US Blockade on Cuba is a Crime against Humanity
Elio Delgado Legon
HAVANA TIMES – Cuba will soon present for its approval the draft resolution called “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” before the UN General Assembly. A similar resolution has been approved 25 times before and which the US has completely ignored.
The report that Cuba will present before the resolution is put up for a vote, includes an update of damages caused by the blockade that has been limiting our country’s opportunities to make progress for more than 55 years.. But, this measure of strength, which has the explicit objective of causing the Cuban people hunger and despair, is a lot more than the economic statistics that are reported in the following manner:
“Damages accumulated during almost six decades of this measure reach 822.280 billion dollars, taking into account the devaluation of the US dollar against the value of gold on the international market. In today’s prices, the blockade has caused quantifiable damages valued at over 130.178 billion dollars.
Over the period since the last report, the blockade has caused Cuba losses worth 4.305 billion dollars.”
In order to put this figure into perspective, according to estimates from Cuba’s Ministry of Economy and Planning, the country needs between 2 and 2.5 billion USD of direct foreign investment per year in order to make economic progress. In other words, the annual cost of the blockade for Cuba is approximately double what it needs to develop its economy.”
These figures speak for themselves and give an idea about the financial damage caused to this country in order to make its social project fail and force it to return to what it was 60 years ago by reinstating capitalism with all of its consequences such as social injustice, a cut in social budgets at the expense of society’s wellbeing, administrative corruption and all of the other scourges that capitalism entails and which I don’t need to name.
In another part of the report which will be presented to the UN General Assembly, it states:
“The blockade continues to be a massive and flagrant violation of the Cuban people’s human rights and qualifies as an act of genocide according to the 1948 Convention Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It’s an obstacle to international cooperation efforts.
“It urges the United States to comply with the 25 resolutions adopted by the international community at the United Nations General Assembly, whose Member States are asking for an end to this absurd policy and for the blockade to be lifted unilaterally and unconditionally.”
Tightening the blockade, as announced by President Donald Trump on June 16th 2017, “has been tone-deaf to the demand of Congress members (including Republicans), the business sector, different organizations, the press and US public opinion, who support a relationship that benefits both peoples and their governments in the most varied spheres of economic and social life,” the Cuban Foreign Ministry report states.
There’s no way of understanding how in a civilized society, in a country which claims to be a defender of Human Rights, the human rights of an entire people are being flagrantly violated and nothing is being done about it. How can they even refuse to sell medicine to save a child with cancer without being brought before the International Court in the Hague for genocide crimes, because the US blockade against Cuba, which has been causing great harm for nearly 60 years now, is a crime against humanity, there’s no doubt about it.
Is that a picture of Stalin on your name? Now I understand….
Just as I expected. A lot of empty wind….
How in the world, and in what planet, is the US attempting to dominate Cuba?
-Markets? What markets? Cuba es una mancha.
-1950’s? You mean like 70 years ago?
-Perhaps you are confusing “domination” with trade.
Great strategy, yours. Where has that gotten you?
-Incompetent dictatorship.
-Citizens who must unquestionably tow a strict line with The Regime (speech/actions/thought).
-Lack of basic commodities.
-Zero relative economic and social advancement.
-Populous literally DYING to escape. Majority of “successful” Cubans are those that managed to defect.
Etcetera, etcetera….
Yes, you keep playing the victim card, blaming the big bad “imperialists” that don’t give a rat’s hind end about “controlling” the manchita Cuba has become, and let’s see how far your whining will continue to get you.
Very sad and pathetic what Cuba has become.
US trying to control and dominate Cuba, whether by interfering in its affairs, trying to gain control of its markets, trying to monopolize its economy and make it a neo-colony like it was in the 1950s where over 60% of imports and 80% of exports were with the US.
Please define precisely what “US imperialism” means to you – in a practical sense.
no point in continuing. your beloved United States of America ranks far below each of those countries in every level so I don’t really see the point in continuing this conversation. but please be aware that most of the world is tired of your American arrogance
Let’s throw in a few considerations:
– When seeking higher education, where do are the vastly superior and numerous opportunities?
– Where do the most important and creative ideas blossom?
– What are the comparative tax structures for the average citizen?
– Where is the best environment to go from owning nothing to becoming financially independent?
– What are the immigration demands of each of these countries vs the US?
I know the answer to a couple of these and feel fairly confident on the others. The US isn’t the “best” at everything, but as a whole….
