Sanctions and Embargoes against Cuba. Why?

[Solomon]

One of the stupidist things we still do. Why? Isn't the best way to export democracy is to show (not force) others to see its benefits?

What the heck is wrong with america?

[DBoon]

1. Because the possibility of socialism

must not be allowed to exist. No alternative to corporate capitalism can be allowed to exist, even in the smallest coner of the world, even as an impoverished dictatorship.

The mere possibility an alternative could exist is very frightening.

[Solomon]

2. But isn't Europe practically socialist?

I could maybe understand it when communism was the foe and we believed in the domino theory.

[Donna Zen]

3. Walmart Nation

I thought we loved all things Chinese.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Sanctions against Cuba...but Cuban Americans can send dollars

to their relatives to the tune of billions each year.

Now how many people in this country know this? How is this justified? Cuban exiles have received more than any other immigrant group in the world - there are pages and pages of special provisions that apply to Cuban refugees that people of neighboring islands and countries and countries on the other side of the world are not privileged to receive.

The entire country approves of Cuban American refugees and ALL our Congresspeople do somersaults to help them, while the country and many Congresspeople go out of their way to crucify Mexicans and push boatloads of Haitians back to their lives and in many cases over the decades - back to their deaths at sea or on land.

Are you one who doesn't want to give licenses and benefits to Mexicans, but you will to Cubans? Are you one who doesn't want to give business opening benefits to Mexicans or Haitians, but have paid billions in tax money to give to Cubans?

Why? Because 90% of Cuban refugess have white Spanish blood, not Inidan or Africa? I doubt that's it.

Why? Because at one time because of our bungling and our partnerships with the mafia by Hoover and administrations in our country and by links to the dictator in Cuba we chose to make the revolutionist Castro an enemy and when abandoned by our country he submitted to the offers of Russia, becoming an excessive rhetorical flaming nut and permitted the policies of Communism without a Siberia bestowed on his compatriots, then ended up abandoned by the USSR when the Berlin Wall came down.

We were then not permitted to recognize change and promote change because of the rule of this country and many Congresses by the Cuban Americans who have held us hostage, but with hostage payments to some - Congress and Senate female and male Democrats and Republicans. Where does that money come from to pay our Congressional Democrats and Republicans? From your pocket. Those Congresspeople arein charge of budgets - they assign money to NED who gives it to certain individuals in the Cuban American associations who give it to the Congresspeople. That's the way the American version of democracy works.

Not the truth? What is the truth?

There are some who say that this country allows islands surrounding Cuba to be drop off points for drug movements - the Cubans cannot afford to secure them.

Yep, all the horrors of Communism apply to Cuba - not China.

Every country on our list of horror countries are now are trading partners - because they pretend to be embracing democracy?

How many Cuban Americans are partners with French, British, Canadian, Mexican, Venezuelan, etc. corporations who do trade with Cuba?

Why don't we sanction those countries?

Why do we remain hostages?

Why do Democrats and Republican congresspeople continue to take our money that has traveled in a circle to their pocket?

Why are their pages and pages of exemptions for Cuban refugees?

Why do Cuban Americans make tons of money from government sponsored propaganda radio and tv enterprises?

This is all a phoney joke on us.

There is no recognition of time moving on.

Why do Cuban Americans get to send billions to Cuba while no one can trade and do you benefit from the people who are fined for traveling there?

There is no Secretary of Peace in our governmental structure.

We are all about war and fighting and death and prejudice against little people.

[Osolomia]

6. Why are the "exiles" free to travel to Cuba but US citizens aren't?

Why do Americans put up with being treated like second class citizens by their own government?

Lots of questions with no answers.

[Osolomia]

5. Because even DUers prefer to ignore reality and cling to cold war fantasy

They could have done something to lift the embargo and travel ban but didn't, hating "Castro's Cuba" is so much more fun.

[youngred]

11. not really

many if not most here are opposed to sanctions

[Osolomia]

13. Then why do the Dem candidates support the sanctions

with the silent complicity of their DU supporters and where were you all during the recent House and Senate votes?

Democratic Presidential Candidates on Cuba
http://www.lawg.org/pages/new%20pages/Misc/prez-candidates1A.htm

Uh?

[youngred]

14. What do you want us all to do?

There is only so much that can be done, and a principled stand is political suicide until this country changes its thinking on Latin America in general and Cuba Specifically. I opposed and wrote my senators for all the good it did. What the hell do you want? us all marching in the streets for Cuba? The freepers would have a field day with that one

I said it before Kucinich is opposed to sanctions so stop saying that all the dem candidates support them. It's a lie.

[Osolomia]

16. Still clinging to your cold war fantasy and making up excuses

is the best the Dems can do. Pathetic.

Meanwhile Bush gets away with stuff like this:

http://www.lawg.org/pages/new%20pages/countries/Cuba/conference-comm.htm

[youngred]

17. Mine?

I oppose sanctions completely and wish they were removed today. I've been to Cuba as have many of my close friends and family.

such a broad brush you paint with, that kind of vinegar gets you nowhere

[Osolomia]

18. "a principled stand is political suicide" is a copout

straight out of the CANF manual and not worthy of my vote in this day and age.

