Explain how you think it will achieve democratic change in a climate where you have a small ruling class that controls the vast majority of the island's wealth, has no vested interest in sharing it and can simply lock anyone up who decides to speak out about it. Do you think that having one more nation sending tourism dollars is going to make the Cuban dictatorship suddenly start regarding its citizens' rights?
Useful Idiots In political jargon, the term useful idiot was used to describe Soviet sympathizers in western countries and the attitude of the Soviet government towards them. The implication was that though the person in question naïvely thought themselves an ally of the Soviets or other Communists, they were actually held in contempt by them, and being cynically used.
How does this compare to other embargos, like the one against South Africa? We have mashed the Cuban economy like a bug. The embargo worked in spades as far as a weapon. The only argument I'd have against lifting it would be that it throws away a weapon to use when Castro dies to try to influence the cgoice of successor. I'll bet most every power player on the island wants an end to troubles with the US.
Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, and China are 4 remaining communist states in which communist parties monopolized powers. With respect to foreign policy, US treats Cuba as same as North Korea while enjoying full trade relationships with Vietnam and China. Cuba clearly doesn't have nuclear and missile program as North Korea. US lost thousands in wars with Vietnamese and Chinese, not Cuban. Someone just couldn't get over Bay of Pigs?
I'm still trying to figure out how giving a damn about human rights of another country's citizens comes into play when we conduct trade with them. List of Countries with horrible civil rights record: China, China, China (could be listed a thousand times due to population) Brazil Argentina Chile [basically insert Latin American country that had a US backed dictatorship in the last 40 years] Saudi Arabia Iraq (before WE turned on THEM) Iran Israel Afghanistan Russia Former USSR-stan (insert any that "help us") Pakistan [Insert SE Asian country name here] I just don't understand why we are pretending to still give a **** about human rights and democracy. Especially when many of the "democracies" that we've created in the last 8 years have proven to be even more hostile towards us than their previous dictators. Open up Cuba. If they continue to treat their citizens poorly... well that will suck for them.
I just wanted to add another "Who gives a **** about human rights of our allies" article. Why this would even enter someone's thought process in this day and age, I have no idea.
The best damn thing we could do is rescind the embargo and turn the American people and the free enterprise system loose on them. Put a Starbucks on every corner and a McDonalds ever half-kilometer, or so. Give 'em a taste of Americana and the Castro brothers will be looking for asylum in Venezuela within two (2) years.
I would like to elaborate on what the esteemed General Bonaparte mentioned. Nobody has ever done anything out of a consideration for "democracy" or "freedom." There is ZERO concern for human rights on the part of our leaders, there is ONLY realpolitik. To restate more crudely: the United States couldn't give two shits about conditions in other countries. If we cared, we wouldn't trade with several of our major trading partners. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it is a practical strategy in a world where the only idealists are suckers. We can't go around the world enforcing our version of what a political system should be. But let's do stop the pantomime and feigned concern that *gasp* Cuban leaders won't relinquish their control. There were valid strategic reasons for initiating the embargo in the first place; all of them had to do with the former Soviet Union, and none of them are valid today. The primary reason the embargo is still in place is that a) there is a large block of Cubans in Florida, b) Florida has for many years been a "swing" state, and c1) said Cubans tend to vote Republican; however c2) said Cubans supported former President Clinton, thus guaranteeing no action from WJC on the matter Anyone who believes otherwise is the worst kind of sucker. Now that Florida is relatively less important in the national scheme (i.e. Obama would have won the electoral college even without Florida) the Cubans are relatively less important (or due for some political punishment, take your pick) and we will start to see some action taken about this embargo. The sooner we all admit that, the sooner we can all drink mojitos on the beach in Varadero.
So when Americans start traveling there and we open up trade and spend US dollars there its all going to flow into the hands of the Cuban people? Or will the oppressive rulers take it all and use it to bolster their position as the one authority?
