Fifty Years of Solitude: The U.S. embargo against Cuba

[El Presidente]

Fifty Years of Solitude: The U.S. embargo against Cuba

RIA Novosti commentator Dmitry Babich

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20101019/161014913.html

On October 19, 1960, the United States began its embargo of Cuba, which has become the longest economic blockade in recent history, though it was never a complete blockade.

What Washington has unwittingly proved with its fifty-year economic blockade of the island is that in this globalized world, countries can survive in near complete isolation from the main economic "world-system," a term proposed by the non-conformist American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein. The "end of history," predicted by mainstream American intellectuals in the 1990s, is still far away.

Of course, living outside the economic world-system is not easy. Fidel Castro recently admitted this when he said from his hospital bed in September that the Cuban economic model should not be exported and that it is no longer good for Cuba.

Castro later clarified that his statement should not be interpreted as surrender to capitalism, but the economic problems in Cuba are well known and only the poorest and the least informed people in other Latin American countries still envy Cubans.

Cuba has failed to export its revolution, but nine U.S. presidents have failed to destroy the regime in Cuba with the embargo.

The stakes have gradually risen since Dwight Eisenhower, who was president when Castro seized power in 1959, prohibited Americans from travelling to the island and banned the import of Cuban sugar.

President Kennedy, seeing that Cubans had not been deterred by the ban on the exports of spare parts for U.S.-made equipment to Cuba, approved an invasion of the island by Cuban volunteers and later ordered a naval blockade.

In 1977, Democratic President Jimmy Carter lifted the ban on travel to Cuba, which had been in place since 1963, creating hope for a new dialogue between the countries. However, Carter's successor, Ronald Reagan, reinstated the ban in 1981, which has been in place, with a few exceptions, to this day.

The Cuban leadership claimed that the United States was solely responsible for the barrier dividing the nations and keeping families apart. This view has been supported by the UN General Assembly, whose numerous resolutions approved by a majority of votes since 1992 call on the United States to lift the embargo.

Israel was often the only country to side with the United States, with additional support occasionally coming from the likes of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Uzbekistan. But that hardly amounts to international support for the U.S. embargo of Cuba, which is why the embargo and the ban on travel to Cuba is unpopular with the American public, and American liberals in particular.

Barack Obama's decision to extend the sanctions for another year will not improve his approval numbers among liberal voters, who hailed Obama's past decision to lift the ban on phone calls to Cuba and visits by Cuban Americans to see their relatives on the island.

Continuing the embargo is becoming increasingly hard to justify morally, especially after Fidel Castro's recent statements indicating that his values have changed. The Cuban leader no longer looks like the monster he has been portrayed as in the U.S. media. At least, he has shown that he is capable of asking forgiveness for some of his past deeds.

In an interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Castro called the punishment of homosexuals practiced in Cuba in the 1960s and 1970s "a major injustice."

Under a law that was only repealed in 1979, homosexuals in Cuba were sent to jail or prison camps. In 1980, the world's attention was fixed on one of the most tragicomic episodes in the history of the U.S. embargo: 125,000 Cubans were admitted to the United States during the boatlift from Mariel in response to Washington's demand that Castro release political prisoners and other dissidents, whom Carter offered political asylum. As it turned out, many of the Marielitos were common criminals, mental patients and homosexuals.

The U.S. press wrote that it was Castro's cruel joke on Carter.

It later turned out that those wishing to emigrate to the Untied States only had to say they were homosexual. Americans were more puritanical back then, and Carter was not pleased with Castro's "present."

What has caused Castro to change his views? It could be the fact that Cuba is gradually moving towards market reforms. Fidel's brother and political successor, Raul Castro, has said recently that the number of public servants would be cut by half a million, which is a stunning figure given that Cuba has a population of 12 million. Raul also said the laid-off bureaucrats should look for jobs in the private sector, making a relic of the once popular slogan, "Socialism or Death."

Cuba is gradually becoming a part of the world-system, from which it has been barred for 50 years. Western European and Canadian businesses have long disregarded the U.S. embargo. The height of the U.S. anti-Cuban sanctions, which barred foreign companies from trading with the island, is long past.

The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996, proposed by Senator Jesse Helms, a prominent Russophobe, was approved at a time when the world expected the remaining socialist countries to crumble following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But life once again proved more complex than ideological theories. Perhaps the United States should acknowledge this fact and resume relations with Cuba, at least in a limited scope, as it did with the Soviet Union during Leonid Brezhnev's rule.