“Far Superior” is a lot of bark. I’m not sure which end of the dog it is coming out of – “but I feel fairly confident.”
far superior. contrary to the American point of view might does not make right
Duh! My opinion is no less valid because I was not born in Cuba.
These are the countries you believe are “better?”
You have no way of knowing that.
Typical of Regime defenders – If you don’t know, just make it up….
Moses you are not a Cuban. End of story.
Full of ideological crap Moses and co. US is being super friends with the Saudis
n other hardcore dictatorships. and you are talking about Democracy n human rights? Ask women if its better to be in Cuba or to your f@ allies.You just keep up the cold war rhetoric.
Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand and the list goes on. Because they afford people the right to live a decent life. This is not about which country is better, the U.S or Cuba. Some forms of socialism are not such a bad thing Joseph, your country could use a little more of what the countries I’ve just mention offer it’s people but having said that Cuba is a dictatorship Nick and you damn well know it. And if you don’t think so please visit any number of the prisons that hold a number of my friends. Their crime… saying what’s on their mind. And one more thing Nick would you want to live in a country where you had no say in who ran it, or passed the laws that effected your life. I doubt it. It just seems to me that almost all the political comments end up with America bashing or Castro bashing. Why not work towards giving the Cuban people a say in their own lives.
OK.
I would clearly agree that strictly speaking there is a legal right.
But not a moral or ethical right.
So perhaps we should agree to semi-agree !.
Dear Joseph, the conversation between you and Nick on this post is getting old for the rest of us.
Dear Nick, the conversation between Joseph and yourself on this post is getting old for the rest of us.
Apparently you haven’t read why I don’t give a rat’s a** about the UN’s NON-BINDING resolutions (see below).
Moreover, you are taking my definition of a democracy for Nick somewhere to suit you. Again, as typical propaganda often does – out of context, jumping hither and dither.
I assume you meant that “accept” the vote, since the US and I do certainly “except” it.
Perhaps you should ask the Editor in Chief regarding my opinions on your supremacist outlook.
Maybe the Editor in Chief would inform as to why he chooses not to allow Joseph to read my opinions.
Joseph, Wall Street was basically responsible for the tanking of the US economy in 2008 due to very little Federal oversight by the Bush II administration. Every nation with a free market system has a stock exchange even in China, a Communist country in name only but one of the most capitalistic countries in the world. Wall Street is one of the most powerful stock exchanges in the world where stocks are bought and sold among participating corporations including banks; it also buys up debts from other loaners, (e.g., Puerto Rico which has a debt of more than $123 billion) and tries to forcibly collect debts with high interest rates (that’s what loan sharks do) that debtors cannot even afford to pay the interest rates! That is the negative side of capitalism although I am a strong advocate for the free market if it is done fairly and squarely. After relations are improved with the US, Cuba will eventually have to face Wall Street due to the billions of dollars of US property
seized in 1959. We do need the work of the Wall Street Stock Exchange but its activities should be regulated as it was under the Glass-Steagal Act of 1933 implemented by FDR which supposed to prevent another stock market crash of 1929; this important act was cancelled by a predominant Republican Congress in 1999 and signed by the neoliberal president Bill Clinton, a Democrat. And guess what? Another stock market crash in 2008, leading to the Great Recession of 2008, but not the Great Depression of 1929.
I think Cubans are smart. They would not let what happened en Russia, happen again in Cuba.
I am not defending the embargo per se. I am defending our right to implement an embargo.
The bottom line is that the US, Cuba, Zaire, Jamaica…have the soverign right to conduct business with whomever they choose. Fidel made the same choice many years ago. Personally, I don’t give a rat’s a$$ what UN membership thinks on the embargo. (I have many problems with the UN. Their mission is kumbaya and so be it.) Your argument suggests it illegal/immoral if Egypt decided not to conduct trade with South Africa 30 years ago. Pretty ridiculous, yes?
I have to ignore your last statment in order to keep our dialogue a dialogue.
I believe I’ve answer your rebuttals, above, and then some. If I am a spiteful, self-obsessed, ignorant zealot as you claim, there is really only one way to put me in my place. To mix metaphors – If you really want to cross swords, don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. So far you’ve only shown me nail clippers. You’ve given it your best Nick (which I respect) and for the most part have kept your emotions at check (as much if not more than me), but I don’t see and haven’t seen any MEAT. I don’t like diets.
