Cuba Seeking Support to End U.S. Embargo

[Judi Lynn]

Cuba Seeking Support to End U.S. Embargo
Cuba's Foreign Minister Tells AP a Complete End to U.S. Embargo Will Satisfy His Government

The Associated Press



UNITED NATIONS Sept. 24, 2004 — Cuba sought fresh support from the American people and the United Nations to end the four-decade U.S. embargo on the island, and dismissed the Bush administration's campaign to topple Fidel Castro as a failure.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said if Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry defeats President Bush in November and lifts some restrictive measures against Cuba, "that would be positive." But only a complete end to the social and economic embargo will satisfy the Cuban government, he told The Associated Press in an interview on Thursday.

Perez Roque made a sharp distinction between Washington's hard line toward the Cuban leader and the support for easing the sanctions among the American public and in the U.S. Congress.

He praised the House of Representatives for voting this week to nullify the Bush administration's new rules restricting family travel to Cuba and to remove barriers to agriculture sales and student exchanges.

Calling the House action a "positive decision," he said it shows the embargo is only supported by the U.S. government "and by a small portion of the Cuban-born extremist right wing in the United States," he said. "They are an indication of a failed policy that has no future."
(snip)

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040924_248.html

[Mika]

1. I'm not sure Roque really digs the campaign $$ dynamic

it shows the embargo is only supported by the U.S. government "and by a small portion of the Cuban-born extremist right wing in the United States," he said. "They are an indication of a failed policy that has no future."

Its not so easy.

Both major political parties in the US reap campaign payolla from both sides of the issue (its a mixed bag that crosses political boundries, and not just Dem/repug pro/anti sanctions). Such a small group of extremist exiles simply don't have the dollar weight to keep sanctions on the table (as opposed to ADM and US agriculture for example).

Without sanctions there is no anti sanction campaign issue, and hence, no anti sanctions campaign cash.

Keeping the sanctions on the table, never resolved, has reaped mucho campaign dollars, for candidates on both sides of the issue.


It sucks, but its the reality of our undemocratic bought and paid for political system. :(

[goodboy]

2. I'd rather trade with Cuba than China...eom

[Judi Lynn]

3. A lot of people haven't noticed, but every year there's a vote at the UN

concerning the U.S. embargo on Cuba, and only the U.S. and one or two other countries vote to support it. I've been watching this ever since Elián was a hostage in Miami at his drunken great uncle's house. From the article:

Acknowledging that another international vote condemning American sanctions against Cuba won't likely change U.S. policy, Perez Roque said his country would still press for a new United Nations vote on Oct. 28 to demonstrate that much of the world opposes the four-decade trade embargo.

"From a moral point of view, I think it is important," Perez Roque said in the interview during his visit to the U.N. General Assembly. "It is very important for the Cuban people because it is the proof that the international community rejects" the sanctions, he said.

For the last 13 years, the U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution each year condemning the U.S. embargo against the communist country. Last year, the vote was 179-3 with only the United States, Israel and the Marshall Islands opposed.
(snip/...)

So last year they got the Marshall Islands to support _Bush's policy. The other country, Israel, ITSELF does direct business with Cuba. A lot of it, too. Figure THAT out.

Truly another "coalition of the bought" again coming forward to support the embargo.

[2Design]

4. always good to have someone point out how things have gone

on for a long time.

like the congress giving themselves 4000 x 15 years raises for a total of 60,000 while refusing to raise minimum wage or help those at the bottom of the scale and how many people in the usa make less than 60,000 and we have a congress making 3 times that now.

yes the usa does mean and cruel things all over the world and at home and then we have these RW calling themselves christian - christ would disown them

[Mika]

5. Congress also voted themselves to legally smoke Cuban cigars

Not for the rest of America, though. Off to the slammer if one gets caught.