by Adrian Gibson
About two weeks ago, I visited the US ambassador’s residence where he and myself, and then later on a few aides and embassy employees, had a most vivid and enlightening chat on Cuba.
Here, I told him that the United States embargo was not hurting Castro’s regime but instead the Cuban people; I queried as to why the US had not adhered to 14 previous UN resolutions condemning the embargo and why the US maintains a double standard as it treats Castro’s regime one way but holds hands and goes to bed with the Saudi prince (now king) and has its biggest trade relations with Communist China.
The Ambassador was very open, even conceding at one point that the embargo may not have accomplished its intended goal since Castro remains in power after 47 years….for that, I give him credit. However, he and his aides did maintain that the US employs different strategies for dealing with different countries, especially those that show some signs of moving forward with democratization.
To cut a long story short, we agreed to disagree on most issues with the Ambassador extending an invite for me to visit Havana as a guest of the US embassy. I fully intend to take him up on his offer.
This week, with an impending UN vote on the embargo, it is expected that the majority of countries will again vote against the US embargo–for the 15th consecutive time. And so, how is it that the US would not heed to resolutions when it expects other countries to do so…particularly those that the US may move a resolution against. This stance is surely unfair to other countries throughout the world.
What is the point of persisting with a condemned embargo that is destroying the very fabric of Cuban society and hurting the very people that the US claims it wants to help?
I asked the Ambassador this, whilst pointing out that medicine, food aid, etc were all being blocked….He recommended that Cuba can attain medicine from Europe. I queried him as to whether he thought such a stance would be fair….especially considering the costliness of these long journeys, the fact that America has state of the art medicines and medical instruments, etc.
The US must consider the fate of the Cuban people due to the embargo……even the Ambassador might concede that the best way to influence Cubans would be to flood their society with US goods.
Maybe the embargo goes far beyond any regime change attempt, being more likely an ongoing effort to secure the support of the Cuban lobby and its votes.
It is important not to lose sight of the fact that Castro’s policies are what have lead to the economic collapse of Cuba. The embargo might have helped, but when Russia was sending Cuba billions of dollars a year everything was okay. Even China has changed their eceonomic policies in recent years.
I have publicly stated that I think the embargo should be dropped, however, at this stage of the game should Cuba not have to change as well?
What does the UN have to say about Democracy and freedom of speech and travel etc, etc, etc?
By the way, many medications are cheaper from Europe, transportation and all.
Please Rick, you and I both know that your argument that Castro’s policies are what have lead to the economic collapse of Cuba has no merit. The US embargo has hampered that country so much that it is criminal!
What policies of Castro could have caused the collapse of Cuba as the US embargo has? Please, cite them.
Why would you justify the Cuban people having to import medicine from Europe when better medicines are right next door—and no Rick, it is not cheaper to transport etc.
Rick, I agree….democracy is a valuable democracy that all people, including the Cuban people should experience……..but should they suffer and starve in the interim because of a failed economic embargo? What did the embargo accomplish except to hurt ordinary Cubans?
And on the issue of travel………is it democratic for the US to legislate when Cuban Americans can visit their families in Cuba and how much money they can send to them? Is it democratic Rick?
Lets all be fair and balanced about this.
Thanks Adrian:
Read the piece I posted about Che Guevara.
As I have previously stated, the embargo should be dropped, but Castro and his regime should also go!
It’s that simple.
You can’t simply divert attention from what Castro and his cronies have done by blaming the US.
Is it possible for you to imagine for one minute that the US polices, as bone headed as they might be, are a result of Castro’s policies?
At one point Guevara was annoyed with China (as he was with the US) because they wanted to charge Cuba for arms.
Castro should meet the same fate as Pinochet. If he lives long enough to face justice.
I think the whole thing can be blamed on JFK. He did give the air support when needed during the Bay of Pigs.
Did not give