One more, very important point: I do believe the US is the best country on the planet – bar none. Just my subjective, but STRONG, opinion.
Here’s a soft pitch Nick: name better countries and why….
You are not playing by the rules you’ve set. Let’s stay focused. Try again.
My balls are under no stress whatsoever. While I commend you for researching your position, I must say that 1) you certainly found supporting opinion written by a law student in 1994 who now has a labor law solo practice – not at a major law firm as one would expect an extraordinary mind 2) Putting a bit much credence into one’s legal argument than merited – regardless of the gentlemen’s legal chops – not to mention political inclinations. The practice of law involves debating nuances. For who you are, you’ve made a commendable start on one side of the coin. Much more so than I have seen from other participants. 3) you are still Alice, just now have met the Mad Hatter. 4) This approach could mean you summary downfall as we continue, so let’s do so.
I found nothing damning in this law review article to the points I have heretofore made. I know this assertion leaves you are at a loss, but we can walk through point by point if you’d like (and I certainly suggest you do so). Take the points I have made and direct me to the evidence against me so I can proceed with my defense – and offense
“Your witness” Mr. Kale….
Don’t cop out with the travel crap. I’ve traveled extensively as well, so bringing it up is both self-serving and lame. You’ve committed. I have too. Let’s get it on.
I am sure that those that suffer in the USA (kids shot down in the street because of their skin colour and their bereaved families etc) but I am referring to the stone cold dead victims of US foreign policy.
Their numbers border on the infinite…….
We could debate this til the cows come home Mr P…..
As it happens I don’t actually regard the embargo as a ‘crime against humanity’ as described by Elio.
For me examples of crimes against humanity would be the Mai Lay Massacre or what happened in New York yesterday.
The embargo is simply lame, wet, ineffectual, past it’s use by date and pathetic.
So why on earth bother trying to defend it?
It’s true that a developed country such as Sweden can maintain a healthy social and educational system for all. But that is far from likely with a third world country like Cuba if America has any influence over the situation. In the short term at least there would be severe cuts to health and education and redundancies on a massive scale. And corruption and crime would soar as inequality increased. Take the example of Russia who fell into that trap. And the US will relish it all as it will push to provide a huge loan in order to cement its control over the country and it will buy up everything it can get its hands on.
Your argument falls flat on its a*** because even if you took away all the dictatorships and semi-authoritarian regimes so we were only left with agreed liberal democracies the US would still lose the vote by a landslide. And it still wouldn’t except the vote.
What is “legal” in this case is what is “in accordance with basic tenets of international law and agreements such as the U.N. Charter” and the W.T.O. This is what we are talking about (see the citation below, p.384).
Joseph, I am leaving the U.S. shortly so don’t have time now to carry on our discussion. In the meantime I suggest you do some serious research. I suggest you start here: http://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1436&context=gjicl
You don’t have to castrate yourself…yet.
You are doing a typical conservative thing in making a relative right into an absolute. There is no absolute right to refuse business to someone – either legal or moral. Take the case of an Evangelical Christian family who refused a gay couple to stay in their bed and breakfast. They were found guilty of discrimination by a court in the UK. The same would apply if a bar refused to serve Jews or Blacks. Also what about refusing medicine or food to a starving person? Again hardly moral or legal. The embargo has contravened a lot of international law over the years including blocking medicine and food at one time and the EU brought a case against it due to infringements of its rights to do business. It also contravenes international law by blocking its citizens from visiting Cuba and also in this regard it contravenes its own constitution. As far as best country in the world – it is only borderline democratic and in many ways closer to the right wing dictatorships of Latin America of previous years than any normal democracy.
Your reply to Joseph is simply more questions. As objectionable as US sanctions against Cuba may seem to you, they are LEGAL. The US has a sovereign right to do business with whom we please. Period.
Great idea. But let’s not just count corpses. Let’s also count the deaths of the human spirit. Let’s count broken families and crushed dignity. Let’s count broken entrepreneurial spirits as well. I would wager that if you measure as a percentage of the population those Cubans who have lost their lives in the Florida straits attempting to escape Castro tyranny against those Americans fleeing the US, you will lose the wager. Please don’t try present the problems, and there are many, of life in the US as equal to the problems Cubans face under Castro. It’s a false equivalency and beneath genuine intellectual discourse.
I am not nor have I ever been an international law attorney, but have little trouble reading and rationally interpreting the UN Charter. Childs play for the purposes of our conversation. At least for me. You seem like Alice going down rabbit hole, but I’ll entertain you until the inevitable, terminal absurdity.
