No. After 30+ years the embargo has not resulted in the desired regime change nor has the Cuban people felt it necessary to overthrow him. And all the reasons given by the government to continue the embargo can easily be applied to China, and we know the government woudn't dare cut themseleves off from that market. I think the government missed the point of the Cuban revolution and the strength of the Castro regime. Cuban's don't want to be viewed as America's lackey or feel dependent upon the USA's largess. Castro tapped into that resentment and went to the opposite extreme, in defiance of the US. Love him or hate him, Castro is a Cuban patriot, first and foremost.
US Embargo? Is US capitalism necessary for the survival of a country or its people? I thought there is a whole world out there with some 150+ countries.
all countries need trade, even communist ones, the us blocks everything from cuba. If a ship from another country were to go to Cuba like you say that there are all those countries out there. It then has to wait 180 days before it is allowed to dock in america or enter american waters. This puts alot of countries off of trade with cuba.
Then use your own ship to trade the goods. The US has an illegal drug trade of about 100 billion dollars inspite of an army of DEA agents watching it. It is not like US can do anything it wants. If you want to trade with US, you have to abide by some of US rules. What is wrong with that? What if we dont want to do business with people we dont like? It is our choice. Right? It is same way that Castro's choice not to hold free election by their people, for their people. Instead of blaming other people for ones own misery, introspection is a good thing. If Castro cares for his people - he should let the people decide. From where I sit - he is a dictator, a person who treats Cubans like children that they can not understand self governance. He is dictating how the people in that island should live - basically his form of religion in the name of Political ideology. It does not work - in the long run. Even the mighty USSR with all the rich raw materials, oil and gas - exploded from within. As I said in another post - one can not fool all the people all the time. Human beings always gravitate towards a happy medium when not confined by guns.
as far as i'm aware Cuba is a democratic country, i think they vote Castro in. But still people die because of the Embargo. Is abiding by the rules mean that you have to be capitalist? cause they trade with China. America is helping make the cubans life a misery not helping political change. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I dont know, where your information comes from, and why would you say Cuba is a democratic country - but here is what I hae on Cuba: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted only about 35% of these. illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted about 35% of these migrants; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US; some 2,400 Cubans arrived overland via the southwest border and direct flights to Miami Government type: Communist state Capital: Havana Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902) National holiday: Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration Constitution: 24 February 1976, amended July 1992 Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled) election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100% Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601 Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly) Political parties and leaders: only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary] Economy - overview: The government, the primary player in the economy, has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but prioritizing of political control makes extensive reforms unlikely. Living standards for the average Cuban, without access to dollars, remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The liberalized farmers' markets introduced in 1994, sell above-quota production at market prices, expand legal consumption alternatives, and reduce black market prices. Income taxes and increased regulations introduced since 1996 have sharply reduced the number of legally self-employed from a high of 208,000 in January 1996. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93 as a result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The slide in GDP came to a halt in 1994 when Cuba reported growth in GDP of 0.7%. Cuba reported that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996, before slowing down in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth recovered with a 6.2% increase in GDP in 1999 and a 5.6% increase in 2000. Much of Cuba's recovery can be attributed to tourism revenues and foreign investment. Growth in 2001 should continue at the same level as the government balances the need for economic loosening against its concern for firm political control.
sorry. 'President' would suggest that he is elected to be head of state. i'm sorry but i genuinly thought that Castro was democratically elected as leader of Cuba. aye aye. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
kmguru: 1. Wasn't Castro initially supported by the US (through the CIA IIRC)? 2. What does the migration prove? As I see it, they are not leaving because they dispise Castro, they leave because the economy is bad and there is no hope of a decent job. In America (which will not turn them away like a Mexican or a Hatian) they get support from the government and exiled Cuban organizations.
Have you thought of why they are getting support from the self-exiled Cuban organizations? And what the self-exiled people want for their homeland? As they say in south - you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. While Castro may be a good idealist, what he does not understand is that social process are not and should not be written in stone. Humans adjust to the changing needs and change the process that is beneficial for all. There are benefits to certain social programs, but the process has to evolve to accomodate the will of the people. Atleast, he should learn from the Chinese that it does not matter if the cat is black or white as long as it catches mice. He should know that his own people are waiting for his death. Only a megalomaniac will not see that and hang on to power rather than to the best interest of his people. Look at the old king of Afghanistan. He did not want to be the king again. He said, if he can help bring peace he will, but to be power hungry...
Kmguru, So you're saying that because castro is the leader of cuba we should keep an embargo that kills thousands of innocent people?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Im sorry but when people are dying as a result of an economic embargo who the leader is is irrelevent. The embargo is pointless. It may have had a purpose when russia was backing them up but it dosen't anymore. Capt, The die-hard commie thinks that cuba should get help from us decadent capitolist pigs?
Neutrino: Read the whole post again and please dont try to put your words in my keyboard....it looks dumb....Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
One of the things that the policital arena has problems with and has never forgotten is that in the 60's we had the missile crisis with Cuba. I don't know how many of you here where alive and remember what went on then. I remember and was very afraid. People were digging survival shelters; my father had one. With only 90 miles separating the the US mainland from Cuba there would not have been time to say boo before it was to late. People were scared! As you well know the US has always had a problem with Communist countries. You can blame the isolationism and the paranoia for that. Look at communist China and Korea as examples. Remember the shoot down of the airliner that got lost on it's way to Japan (I think it was) that was shot down by military jets and a missile because Russia thought that maybe it was a spy plane? No talk to speak of; they just downed it.
i just think that they should stop the embargo Mr Albatross. just cause they scared the us shitless. give over. just think how many people are scared in Iraq or some other enemy of America. no reason to hold a pointless embargo for so long.
I agree. Live and let live. But the situation is a little complex. You see...the self-exiled cubans in Florida are opposed such a move. And since they have votes and their representative to Washington wants those votes...well you can guess the rest. Besides....who in their right mind will let their motherland suffer unless they are doing it to benefit in the long run....
Who is it that always has the most to fear from a Communist takeover? The wealthy, the landowners, the middleclass and the intellectuals. Pure self-interest puts their desire to continue the embargo above the needs of their people.
Yea, I think the embargo had some basis, what with the whole enemy-at-the-back-door thing in the Cold War. (Well, would you want a known state enemy in your backyard?) But it's really lost its purpose. Hell, Cuba used to be a very popular tourist location. I personally would like to see the embargo ended, they're no longer a threat to US national security. Unless of course they work with US enemies again.
It really gets me ... The way people talk about the 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. The misslies were Russian, the operators were Russian. It was Russia's counter to US mid-range misslies in Europe and, I think, Turkey. The 'crisis' was resolved not only by Russian withdrawing their missiles from Cuba, but also by the US withdrawing its missiles. Cuba, already dependant on Russia thanks to the US's actions (like the Bay of Pigs), was little more than a pawn of the superpowers at the time. Does anyone really believe that Cuba had anything to gain by threatening the US with a few dozen missiles? Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! *Edit for clarity*
the US does'nt even allow food or medicine into Cuba. what kinda thing is that? i mean, food medicine? abit barbaric is it not?
