US embargo on Cuba

[averygoodun42]

So, as I understand it, from my limited knowledge on the subject, the US started a trade embargo on Cuba because Fidel Castro staged a successful coup of the (heavily US influenced) Cuban government in the late fifties and then had the temerity to (basically) say to the US, "Take your casinos and shove it!"

The US responded by saying "Oh, yeah? Well, take your economy and shove it!"

And there's been an embargo ever since.

And yet, Castro has remained in power, despite (the US claims) horrid poverty (true) and appalling human rights conditions (who are we to lecture?). One could ask why the US has not deposed him like they have many, many, many other leaders in the world (has any government in South and Latin America not been affected by the CIA? Not to mention the coup the US pulled in Australia some years ago, and Iraq and Afghanistan and, and, and...) and it could be because of his role in stopping the Cuban Missile Crisis from escalating. Kennedy wasn't alone in stopping that fiasco from happening. He and Castro worked together to keep the collective cool, and it is possible that there were some backroom dealings that took place afterward. Not that the US has shown any diligence in honoring deals when it looks profitable to ignore them.

It's possible that the US has tried to overthrow Castro. It is possible that the CIA have repeatedly tried rousing rebellions from within. Again, wouldn't be the first time. (I wonder if the CIA didn't have anything to do with the recent election protest in the Ukraine, or in Mexico, for that matter.) But if they have tried, why haven't they succeeded?

It's also possible that the embargo is actually profitable for the US. How, I'm not sure, but I imagine there are ways to make money off of keeping a state down. Kind of like the playground bully using one kid as an example to intimidate everyone else into giving him their lunch money.

Except Castro hasn't caved. It helps that the rest of the world doesn't really care too much about the trade embargo, so Cuba routinely gets aid from sources like Canada and Spain. Nothing too overt, as no one wants that much of the US's attention. Who would, looking at what the US's kindliest meant attention does to nations.

So, in my opinion, I think the embargo should stay in place. Keep Cuba free from American influence! Whether they have oil is kind of moot as the majority of our oil comes from Canada anyway. Let there be at least one unsullied nation in the world that can claim that they have been ignored by the US, and are free to live their lives without the hassles US friendship brings.

Comments

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

You know, it would be easy to nod and agree. But, as much as I may find US politics distasteful, the alternatives are horrifying. Yes, US is a big bully - but any other bully would most likely be far worse. There's been three situations in the history when one country managed to gain so much power that it managed to keep others in forced peace - pax romana (I never know if I'm spelling them right), pax britannica and now, pax americana.

As a citizen of Poland, a post-communist country, a country that has seen what it's like to be oppressed, I say I'm glad US manages to stay in power. Because it keeps China and Russia at bay. Yeah, there's war going on in various places in the world. Yes, US have to do with that. Perhaps they shouldn't. And perhaps if they really claim to protect human rights, there are other places they ought to attack or at least put pressure on. But they've done a lot of good, andtried to do more, even if their motivation is rarely pure...

So yes, a big bully, but the world is a nasty place and it's my bully of choice ;)

[windypoint.livejournal.com]

Have you seen this? This is how the Australian media is selling our involvement in the Iraq war to us.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19947658-601,00.html

Apparently it is a really really good thing that we are involved in this whole debacle, because if we weren't America would have been committing rather more in the way of war crimes.

That's a pretty creepy rationalisation as to why it is acceptable to hang out with the playground bully.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's any such thing as government policy in practice that is based on any sort of idealism, and Cuba policy reeks of it.. However, I don't even know if it's possible for a country to exist without US influence. Tom Friedman of the NY Times has repeatedly said that we have issues with so many other countries because our government influences their lives more than their government does, and this imbalance breeds dissatisfaction. It's also a cultural invasion, and backlash in the middle east has been particularly virulent. As long as the US continues to dominate technology, we're expanding our sphere of influence. This goes for blogs, too. Just think! We can help influence people's opinions by what we write! I really need to stop the celebrity gossip, then. *hangs head*

completley off-topic: my browser (Opera) displays the reply box text really tiny, so I apologize for all the typos!

[zalena.livejournal.com]

There have been repeated attempts to oust Castro. I can't believe he's survived this long! At this point I don't believe he's considered a major threat. Cuba and its leader are both considered relics of the Cold War. Without a major backing party (like the Soviet's during the Missle Crisis) Cuba is seen as a minor player in world politics.

Also important, most of the rest of the world does not participate in the Cuban blockade.

We have an interesting book on the impact of Cuba on various peoples lives called Ninety Miles. It should be out in a few months, and is highly readable. We also have about a million books on the U.S. in Latin America. Addicted to Failure (less readable) will also be out in a few months.