I will bet my right gonad that no international laws require a country to conduct business with another. Throw in my left one as well.
Who the h*ll are you (or I) to determine what is or isn’t a matter of national security. I guess Fidel falling all over himself to get his finger on the nuclear launch button is of no security concern? Perhaps emptying prisons for a 3-hour-tour out of Mariel has had no national security implications? The venomous tirade pointed at the US since day 1 is OK? Stealing corporate assets is trivial. These are just some examples of what we know. What the public is unaware of is another can of worms, I suspect.
I repeat, who the h*ll are you to be so disillusioned to believe you can make that call?
OK, let’s play Socratic method. Lot’s of practice begining in law school.
Answer me these Edward:
– If it is not illegal, does that make it legal.
– What is the definition of “Legal”.
Answer both of these and you are almost there….
Hint: What LAW, statute or regulation are we talking about?
I’ll tell you what is more than a bit weird: After everything I’ve written you’ve chosen to only address the relatively basic and innocuous point as to whether the UN is a democracy or not. I guess you believe this is your low-hanging fruit. In this case, I’ll play by your rules for now and dispatch that notion right away.
The classic definition of a democracy applies to governments – e.g. countries – basically, where the people (constituency) decide who will lead the country and make decisions on their behalf. In the US (and other democratic nations) if we decide our elected officials are not performing as expected, the informed (through the free press) constituency can collectively and democratically get rid of said elected official(s) through a variety of methods. As an aside, and I know I don’t have to point this out, but just remind you for context, neither Cuba nor Russia have a democracy or free press.
Now I will agree that the UN operates largely through voting of its member nations, but I reiterate, the UN is NOT a democracy (see above definition/characteristics). Many member nations have non-democratic forms of government, so isn’t it an oxymoron to suggest they are participating in a democracy within the UN. Who are the UN members’ democratic constituents? There are none. Let’s say you and I vote on whether to turn left or right; yes we are utilizing democratic principles, but isn’t it absurd to consider our relationship-, or our participating in-, a “democracy?” If Fidel, Raul and Che voted on whether to appoint their comrade Pepito as Minister of Transportation, are we calling this whole deal a “democracy?
The UN is made up of appointees from dictatorships, democracies, and everything in between. Their Charter is “kumbaya” (as it should be, but let’s recognize it for what it is.) Two of the 5 permanent members of the Security Council are authoritarian countries – not democracies.
Do I really need to drone on on this basic civics lesson, or are you getting my point?
I’ve also asked you to refrain from categorizing anything “perfect.” That is a fiction. Isn’t it better to consider a spectrum where the continuum runs from the fictitious “perfect” to the opposite extreme (whatever you wish to call it). Yes, I believe the US is among the closest to perfect on the democracy spectrum, but by no means there. Laughable for you to insert election meddling by Russians as some salient point. Digging real low Nick, at the expense of credibility. Hey, but if that’s all you’ve got, then that’s all you’ve got….
I don’t dislike you Nick, but you are more than beginning to bore me.
You know the answer to that. Which nation contributes the most to the U.N. budget? And Articles 1 and 2 DO apply to the embargo. See my reply to Joseph below.
You are asking if “the US is required to do business with Cuba.” Earlier you mocked my comments by writing “You don’t really need legal training to read and understand the [U.N.] charter.” Surely you who do have legal training know that GATT (now WTO) established regulations that answer your question. Re Article 2.4, as you know the U.S.considers the embargo a matter of domestic concern. Cuba is not a threat to the U.S. North Korea is another matter. Yes, you are “a little lost…” but we may yet get somewhere.
I wanted Moses first to explain his statement that “US sanctions against Cuba are LEGAL.” Then, it seems to me, we can proceed to the next step in our discussion. Sorry, but I like the Socratic method. Perhaps YOU, rather than being dismissive, will answer the question so that we can try to reach a rational conclusion. Are U.S. sanctions…Legal?
I said nothing about Cubans supporting the embargo. Obviously given what they have told by the Castro dictatorship, it stands to reason they would oppose it. Anytime there is a shortage in Cuba, the Castros blame it on the embargo. My comment was to counter your claim that the Castro regime is simply “flawed”. You should know better than that.
Well Mr P. I definitely know that Cubans are not one homogenous blob who all feel the same as each other which you keep implying.
