What would it take to end the Cuban embargo?

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Rockin' Mel S

Progressive thinking in US foreign policy.

But why drop it now? Just because it hasn't worked for the first 45 years doesn't mean that success isn't right around the corner. Don't give an inch to those godless Communists! - A sad joke :( You'd think that even if you did support it you'd a least be considering other options given that this course of action has clearly been ineffective.

Actually is it fair? Sure. The Cuban government took a lot of US property without a proper legal process and no compensation. That's what the embargo is about. It's not about anything else. I'm not saying the Cuban government needs to necessarily pay compensation to companies that may have been exploitative in Cuba but they do need to give them some sort of legitamate legal process. If you think the embargo has anything at all to do with human rights, promoting freedom, fighting communism etc. you are fooling yourself. It's about the money. Don't believe me? Explain this then: Cuba - embargo, China - most-favored-nation (MFN) trade status.

Is the embargo moral? No. The embargo now just prevents families from visiting. Medicines from being delivered, that sort of thing.

Is the embargo in the best interest of the US? No. Cuba poses no threat to the US so there is no need for it. When the UN, year after year vote overwhelmingly for resolutions condemning the embargo, and the US ignore those resolutions, that continues to hurt an already battered US international image. It gives Castro an excuse for his failing country and economy. It aids Castro's quest to hold power. Every Cuban is under the impression that it is the US and the embargo that is responsible for all the short comings. The truth is Cuba's economy is decades behind. When the embargo ends and Cuba's struggles continue. Cubans will realize, the same as most of eastern Europe realized, communism doesn't work.

The US is a rich country, I think it's going to take them to forgive/forget about the compensation for the expropriated property as I don't think Cuba is in any position to pay compensation to anyone. Thats the kind of progressive thinking that's required.

(Richard K. I don't believe that most Cubans worship Castro. I think that there will be many on the island that will be happy when he is gone. I spoke with a Cuban aquantance in Cienfuegos and mentioned that Che Guevara images seemed to be everywhere, T-Shirts, Watches, Billboards etc. and he said that Che was revered by Cubans, a national hero. I asked "What about Castro?" His answer was "We (Cubans) don't talk about Castro". It was clear he did not worship the man.)

cardtapper

It would take a President and a Congress that understand the economic impact of lifting the embargo -- and that understand that a free market economy is the best way to spread democracy.

urbansurvivor

If we really wanted the people of Cuba to revolt,we should trade with them, sell some IPODS, cell phones,some real cars, all that Capitalism is about $$$$$$$ and more!!!!!!!!!!!
Some NIKES, some 99cents stores,LCD's,$$$$$$$$.And more American turist. The embargo only hurts the PEOPLE not the Goverment...Fidel is still around.......he has outlived about 7 or more presidents......i have an idea how cubans live now and when Batista was there, i was there!!!!. when batista left he took sevearal plane loads of gold with him to spain. only the well to do was able to leave at that time. when batista was around things were not any better outside of Havana. there was the rich$$$$$ and the pooor,campesino.very few owned any profitable land. it is true that things are real bad ,but it is bad for all......

Richard K

When George Bush and his gang are out of office next year and the government stops being influenced by the south Florida exile Cuban lobby. Remember Elian Gonzalez? Any child from any other country would have been home with his family within hours. It is so hypocritical that the U.S. government welcomes trade with Communist China who are probably the worst abusers of human rights in the world. The U. S. has a most unsatisfactory history of meddling in other countries affairs, look at Viet Nam, what a disaster! Cubans are very proud of their country as well they should be. Itâ€™s my understanding 85% of the tourists going to Cuba are Canadian and we are treated like royalty as are also the Brits, Germans, Dutch and the rest of the world who deal with Cuba. The resorts and restaurants are improving all the time. No doubt about it Cubans have a tough time but they worship Castro. Unfortunately too, Americans are fed a steady stream of anti-Castro propaganda. Some Americans are under the impression tourists cannot travel freely around Cuba, and that Cubans are afraid to talk to tourists. That is utter nonsense. After eight visits to Cuba, I have had no problem discussing most everything with Cubans be it in Havana, other cities or the campo. Iâ€™m not saying Castro is perfect, but he is an improvement over Americaâ€™s puppet, Batista who kept Cuba as a banana republic, and Cubans virtually enslaved as the rich got richer. The sooner Americans can visit Cuba legally without fear from the government of the self-proclaimed â€œfreest country on earthâ€ the better. Once you go there and see Cuba and meet Cubans in their homeland chances are you will want to return again and again. If you are interested Iâ€™ve put some sites at the end which you may find of interest.

Palmasysol39

talk to the president , he made the law even tougher in 2004, only the US president can remove it.... He signed for more restrictions to travel ( from once a year to once every 3 years) money to be sent only under certain conditions and certain amount , etc etc ...good luck
By the way , the only presidency candidate that has openly said will lift the US embargo is Barac Obama..just FYI

ESJ

The thing that would make the U.S. end an embargo in Cuba is when this goverment realize that the "American revolution" is not the only revolution in the world. We need to stop interfering in other countries business and worry about our own problems. The things this country does makes me so sick sometimes....We assasinate presidents, we bomb, we put groups of people in detention camps, kidnapped presidents and sent them into exhile in Africa......Then when other nations do the same thing we get mad

The Coug

First of all, Richard K. you are a tourist in Cuba, meaning you have no idea how a Cuban lives over there....
You go there and go into your wonderful air-conditioned hotel and drive your air-conditioned cars and tour buses while most cubans have to pack in a bus that fits only 1/4 of the people that are actually in that bus.
Spend a few months being a TRUE cuban and you would understand what is going on.
Only getting a few little dollars a month that will buy just enough rations for the family not to starve to death.
This has to do with the embargo? NO! it really doesn't, Cuba has agriculture and cattle there, yet, they cannot eat it, it gets exported out to other countries or fed mostly to tourists in the restaurants and hotels.
The country is beautiful only in the tourist parts, look at the buildings inside little towns and you will see the true poverty within.
This Cuban Embargo will not end until Fidel Castro dies, because of money, land and the government down there. I don't care you people say but I truly say Batista was a lot better than Fidel is right now.

jazzpaging

I was there last year! Hired a 49 Plymouth and its driver in Havana for 5 days! Wouldn't even speak with me in English or Spanish for the whole time but the last day he did!

Friend that I went with is Dominican and he thought he was Cuban Secret Police and he was scared out of his mind!

US citizens won't be able to spend money there until Castro croaks-the government changes to one that will respect the people and not beat them down and keep them down!

Only high rises on the Malecon are for the communist party members! People are starving and if they buy more than 2 lbs of rice a month they go to jail! Castro use to sell the women for hard currency and he changed his mind and now a woman caught prostituting goes to re-education camp for 8 months!

Doctors and Lawyers use to be hookers at night to make ends meet!

Havana hasn't seen a coat of paint or a repair since Castro came to power! Only money spent is when it has to do with either communism or the revolution!

Big stores have NOTHING in them and all their inventory is in the first 10 feet of the windows. You can use the rest of the stores as Roller Skating Rinks!

Restaurants have 20 page menus and have only 1 or 2 things to offer customers and those are the hard money restaurants!

If this sounds like a beautiful place to visit you haven't been there and you haven't seen how scared the people are of their government!

You don't think it's fair? Neither do I! People should be able to live free!

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