[investandprosper]

I applaud Cuba's first steps into capitalism by moving workers to the private sector. Hopefully their efforts will flourish, and more steps will be taken. I think that only then will the US consider lifting this archaic embargo.

[TMS36]

Say for arguements sake the US invades Cuba. Not Bay of Pigs style, but F15's, Marines, Tom Clancy style. How many Cubans would fight for the revolution and how many would sit back and watch?

[coneatty]

What about all the private property involuntarily "donated" to the regime?

[El Presidente]

Say for arguements sake the US invades Cuba. Not Bay of Pigs style, but F15's, Marines, Tom Clancy style. How many Cubans would fight for the revolution and how many would sit back and watch?

They are an immensely proud people who in the main wouldn't stomach an invasion from anyone. They might only be throwing stones from the Malecon but they would be throwing stones and not for Fidel but for Cuban independence.

[sblevit]

The article states "Continuing the embargo is becoming increasingly hard to justify morally". But is there really any justification (moral, social or political) for it at all anymore? I'll be at the airport with a ticket to Mex City in hand the day the embargo is lifted.

[mazolaman]

Correct mr President,the Cubans wouldn't take an invasion by anyone lying down.

The reason the embargo still exists has more to do with US internal politics than anything else.

[Baldy]

They are an immensely proud people who in the main wouldn't stomach an invasion from anyone. They might only be throwing stones from the Malecon but they would be throwing stones and not for Fidel but for Cuban independence.

X2

Besides being proud, the Cubans people that I know are also resourceful, intelligent, generous and decent folks.

Looks like the Cubans want to follow the Chinese model. Which might not be a bad thing. I hope for the Cuban people, and especially for the few friends I have there, this works out.

Few can stand up to the US military but in takes more than military might to win a war. Battles yes, but war is a different story.

[TMS36]

They are an immensely proud people who in the main wouldn't stomach an invasion from anyone. They might only be throwing stones from the Malecon but they would be throwing stones and not for Fidel but for Cuban independence.

Maybe invasion is the wrong term, but wouldn't removing the Castro's from power be the first step to independence? I have never been to ths Island being from the States, but most articles I read elude to the fact that the people of Cuba aren't quite buying into the "Revolution" or socialism anymore.

[mykeuva]

In the spirit of trying to stay out of political discussions, I'll just say I disagree.

[El Presidente]

It is easy for this topic to become political, so lets avoid it. Apologies for the deleted posts.

It is safe to say that many in Cuba are "disillusioned" with the current system. That may be an understatement.

There is no real stomach that I have seen or heard for any outside force to "liberate" them. They seek opportunity and full engagement with the world and feel the embargo is disproportionately hurting them. There is little love for the current political situation in Cuba at least within the circles I mix. Blame is shared equally regarding the embargo and there is common thought that it benefits the Govt propaganda. They would like to see the excuse removed.

[mykeuva]

It is easy for this topic to become political, so lets avoid it. Apologies for the deleted posts.

It is safe to say that many in Cuba are "disillusioned" with the current system. That may be an understatement.

There is no real stomach that I have seen or heard for any outside force to "liberate" them. They seek opportunity and full engagement with the world and feel the embargo is disproportionately hurting them. There is little love for the current political situation in Cuba at least within the circles I mix. Blame is shared equally regarding the embargo and there is common thought that it benefits the Govt propaganda. They would like to see the excuse removed.

It would be interesting to see a world where there was no US embargo against Cuba, but there was one against China. I think a pretty strong argument can be made that both nations (China and Cuba) would have more open governments today....

[Baldy]

It is safe to say that many in Cuba are "disillusioned" with the current system. That may be an understatement.

There is no real stomach that I have seen or heard for any outside force to "liberate" them. They seek opportunity and full engagement with the world and feel the embargo is disproportionately hurting them. There is little love for the current political situation in Cuba at least within the circles I mix. Blame is shared equally regarding the embargo and there is common thought that it benefits the Govt propaganda. They would like to see the excuse removed.

X 2 million

Well said and is in line with my observations while in Cuba. Disillusion with government is a universal theme and is true in China, Cuba, Canada, US, France, etc. Especially so during tough economic times.

