Comments on CubaLibreBlog.com: Qatar & Select Middle Eastern Muslim Investment - ...

The embargo against Cuba has no moral weight behin...

2009-08-28T10:15:50.321-04:00

The embargo against Cuba has no moral weight behind it. Unfortunately the US, and particularly its brainwashed citizens, cannot understand the concept of hypocracy. Why was it right to impose an embargo against Castro's Cuba, supposedly based on lack of democracy, human rights, etc but not against Saudi Arabia, Sadanm Hussein's Iraq, Pinochet's Chile and scores of other appalling regimes? The answer to most of the world is obvious - oil or other economic interests. The answer to the average American is that I 'must be a God-dammed commie!!!'

Walter and Walter-likes:

Prior to the revol...

2008-10-13T14:46:00.000-04:00

Walter and Walter-likes:

Prior to the revolution, the U.S. was by far Cuba’s largest trading partner. In fact, despite of Cuba’s significantly smaller population, the converse was also true - Cuba was one of the U.S.’s most important trading partners. There were very robust capital flows between both countries and the Cuban peso and the U.S. dollar were currencies of equivalent value. It was against this backdrop that Fidel and Raul Castro and other opportunists changed the course of the Revolution from its original democratic and free market ideals towards communism and dictatorship and, as part of that plan, decided to nationalize all private property from U.S. and Cuban companies alike. The embargo was the U.S.'s response to this mass nationalization. It was the Castro brothers and their goons who, out of their own volition, severed ties with their most important trade partner, destroyed the domestic production of Cuban private enterprise, large and small, and in the process erased billions of dollars of economic productivity over the years. It is still these same characters, who you and others like you sadly support, that still hold on to power in Cuba today by force. Why would the U.S. reward these individuals and their previous theft by agreeing to again trade with them? What kind of precedent does that set? How is that the principled thing to do when the characters and the circumstances in Cuba have not changed?

The prescription for lifting the trade embargo is quite clear in Helms Burton and it begins with the Castro brothers stepping down from power and Cuba beginning to respect the basic human rights of its people. This is not only the principled approach, but it is the approach that, for now, makes the most sense from a foreign policy perspective – the ball is in Cuba’s court.

Mr.Lincoln Manuel thank for your comment. I linked...

2008-10-08T19:27:00.000-04:00

Mr.Lincoln Manuel thank for your comment. I linked this post to my blog.
It's very difficult to be agree with Mr. Lippman view.

Hi Walter,

Thanks for the official statemen...

2008-10-08T19:12:00.000-04:00

Hi Walter,

Thanks for the official statement, I like that.

Anyhow, do not doubt that many US companies would trade with Cuba...indeed, as you frequently point out, many already do so.

The point is that the Cuban government continues to be an opporessive regime, and uses its economic resources to concentrate power. No need to contribute to that. However, I am a pragmatist at times, and would fully support a ban on the embargo if the Cuban government adopted several reforms.

So in effect, your facts are correct (US law bars trade with Cuba), but you are incorrect in the cuase. If Cuba desires to trade with the US so keenly, even though it trades with every other country on earth, it is completely within their power to do so. The fault is theirs, and no one else's.

As a side note, I wholeheartedly disagree with the implications and tone of your email with regard to the US.

Most countries on earth welcome US investment, expertise, and culture. This will not change in your lifetime.

Walter,

You have no idea what living on the...

2008-10-08T18:39:00.000-04:00

Walter,

You have no idea what living on the island is like. How about this: the U.S. should consider lifting the trade embargo IF

1. They releases all political prisoners
2. Begin to pay citizens in the currency in which they can buy ALL goods and;
3. Stop lying to citizens about the US and begin promoting democracy and equality

Hmm..maybe then the US would consider lifting the embargo. Till then, I see no reason why the US should.

WALTER RESPONDS TO AXEL:

Take my word for i...

2008-10-08T17:06:00.000-04:00

WALTER RESPONDS TO AXEL:

Take my word for it, Axel, if US law permitted US companies to invest in Cuba, they would do so. They invest in every other country on earth where they think there's a profit to be made. Why would they NOT invest in Cuba if it were legally possible to do so?

You'd think that, in these terrible economic times, you'd be pleased at the thought that there was SOMEPLACE in the world which would welcome US business and US dollars. And there is one place: Cuba.

