US Cuban Policy

Peter (Moderator) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 15, 2008, 10:29:

Joel y Luza says on Jun 15, 2008, 14:06:

Yes, I think it is rather stupid to have such a draconian policy against an island, because of a belief structure at this point in history.

Sure, it was understandable back in the day of the Kennedy administration, when Fidel and Russia was parking nucs off the coast, and Cuba was sending its army to Angola; THAT Cuba is long past and a shadow of itself.

I think, with a lot of back door negotiations, embracing familial ties between the Miami Cubans and Cuban Nationals, and opening up a glimmer of trade between the two countries, would make the Castros LESS powerful not stronger.

I would say most of the anomosity between Cuba and the US has more to do with our policies, than with Cuba's form of Communism/Socialism. All it has done is legitimize other radicalized socialists in Venezuela, Equador, and Peru.

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morphus says on Jun 16, 2008, 06:17:

You have to remember, Fidel Castro kicked American businesses out of Cuba and stole billions of dollars shortly after coming into power. You can't do business with thieves (Castro Regime). I think allowing Cuba to buy food and medicine from the US is very generous. Also, Fidel and Raul gave the orders to execute American servicemen and businessmen in Cuba. You can't just sweep that under the rug.

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Joel y Luza says on Jun 16, 2008, 22:20:

point taken..but is the current policy still valid given the weakened position Cuba is in? does Cuban wealth create more or less oppression?

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morphus says on Jun 17, 2008, 06:34:

How could there be any Cuban wealth under the current regime? Suppose there is an American hotel opening up in Cuba. The hotel will have to pay the Castro regime directly for each worker. Lets say they are paying $20,000 for each worker for the year. The regime might give the worker about $20 a month. Thats only $240 for the year. Sure food and housing is free in Cuba but a bag of rice and beans, a few eggs and a little meat every month does'nt come out nowhere near $20,000. Technically, Cubans own their own homes anyway.

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Joel y Luza says on Jun 17, 2008, 15:43:

Point taken...it seems like, however, the path we are on is creating alot of suffering for the average "jose castillo" in Cuba...while the Castro brothers are effected very little... Now the Generation that transitioned with The Castros are fading, and we are left with a bunch of idiologues that no nothing but hate and disdain for the US, without really living the history.

In addition, the first generation Cubans, in Miami, that are so ardently opposed to lifting sanctions against Cuba, are fading also. The younger generation, have no emotional ties, it would seem, or history with family back in Cuba...

It seems we are just institutionalizing this ideological fight, especially now that Cuba has grown more poor and lacking of services, post cold war...

Morphus, this is coming from a man that is far removed from Carribean culture, especially Cuba, so I appreciate your view a lot....Ever since marrying a Colombiana, my curiosity hs piqued, wanting to learn more about SA and the Latin cultures. Thanks for the debate!

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morphus says on Jun 27, 2008, 10:31:

You can learn more about Cuba at http://www.therealcuba.com/

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kalder says on Jul 1, 2008, 00:48:

Sometimes places need to be put under quarantine to contain a disease.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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Peter Perez says on Jul 7, 2008, 13:17:

Have Cuba ceased to export Terrorism around the world ? No it has not, even today ,palestinians are trained in Cuba to carry attacks against Israel.
Cuba has exported 3000 so called doctors to Venezuela which give assitance to teh Farc Guerrilas and also spy both Colombia and Venezuela.
Terrorists from the ETA the Basque terrorist groups have tie to Cuban Training and they also harbor fugitives from that group.
There also 700 fugitives from the US living in cuba.
Cuba has not stopped jailing Dissidents and beating them on the streets ,women and men.
It has not stop executions by firing squads.
So why should the US want to talk to them or allow their citizens to mingle with taht crapola ?

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Peter Perez says on Jul 7, 2008, 15:30:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27UpygYZ-Js&feature=related

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kalder says on Jul 11, 2008, 10:31:

Nothing has brought the world greater misery than Communism. Far from US policy towards Cuba being 'kind of evil', I find it highly principled and moral.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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august says on Jul 11, 2008, 13:29:

But is it effective?

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morphus says on Jul 11, 2008, 16:42:

Yes. Cuba could make a lot more money off of tourism from the US. Therefore, more money to beef up police forces and suppress the Cuban people.

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august says on Jul 14, 2008, 07:25:

I dunno. What is the policy objective? To contain the Castro regime? If that´s the case, I suppose we could say the policy has been effective. But if it´s to bring down the Castro regime, I feel like 50 some years is a long ass time to wait to achieve a policy objective. Perhaps if the latter is indeed the objective, there are alternatives which could be much more effective. There have been plenty of cases of grosser examples of civilian suppression where the US has acted much quicker to challenge the status quo.

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greg says on Jul 28, 2008, 18:09:

Peter Perez, you make some pretty interesting comments. Could you provide some links to the info, especially about Cuba training Palestinians and the spy doctors

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morphus says on Jul 29, 2008, 11:36:

"Cuba training Palestinians"

I doubt it. Whats there to train anyway? The guy just straps on a bomb and B-O-O-M!

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greg says on Jul 29, 2008, 15:21:

Thats what i was thinking. Why would someone from that region go to Cuba to learn how to blow something up?

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morphus says on Jul 30, 2008, 04:36:

You can't believe anything. Remember Bush telling us there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

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morphus says on Jul 30, 2008, 05:11:

Anyway, who cares what Cuba is doing unless it affects the US? I don't care what they do. They should work out there own problems. Although, I agree Cuba is completely screwed up, going through Peter Perez's list, I don't see anything that really disturbs me. Even if true, I don't care about Israel. They stole land from the Palestinians. Cuban spy doctors and FARC? Thats Colombia's problem. In a country with the second-most unequal wealth distribution in the world, they asked for it. Yes, Cuba is jailing certain people that lash out against the government but normal everyday Cubans are not being beat in the streets. Firing squads? Just another form of execution that is popular in the US too. Cuba has a long history of corruption. I think Fidel put the final nail in the coffin to teach them a lesson. One day when Cuba is free, hopefully they will keep corruption and power hungry individuals to a minimum.

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Ken says on Oct 3, 2008, 23:15:

Why the hell does the US do business with Vietnam?

All those GIs in Hanoi Hilton.

Why with Saudi Arabia, where the human rights are 3 times worse (I've spent significant time in both countries).

You'll never change them with the embargo. They'll just turn further inwards and into the arms of he likes of Sr Hugo.

Thinga will change when they discover a super giant oilfield off the coast, or when those old Cubanos in Florida pass away.

Anyway, by then, the US will be as poor as Cuba, the way things are going.

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morphus says on Oct 6, 2008, 02:07:

The US does whatever it wants. Once the Castroids are gone, things should loosen up.

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