t seem to hear of any cogent plan for dealing with those threats.”
Do you honestly expect a sane person to believe you would support ANY attempt by this administration to deal with those threats. I hope you don’t because you know you wouldn’t. It would, however, give you liberals many more chances to undermine our troops resolve (if utilized), and extend the fingers of doubt into society about ANY decisions that the current President or administration makes. And how does lifting the trade embargo on Cuba, simply because Fidel Castro is still in power serve the United States? Yes, serve the United States. If we lift the ban before Cuba has a democracy, we look like imbeciles… it’s like spanking a child for not doing their homework and then taking them out for ice cream when they fail social studies.
You liberals are a laugh. Anywhere there is suffering (Cuba) it’s our job to fix it, but anywhere we try to fix it (Iraq), we are in the wrong.
Consider for one moment, that you do not have an open mind, as liberals profess, but that your mind is so narrowly pointed that you cannot see the forest for the trees.
Posted by: Yukon Jake at October 15, 2003 09:26 PMCorporations rule in this country. If the multi-nationals wanted the embargo lifted it would be lifted. They are always looking for another 3rd world country to pollute and work force to exploit. The problem is that Castro can’t be bought off by them and until they get someone who can they aren’t interested.
Posted by: JJ at October 16, 2003 10:55 AMYukon—
Your analysis is off the mark. While I’ll agree that almost everyone in the city of Paris might suffer from terminal nosebleed, the people of France outside that city are for the most part very friendly. I lived in Germany for two years and visited France often, and never failed to get a warm reception. The same might not be true today.
Until the current Administration, America was part of the word in which we live, now we act like we ARE the world.
Liberal Press, what liberal press? A challenge: name one new outlet that is liberal in its slant and back the accusation with facts.
My stance on Cuba was informed by principle, the American Principle of freedom and equal justice. We have no right to tell Cuba what it should be, and then punish them when they do not conform. As far as suffering is concern we need not stray from the boarders of America to find it in abundance.
It is not our (America’s) job to “fix” injustice anywhere we see it unilaterally, that is what the U.N was formed for. And make no mistake, Iraq never was, and never will be about ending the suffering of the Iraqi people, it is about a void in American leadership, money, greed, revenge, and incompetence.
This is not a Liberal (which I am not), Democratic, or Republican issue, it is an issue of fairness and principle.
