Why is it we have a trade embargo on Cuba? Because they're Communists? Because they supported the Soviets? Because their people aren't free?

Before you answer, please note that China, one of our primary trade partners(and debtors) is a Communist nation. They also have a history of human and animal rights violations. They even poisoned our pets, and put lead in the paint on children's toys, and much, much more.

Meanwhile, here's Cuba. During Katrina, Castro offered to send some teams in to help stranded people, which the Administration declined to accept. Oh, and where to you think Gitmo is? Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. So, we can hold prisoners there, but we can't enter in to trade with them, why? Because they're Commies?

There must be some political scholar out there who was a valid answer for this.

Originally posted by TheGreySwordsman
Why is it we have a trade embargo on Cuba?

The quick and dirty answer is simple. When Castro overthrew the dictator Batista, he annoyed a lot of American financial interests as well as the Mafia. America snubbed him, so he went to the Soviets for help in building a post-revolutionary nation. Even though he didn't want to dance with the big boys, the Ruskies called the tune just as the Americans would have.

But when you think about some of the US allies over the years...from Saddam to the Latin American generalisimos to the Saudis, it is difficult to rationalise the continuing antipathy towards Cuba. To make nice now would be tantamount to admitting that US policy has been misdirected. It would also annoy the Cuban ex-pat community in Florida, who direct a lot of money and votes towards keeping the pressure up.

I like the Cubans. I'm going there shortly. I'll report back on what I can detect from my spot on the beach, under a palm, toasting ATS with a Cuba Libra.

it's probably just a act/cover for something us has going on with cuba.

us denied itself to help katrina victims.

The US gov is so separated from the people at this point that it's more like an occupation. We (the people) don't hate the rest of the world, they do... and it makes the rest of us look bad.

Maybe at the time when the embargo started, the US was trying to set an example by openly resisting communism... but since then they've set such a bad example in other ways that it doesn't really matter. The US might as well just accept that they're as evil (or moreso) as the rest of the world and open up trade. It's not fair to hurt the citizens out of a misplaced sense of self-righteousness, which seems to be a common theme as of late.

I think the stanoffishness of the US government toward Cuba has been somewhat reinforced by Cuba's somewhat apparent/possible alliances with South American governments, that the US is also at odds with.

Another possibility or contributing factor might well be the difficulty of controlling Cuban immigration if sanctions were lifted, which could also open up Cuba for U.S. tourism. Obviously, U.S. citizens vacation there anyway, but without official sanction.

D'you know what you'll see there, among other things? Thousands and thousands of old American cars, classics, muscle cars, all lovingly maintained and kept running.

Originally posted by Kruel
The US gov is so separated from the people at this point that it's more like an occupation. We (the people) don't hate the rest of the world, they do... and it makes the rest of us look bad.

as the saying goes "people(countries) get the government they deserve"

I think its because when Fidel Castro was a freedom fighter he was supplied and assisted by the CIA...
the USA thought that they had an ally all bought and paid for...
Wrong !!



~ and the
US has been holding a grudge ever since..at least diplomatic wise~


a tip of the hat & a * to JohnnyCanuck, i just scrolled back the posts and JC informed us with the long answer...


[edit on 20-8-2008 by St Udio]

The new leader, Raul Castro is rumored to be trying to improve relations with the US.
Last week when the Russians publicly stated that they would like to reignite the romance between Russia and Cuba by basing Russian planes and or ships in Cuba, Raul Castro basically told the Russians, no thanks.
Im actually hoping that relations between the US and Cuba improve, I've heard its a wonderful place to visit and I wouldnt mind going there someday.

thats good to hear, When Castro was stepping down I heard his brother might be somewhat of a tyrant.

Simple answer:
1) George H.W. Bush & family own the offshore drilling rights off Cuba but can't use them until Cuba is destroyed, i.e. made 'democratic' -- although, we didn't bother making China democratic, nor Russia ...oh yeah, we declared Russia a democracy with a press release, didn't we?

2)Cuba was an offshore U.S. criminal haven for drug and money laundering before Castro and the 'people' threw out U.S. imperialists, gangsters, casinos, drug traffickers, etc.

Good Question, well lets see how my answer flys on ATS....

Well Cuba was controlled by the Mafia under Mendoza? who was friendly to American Interests, the Island became so corrupt it was the Rivera of America basically, we put in Gitmo at the turn of the century and it was basically, a state or territory of The United States of America... remember the U.S.S. Main.....
well the Island was throughly corrupt by the time Castro rebelled.... and since Cuba was a small Island word spread really fast that Castro was going to un-corrupt Cuba for the people... and America or should I say the Mafia didn't want that to happen so the basically, funded Mendoza to even more criminal behavour - locking people up for speaking up... and then people started dying for basic human rights... one pivital point was reached when people started dying for Castro... and it snowballed from there.... Castro was Pro American, but America would not help him free the people from this tyrannt Mendoza... 1958 - 1960 Cuba was courted by Russia and in 1961 or 62 came the Mafia's the bay of pigs... Kennedy found out about it and stopped it... and proceeded to a climax in 1962 with a nuclear standoff with Russia... and America does not want you to learn the history of what we did to the Cubans thats why we dont have contact with them anylonger.... I can wait till Castrol and his brother Rual gets sacked... I'm going down there and buy me plantation... for $5.00 ... and man oh man do they have some seriously old Cars still running down there... can anyone say EXPORT....

Everyone,

Thank you for the great replies. While I was aware of a number of conspiracies(theories) related to Cuba, I never really heard a good excuse for maintaining the trade embargo. Thanks very much!

Originally posted by Kr0n0s

Lmao I swear, on this board, EVERYTHING is a Bush's fault, even something that began way back in the 1950s.

Well... the Bush family history goes WAY WAY back before the 50's.
I think you can start your research on wikipedia if you dont know this already.

Originally posted by Kr0n0s
Seriously, the world nearly faced Armageddon in the early 60's and Cuba was just as responsible as the Soviet Union was.

.... and the US didn't have ANY responsability also?
Adding to that,... was there, in the early 60's, a "nearly faced Armagreddon" or just the FEAR of that?


What the US (and the rest of the world) is still doing to Cuba, is a crime against all that live there.


Peace

We don't hate the people, we disagree on Castro's reign of power. We have Gitmo there to keep a "hand on their as_, so to say.

Originally posted by PammyK
We don't hate the people, we disagree on Castro's reign of power. We have Gitmo there to keep a "hand on their as_, so to say.

No, you have gitmo because the US signed a lease on the property.
I'm not sure I'd be bragging about gitmo at this juncture, anyway. It's not your best moment.