[youngred]

19. not really

would you rather sacrifice EVERYTHING else, every other issue on the spectrum for Cuba. As much as I want change our Cuban policy I can't sacrifice everything else.

[Osolomia]

20. What are you having to "sacrifice"?

Huh?

The BIPARTISAN MAJORITY across the country and the MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans want the trade and travel ban lifted now so what's this bullshit about "scarifice" as an excuse for continuuing to pander to the extremist right wing minority?

[youngred]

21. You make no sense

You won't vote for anyone who isn't 'pure' on the Cuba issue. and you detest all those who vote to support or actively support the sanctions. You decry over and over again those who don't do what you deem is enough for ending the sanctions on what is a losing issue. so if you don't support any dems at all over this one issue then because we are unfortunate enough to be in a 2 party system the republicans take control. When that happens you have them steamrolling government and all other issues about which we all care deeply.

[Osolomia]

22. Apparently your concept of "democracy"

leaves a great deal to be desired with so many Dem candidates standing in opposition to the majority that you insist exists.

[youngred]

24. Please

I didn't say it was a majority of the US, indeed I think those sensible enough to oppose the Cuban sanctions are in a small minority. What is with the attacks on me? I agree with you I'm just explaining the reasons why some dems act the way they do. You're shooting the messenger here.

I too decry bigotry, hypocricy and ignorance, but hating all of those who disagree with you over a position against a stupid, short-sighted and unjust policy accomplishes nothing.

[Osolomia]

23. I decry hypocrisy and bigotry and ignorance

There's no excuse for it if Dems are half the kind of people they claim to be.

[HEyHEY]

7. I think because Cuba stood up to the US

The sanctions are meant to weaken them and to make an example of them..plus an excuse to have an enemy is always handy.

[dsc]

8. The sanctions are stupid

but since the Cubans can deliver Florida in the Presidential race no candidate will say it. Also Castro, who benefits, always does some outrage whenever Congress is about to lift sanctions.

[Osolomia]

9. But the MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans want the embargo lifted

and are the biggest violators of it, it's only the extremist right wing Batistianos who want to keep it and our spineless 2004 Democratic* p/residential candidates oblige them like a bunch of pukes

[Judi Lynn]

12. Sorry I don't have time to bring examples of places to read

but if you look a little more closely, you'll see there have been provocations from either the Cuban "exile" community at the same time Congress is considering important changes in US/Cuba relations, or someone in the right-wing areas of our own government, as in the case of intense activity on the part of our previous and current U.S. Interests Sections heads in Havana, James Cason currently, and Vicki Huddleston, who was reassigned last year, after a period of horrid, undiplomatic, antagonistic representation of our intersts there.

James Cason has been notable for his over-involvement with Cuban citizens, bringing them into the Interests Section at all times of the night or day, holding meetings with them, "seminars" in "journalism," use of Interests Section office equipment, visiting them at their homes, etc., etc., etc.: agitating in ways we would NEVER allow an ambassador here from another country to conduct him/herself.

During this last phase, a sudden wave of violent hijackings started, and Cuba decided to get on top of it by executing three, after their trial. These three held knives to the throats of hostages, during which time other hostages leaped into the ocean. There was no doubt as to their intention to do serious harm had they not been stopped.

At the same time, Cuba had just made public their double agents , who had been working over 10 years behind the scenes, among the "dissidents" who are on the payroll, through various channels, of American taxpayers, without our own knowledge, of course. They testified in court of their intimate knowledge of payments going to some of the loudest and most aggressive "dissidents" in Cuba, bearing names, places, etc. of all details of payments bankrolling careers of these people.

If you deliberately start trying to read all you can on US/Cuba relations, you will see there are provocations brought on by our own right wing to elicit defensive moves by Cuba, which result in failures within the Congress to complete our own intentions to end the travel ban and embargo. You will see actual cycles, patterns.

It's not a simple case of Cuba fighting against the U.S. It's factions within our own country, our own government fighting against the rest of our country, and also against Cuba. They manipulate our Representatives, and Senators, apply pressure, and even conduct personal character assassination when they are opposed, as in the case of killing Colorado Rep. David Skaggs politically when he dared to try to knock out part of their 28,000,000 preposterous propaganda "exile" directed and manned Radio and TV Marti in Miami, for which we pay handsomely.

Look up "David Skaggs" and "Lincoln Diaz-Balart" in google. The Cuban "exile" went after him and devastated his career.

It's FAR more involved than it seems without actually doing some deliberate reading and searching.

[youngred]

10. It is EXTREMELY stupid

but the US is sore that its colonial backyard was raided by a "communist". The US has considered Cuba in particular to be its possesion since the early 19th century.

It would have been a US state had the north not opposed the addition of another slave state.

The best way to let Castro fall, and/or help the people of Cuba would be to remove the sanctions. The people of Cuba (aside from the few reactionaries and Miami Cubans) are very happy with their government and its not the US's right to interfere with Cuba in any way.

[KittyWampus]

15. Empires Must Not Allow Areas To Exist Outside Their Control

it looks bad to all their colonial subjects to see some area independent of their authority.