The corporate media have been bashing the Cuban government in response to the recent protests in Cuba, while President Joe Biden claims, “We stand with the Cuban people.” But they ignore or minimize the leading cause of economic suffering in Cuba: the U.S.’s illegal and punishing economic blockade that Biden has left in place...
“The embargo is absurdly cruel and, like too many other U.S. policies targeting Latin Americans, the cruelty is the point,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) said in a statement. “I outright reject the Biden administration’s defense of the embargo. It is never acceptable for us to use cruelty as a point of leverage against every day people.” - Truthout
Saturday, July 24, 2021
It's decades past time to end the Cuba blockade
Imagine how much better things could be, if the U.S. would maintain only friendly, supportive relationships with small countries. That could be done without being seen as "endorsing" authoritarian governance, if the U.S. would maintain political leadership that was a lot quicker on its own intellectual feet.
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January 12, 2017
ReplyDeleteMinnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (GOP) re-introduced HR442 the Cuba Trade Act to lift the Cuba embargo. This legislation would allow businesses in the private sector to trade freely with Cuba, while prohibiting taxpayer funds to be used on promotion or development of this new market.
“Over the past two years, the United States has taken steps away from a failed policy of isolation and towards normalizing relations with our neighbor just 90 miles off our Florida coast,” said Emmer. “In the 115th Congress we have a real opportunity to continue these efforts to strengthen our national security, open new markets, and empower the Cuban people with human rights and real economic reforms. It is time for the halls of Congress to reflect the views of more than 70% of the American people who favor ending the trade embargo, and we look forward to doing just that.”
At that time, Emmer was part of the Bipartisan Cuba Working Group trying to get Trump to engage with Cuba. At that time, there were four other Republicans pushing the issue ... today, there is only one.
Trump has changed everything.
Side note ... remember when Jesse Ventura led a delegation to Cuba (that included Ralph Kaehler ... a one-time candidate for MN01 and Minnesota House) ... that was 2002 ... what has the past nineteen years gained us ?