I also know that the vast overwhelming majority have no dislike of the people of the USA, but regard your country’s embargo as completely and utterly wrong.
The only Cubans I have ever met or have ever heard of who claim to support the embargo are those so called dissidents bribed by the USA to do so.
As for your blatantly supremacist opinions regarding your country being exceptional……….
You wanna get back in the real world fella.
And I certainly doubt that you would have Frederick Douglass agreeing with you regarding this supremacist talk.
I can only really refer you to my response to your ridiculous democracy-related comment further up the page. I stated that all you really have is spite. I can now add that it appears that you also have the self-obsessed zealot’s ignorant belief in the innate supremacy their own nationality. This is in addition to your obvious spite.
It’s a bit weird to suggest that the democracy of the country you live in is real democracy and that the democracy of the UN is not.
This is especially weird given the fact that your so called democracy is such an imperfect example that it was relatively easily subverted by the Russians and as a result you have the spectacle of dumb boy trump in charge.
Surely the real question is whether one respects democracy or they don’t.
Once you start to play the ‘U.S democracy good – U.N. democracy bad’ game, it all gets a bit Orwellian and shows that those who defend the embargo have no real argument. All they have is their spite.
As a former resident of Cuba then you SHOULD know full well how Cubans feel. To project otherwise is disengenuous. As an African-American, I know better than most the transgressions of the US. I still consider the US to be EXCEPTIONAL because of our ideals despite those trangressions.
I enjoy dialogue with divergent points of view. I may be diametrically opposed to their thinking, but we can nonetheless have an interesting debate and learn from each other. Then there are the CrazMothFkr’s….
I would like to write a book someday titled “History of the Banana Republics.” As a proud Cuban-American, I am loathe to the reality that among the most incompetent governments in modern history are Latin-American.
There are hopes and there are pipedreams. The line between the two can be very blurry indeed.
Nick. I’m not going to speak for MP, but I want a piece of this:
– As far as the embargo, any country, “as a sovereign state,” has the right to conduct business with whomever it pleases, for whatever reason – moral, philosophical, economic… (let’s not get too hung up on reasons for now).
I own a business. If I don’t like you, say, because you are a “Satanist,” I don’t want anything to do with you (even though I may be subject to who-knows-what from the left).
Same goes for Cuba, or any other country, who should conduct themselves (and do) in their own interests, despite criticism – and no matter what anyone decides to do, there are always critics.
– I am sorry (for you) to inform you that yes – I believe the US is the greatest country in the world. Wouldn’t be a citizen of any other. My family has survived the whatever-you-want-to-call-it of the (failed) revolution. What started as a tragedy almost 60 years ago has become a blessing for those who left. I owe a great deal to my country, have an outstanding education from the very top universities in the world, live a life that no Cuban could dream of, am happy beyond my wildest dreams, and still have hope for mankind despite what I read here, experience, and have lived through (e.g., former military officer, war veteran who came away with deep scars. Would lay my life down and do it all over again in support of my country, as imperfect as it is).
Nick, I am sure you are a fine gentleman in many respects, but unfortunately strike me as a frustrated, pessimistic, misguided idealist, myopic, sh*t-house/armchair “revolutionary.”
What have you got for me, Nick?
….See my comments to EK below.
That is not “democracy” Nick. Quite a stretch.
I’m neither Cuban nor American Mr P.
I’m British.
I am previously a resident of Cuba.
I note that you resort to lame sloganeering in order to defend the indefensible embargo.
You point the accusatory finger at other countries for their ‘tyranny’.
But your overt nationalism and delusions of being more exceptional than the rest of the human race have evidently blinded you to some of the sick and brutal methods used by agents of your own country over the years.
Global democracy Joseph.
The UN votes on the embargo each year in case you hadn’t noticed.
191 nations against 2 nations.
Representatives of around 97% of the human race against representatives of around 3% of the human race.
It is a cut and dried case of contempt for the only international democratic process that exists.
US sanctions do no affect countries. Many foreign companies and banks choose to do business with Cuba instead of the US. The problem arises for those businesses who CHOOSE to do business with both.
Obviously you are not Cuban nor have you lived under Castro tyranny. It is for many who have survived the Castro dictatorship, indeed horrible.
Articles 1 and 2 do not apply to the U.S. embargo. If the argument you make was valid, why has there been no UN response other the annual “toothless tiger” RESOLUTION?