That's why normalization of relations is needed, and indeed, it's long, long overdue.

I've come to the conclusion that many of the peopl...

2008-10-08T12:49:00.000-04:00

I've come to the conclusion that many of the people that admire the Castro brother’s defiance of the United States are also people that are eager to identify a successful socialist state to hold up as an example of their ideology.

To get to this point they are obviously very willing, either consciously or subconsciously to overlook the realities of the conditions of the vast majority of the aspects of Cuban life.

Anonymous,

Had never heard the Egypt refere...

2008-10-08T12:44:00.000-04:00

Anonymous,

Had never heard the Egypt reference...thanks for that one.

On the point of why US companies do not trade with Cuba, there is no dispute that it is US Law.

My post was in reference to Walter's question of "why", which we've discussed many times.

Denial is not a river in Egypt. A tree makes noise...

2008-10-08T12:36:00.000-04:00

Denial is not a river in Egypt. A tree makes noise in the forest when it falls, even if no one is there to hear it.

Washington prevents US companies from doing business with Cuba, not Cuba.

US law, not Cuban law, Axel. US LAW.

Walter,

I'm begining to think that you real...

2008-10-08T12:18:00.000-04:00

Walter,

I'm begining to think that you really enjoy hearing the answer to that question, because nothing deters you from asking it continously.

I must sadly admit that rote repetition, regardless of what you're saying, is a form (if a weak one) of winning an argument - you keep repeating something until people forget reality and start accepting it.

Indeed, this is the basis of propoganda, which the Castro regime, and every other oppressive regime, is so good at.

Surely EL NUEVO HERALD will publish a Spanish vers...

2008-10-08T12:01:00.000-04:00

Surely EL NUEVO HERALD will publish a Spanish version. It's their stock in trade. These things are also distributed, in both languages, by the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

But back to the point: US law prevents US businesses from making money by investing in Cuba, just like so many other foreign companies and countries have been doing for years.

Why won't the US join the rest of the world, especially now that it seems to need the rest of the world even more than it did a few weeks ago?

Mr. Gonzalez,

Welcome to the blog site and ...

2008-10-08T11:04:00.000-04:00

Mr. Gonzalez,

Welcome to the blog site and thank you for your query. Unfortunately, after a quick check of ICCAS' site, I don't think a Spanish version of this piece and/or the earlier piece posted on this site on August 11, 2008 is available. You might want to check out ICCAS Cuba Transition Project's website (http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu/spn/main.htm) at a future date to see if a Spanish version is subsequently posted.

I did not find a Spanish version of this post.

2008-10-08T09:45:00.000-04:00

I did not find a Spanish version of this post.

US law prevents US companies from investing US mon...

2008-10-07T21:53:00.000-04:00

US law prevents US companies from investing US money in Cuba. Not Cuban law, but US law.

Cuba would love to have US investment, since it takes investment from Canada, the UK, China, Spain, Germany, and the Islamic states from the Middle East.

Why, after all, should Cuba NOT accept investment from those who wish to do business with Cuba, and whose national laws don't get in the way?

It's not Cuba's fault it cannot accept US investment. Washington won't allow US companies to invest there. That can be changed easily by changing US law to permit it.

Comments on CubaLibreBlog.com: Qatar & Select Middle Eastern Muslim Investment - ...

The embargo against Cuba has no moral weight behin...

Walter and Walter-likes:Prior to the revol...

Mr.Lincoln Manuel thank for your comment. I linked...

Hi Walter,Thanks for the official statemen...

Walter,You have no idea what living on the...

WALTER RESPONDS TO AXEL:Take my word for i...

I've come to the conclusion that many of the peopl...

Anonymous,Had never heard the Egypt refere...

Denial is not a river in Egypt. A tree makes noise...

Walter,I'm begining to think that you real...

Surely EL NUEVO HERALD will publish a Spanish vers...

Mr. Gonzalez,Welcome to the blog site and ...

I did not find a Spanish version of this post.

US law prevents US companies from investing US mon...

Walter and Walter-likes:

Prior to the revol...

Hi Walter,

Thanks for the official statemen...

Walter,

You have no idea what living on the...

WALTER RESPONDS TO AXEL:

Take my word for i...

Anonymous,

Had never heard the Egypt refere...

Walter,

I'm begining to think that you real...

Mr. Gonzalez,

Welcome to the blog site and ...