Actually, just read the articles you reference and other parts of the charter. I’m afraid your readings are out of context, cherry picked, and misinterpreted for your personal gain. To me, you’ve destroyed your credibility to anyone who cares to fact check you. Not bolstering, but my reading is from 22 years as a practicing attorney before 18 years corporate leadership. But, you really don’t need legal training to read and understand the charter. I can’t even say “nice try” Ed…..
Yes, the security council has URGED resolution since 1992. Of course they have. The only stake they have is they want peace, and each member votes according to their interests. The resolutions are not demands, nor are they categorizing the embargo as illegal. In essence, the UN wants, and endorses global love, peace, harmony, kumbaya. Echos of my undergraduate years at Berkeley. Look where that has gotten us with North Korea.
I would enjoy continuing this discussion with you, but you;ve got to dig a little deeper…..
Let me get this straight Nick: Respect for Cuban democracy?
Edward, are you implying that the US is required to do business with the US, per the “UN Charter.”
And what “…threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state….” are you referring to – as to Cuba? Does this also apply to relations with N. Korea?
Can you help me with these 2 questions? I’m a little lost….
You have a weird idea of what choice is. On your logic everything is a choice – you can choose to rob a bank or murder your parents because you choose to accept the likely punishment. Free choice is my being able to go and buy a coffee in either Starbucks or an independent coffee shop. It isn’t a free choice if you face sanctions as a consequence. Countries and businesses face fines, loss of either present or future business potential and loss of time in the case of vessels simply by exercising their right to do business with who they want to. This is all sanctions. If you say that it is all legal then you must think you know more about international law than the top legal advice of the EU.
Well your feelings are probably around 50% accurate as regards my comment.
I don’t refute what you say but I would challenge what appears to be an unfair anti-Russian sentiment on your part.
I would respectfully suggest that Russians have indeed had their ‘maladies’, issues and failures of government (which are current as well as historical). But that these matters can surely be discussed without referring to Russia as a ‘turd’ which can’t be shined.
And I do have to point out again that they have clearly got one over on the USA by seemingly being the crucial factor regarding that embarrassing idiot becoming the present incumbent of The White House.
How great historical figures such as Abe Lincoln and FDR must be totally appalled if they are up there looking down!
I do sincerely hope that the Cubans avoid mirroring Russian mistakes.
As you say, they may well f**k it up.
I just hope that Cuba doesn’t f**k it up and manages to find a better path.
Cuba’s global fame and standing is remarkably out of proportion to it’s size and economic clout. The potential is therefore, huge.
Joseph, gotta tell you that I’m one of those natural optimists…..
Who should do his homework? You reply “What violations…?” Let’s start here: The U.S. is blatantly violating Article 1 regarding the purpose of the U.N. And Article 2 demands respect for each sovereign nation and the necessity of sovereign equality of all nations, further that “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state …. ” (2.4) This is hardly “Cuban propaganda,” as you blindly suggest. This is the U.N. Charater, yet you write simply: “US sanctions against Cuba are LEGAL.” HOW are they “LEGAL?” I look forward to your documentation.
What I continue to defend is the sovereign and legal right of the US to impose sanctions. You seem to reluctantly agree with me.The next question is it ethical? That answer is relative to the unethical control of the Cuban government by the Castro dictatorship. On this point, the debate is daunting.
You repeatedly defend the USA’s sullen continuation of it’s embargo.
You do this by pointing out that your country has no legal obligation to abide by the UN’s 191-2 vote.
You are absolutely correct to state that there is no legal obligation.
But surely you can see that the continuation of the embargo shows a total contempt for global democracy.
Yes you can defend it from a legal point of view, but from any kind of moral or democratic perspective the embargo is clearly indefensible.
I wouldn’t describe the Cuban Government as ‘a horrible dictatorship’.
But I would describe it as a very flawed system.
I certainly would not defend all that the Cuban Government does. In fact I am very critical and I hope Cuba finds a better direction.
But I would always completely 100% condemn the tactics used by the USA in trying to assert authority over Cuba and the Latin American region as a whole.
The USA should respect Cuba’s sovereignty.
The USA should respect the democratic wishes of the United Nations.
There are people who still defend the US embargo on Cuba but really?
191 nations against 2 nations?
It is the USA that is the bully here as it is so often in the region and in the wider world. Do you defend the bullying tactics of the USA?
I understand that you have a dislike of the Cuban Government but does that mean you will always defend the often cruel and brutal actions of the USA?
HT accepted your challenge. You are obviously anti-US. There must be a really good reason why you choose to live in a barbarous nation when Cuba is only 90 miles away.
A foreign government is free to do business with Cuba and remain free of US sanctions. China, Russia and Canada are prime examples. Foreign businesses however, who wish to do business with or in the US may not under certain circumstances also do business with the Castro dictatorship. It is their choice. Again, it remains our sovereign right to choose with whom we do business. If a foreign bank chooses to do business with US customers, they must decide to forgo business with the Castro regime. If they choose to do both and are caught doing it, they risk being fined before they can continue doing business with US customers. They may also ignore the fine and continue doing business with anyone they choose EXCEPT the US. Again, it’s their choice. The same logic applies to foreign vessels. They may dock anywhere in the world they choose. If they choose Cuba, they must, as you point out, wait 6 months before docking in the US. Again. It is our sovereign right to choose who enters our ports. By the way, the US has done OK without the ‘benefit’ of Cuban trade. As a result, we have not taken a ccomplaint to the UN. By the way, no international law has been broken because of US/Cuba sanctions and there are no court judgements in favor of the Castros.
Hans. Respectfully, let’s cut the hyperbolic propaganda and I kindly request you explain to me “loan sharks on Wall Street” (to start). I’d like to have an honest dialogue; perhaps you can teach me something?
Nick I know you always ignore me. But please would you tell me why you defend so much a horrible dictatorship?
I’m not feeling you challenging anything I’ve stated. All I see is you reiterating – in your own words – some of the Russian maladies I speak of. And yes, I am anti-Putin. And yes, I believe that the Cubans will f**k it up. Curse of being a “banana republic.” Hate the epithet, but a study of latin american governance supports the concept.
The Castro’s monarchy in power for almost 60 is a crime against the cuban people. The Cuban people really needs free elections with multiple political parties.. DEMOCRACY!
The US Trade Embargo does not include food or drugs.
We don’t have far to look how the US destroyed the Chilean economy and then masterminded a violent coup against a democratically elected president in 1973. The same can be said of Guatemala in 1953 and the Dominican Republic in 1965. The US should stay out of internal Latin American affairs while playing the world bully.
Nick, Russians had twice the chance in the last century to establish a genuine democracy for the benefit to all; and they blew it after years of absolute rule in 1917 and 1991 respectfully. In each case, they eventually end up in another version of dictatorship. Cubans on the island should be wisefully advised not to make the same mistake again, e.g., a corporate dictatorship led by the loan sharks on Wall Street. Ask the folks in Puerto Rico!
I have explained this many time before. It is a straw-man argument to say the issue is about the US right to do business with whom it pleases. It may be shortsighted and counterproductive and purely political in nature but nobody says they don’t have a right to choose with whom they trade with. If we followed your logic then the UN would be voting every year against the Cuban government for not importing US communications technology or the UK for blocking porn from Amsterdam. The issue is the US interfering with legitimate trade between Cuba and other countries. If you say they don’t then explain why the US boarded the Chinese oil platform – explain why the EU brought a legal challenge against the US on this subject. They aren’t stupid and doing it just for a laugh. Explain why foreign banks are regularly fined for doing legitimate business with Cuba and explain why vessels who legitimately dock in Cuba are not allowed to enter US ports for six months.
And before you start on elections and human rights. Explain why the US supports the Spanish government as they stamp on people’s heads, smash up ballot boxes and cause 900 injuries, imprison peaceful activists and refuses the Catalan people their democratic right to self-determination.
Moses, capitalism has been ruling the world since the days of slavery on or about 1638. How many people has it liberated? How come the people of Cuba under Batista’s Capitalism could not access health-care, education, proper housing? Why is it that there are so many hungry, starving, homeless people in the USA, the Bastion of capitalism? How come the homeless in the USA, in the dead of winter walk the streets, searching the garbage tins for discarded foot> Why are there so many illiterate children around the globe if capitalism was so great? Capitalism is not about the majority of the people; it is about the exploitative few.
The working class of the world have to be thankful to the 1917 Russian Revolution. Why is it Moses, that the USA can trade with Communist China, but not Communist Cuba? Why? Why does the USA have friendly relations with Bahrain, the Arab Emirates, Jordon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait where no General Elections are held, but cannot have friendly relations with Cuba? It is so easy to detect the hypocritical stand in world affairs. The assassination of Third world leaders whom it cannot control. The USA is a Barbarous Nation and a Direct THREAT to WORLD PEACE. I challenge H.T. to print this reply.
What violations of international law have occurred. Rather than parrot mindless Cuban propaganda, you should do your homework. US sanctions against Cuba are LEGAL. You can argue against their effectiveness and intent but the US has the sovereign right to do business with whom we please.
You seem to display a very anti Russian attitude, Joseph…..
But just pause for a moment and look at things from a Russian point of view (I obviously don’t need to remind you that Russians, like you, have strong points of view). There are various parts of Russia that have fallen into total and abject poverty since the demise of the Soviet era.
For example, in the poorest parts of Russia child malnutrition has unfortunately reared it’s ugly head once again.
They have experienced an awful lot of hardships in their sudden and unwise lurch toward your market economy holy grail. I would very much hope that a similar catastrophe does not fall upon Cuba and that Cuba’s path towards a better future can avoid some of those appalling mistakes.
But at the very least the Russians can laugh into their vodka shots at the fact that they managed to install the global-laughing-stock-idiot-trump into that bad old white house at the end of Pensylvania Ave, Washington, D.C..
You can diss dem bad ol Russians til the cows come home, but these days the whole wide world knows that it’s the Russians that are laughing loudly at you wonderful, trump-led people over there in the USA……..
The US embargo on Cuba is an example of moral correctness?
Well ok it may be an example of relative moral correctness compared to say, the My Lai massacre. But it is indeed, truly piss-poor in it’s own sullen little loser kind of a way.
The only other backer of this ‘morally correct’ foreign policy out of 193 UN nations is that US middle east outpost otherwise known as Israel.
The embargo exemplifies the USA’s total and utter contempt for democracy.
I basically agree with you, E.D. But with this David and Goliath scenario and the wealthy Cuban “Mafia” working more-or-less behind the scenes with their congressional lackeys (including non-president Trump), the Cuban people will continue to suffer because the “Mafia” wants their confiscated property back and have been willing to do anything (!) to attain that goal. With this “infection” in our body politic, the U.S. will continue to blatantly violate the Charter of the United Nations and international law. The U.N. should do more than vote again. Action should be taken.
E.D. appears to imply that if it were not for the embargo, all of Cuba’s financial and social woes would be relieved. Well, let’s look at a similar example – the Soviet Union. The “mighty” US had little impact on their freedom to participate in international markets, yet the average Russian lived in sub-western standards (significantly), the oligarchs were the only ones who lived well, corruptions was just as – if not more – rampant than in western societies.
Let’s fast-forward to their shift to a democratic/capitalist experiment. Initial enthusiasm, but alas, “you can’t shine a turd.” Birth of the global and vicious Russian mafia, reinstitution of dictatorship (Mr. KGB Putin) who is on the path back toward Stalinism violently eliminating internal detractors while keeping and indefinite stranglehold on power, oligarchs more powerful and nefarious as ever….
Respectfully, Mr. E.D. seems to be pawning a pipedream, looking outward when the problems are within arm’s length.
Elio alleges that a return to capitalism in Cuba would provoke a CUT in social budgets and an INCREASE in administrative corruption. Is he serious? Capitalism would increase public coffers. As a result, more not less, money for education and public health. Corruption in Cuba is as bad now as it has ever been. A more productive economy should incentivize public employees to be less corrupt, not more. The UN regularly votes to support sanctions against bad actors in the world. The US, in its sovereign right to do business with whom we please, has imposed sanctions on the Castro dictatorship using the same logic and legal rights the UN uses. While the annual UN vote condemns the unilateral nature and moral correctness of US sanctions against Cuba, the right of the US to conduct it’s foreign policy as it sees fit is legal by international standards. Foreign investment in Cuba is far from limited by US sanctions. Foreign investors face bureaucratic delays, and paltry returns on their investments in Cuba. These financial hurdles as well as a lack of control on the ground in Cuba are far greater impediments to Cuban investment. Finally, US sanctions against Cuba exclude medicine. Elio is lying or misinformed to blame US foreign policy for the lack of medicine in Cuba.
The USA traditionally uses ‘democracy’ as a pretext for a whole variety of sick and twisted acts which it commits against less powerful nations and peoples.
The embargo is one of countless examples of the USA, for all it’s frequent mentioning of the ‘d’ word, having zero respect for democracy when it comes to it’s foreign policy.