[tjhernandez34]

These economic reforms are very interesting, but it really makes me wonder. I am an Int'l Affairs major, and we were just studying Cuba and the "Revolution". These types of market reforms happen about once every decade, once in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. The result each time has been a surge in economic prosperity, and once the economy recovers, the government enacts regulations in order to increase the tax on the private sector (to make it unfeasible to make a living) or ends up changing the laws to prevent what they just legalized. Examples of what has been done in the past is legalizing the US dollar (then making it illegal and relegalizing it, etc...). Also, creating the cuentapropias (self-employed) and limiting the number of services that can be done (and the people who can do them). Most recently in the early 90's, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Fidel created paladares, or small private restaurants. These were successful and originally taxed like $20/month. After a couple of years it became hundreds of dollars a month, in order to reduce this sector and move back towards Socialism. So the point of this is, if the US is waiting for a more neo-liberal market in Cuba to drop the embargo, don't hold your breath because the Castro's have been using reforms as a safety valve for when times are bad for the last 40 years or so...

[El Presidente]

It's wierd to read Cuban leaders telling people to move over to private sector employment while at the same time maintaining most restrictions on private enterprises. What private jobs are they supposed to do, bar flogging home made cigars to tourists and serving meals on their balconies?

From memory they have detailed 126 enterprises cubans can start up.

However....as an example...you can repair mattresses..you can't sell them.

Many Cubans already do the 126 jobs "on the side". So now they have to register and pay taxes. Brilliant!

[mykeuva]

.....if the US is waiting for a more neo-liberal market in Cuba to drop the embargo, don't hold your breath because the Castro's have been using reforms as a safety valve for when times are bad for the last 40 years or so...

I don't think the US is waiting for market reforms as much as it is waiting for a change in the government. For whatever reason, whether it's b/c the US is too stubborn to change while Castro is still around, or just b/c of the political consequences. I don't think we see change in the embargo until either the Castro family is gone from power (and the subsequent leadership allows for more political freedom), or the Castros themselves implement drastic changes (open and free elections/abandonment of socialism/etc.)

[PigFish]

Why am I clapping? It is for some post that just disappeared... -LOL

[Baldy]

From memory they have detailed 126 enterprises cubans can start up.

However....as an example...you can repair mattresses..you can't sell them.

Many Cubans already do the 126 jobs "on the side". So now they have to register and pay taxes. Brilliant!

IMO, just another tax (money grab) for the Castros. Cubans are already "enterprising" so why not get a cut? No doubt all the reforms and changes are to ultimately generate more $$ for the government. Additional incentive for Cubans with families in Miami to send more $$$? It's a mob mentality with good old systematic corruption everywhere. Oh well, even with the heavy taxation and corruption there will still be some Cubans who will prosper from this. Better that some succeed than none.

Anytime they want less "free" enterprise, they'll simply increase taxes, intimidate and harass.

[SethG]

It is easy for this topic to become political, so lets avoid it. Apologies for the deleted posts.

It is safe to say that many in Cuba are "disillusioned" with the current system. That may be an understatement.

There is no real stomach that I have seen or heard for any outside force to "liberate" them. They seek opportunity and full engagement with the world and feel the embargo is disproportionately hurting them. There is little love for the current political situation in Cuba at least within the circles I mix. Blame is shared equally regarding the embargo and there is common thought that it benefits the Govt propaganda. They would like to see the excuse removed.

You know it would be trivial to liberate the Cuban people, just show up with food, money, gifts, cars, buses, boats and there will be open arms.

At some point there's a moral hazard though in forgiving a people that took so much private property from people, are those that are living in stolen homes and working in stolen factories ready to give back and atone? Isn't El Laguito an example? It certainly wasn't built by the people (do they even have the raw materials to build anything like that??) but rather I assume it was stolen in the revolution, no?

[harryleech]

Maybe invasion is the wrong term, but wouldn't removing the Castro's from power be the first step to independence? I have never been to ths Island being from the States, but most articles I read elude to the fact that the people of Cuba aren't quite buying into the "Revolution" or socialism anymore.

I've travelled to Cuba a few times - many people are fed up with the Castros, but the Cubans will never let themselves be dictated to by the US government and with good reason. As I was told on my first trip there - "We love American people, we just hate what their government are doing to us with this embargo."

If for arguments sake Britain decided tomorrow that the US should have a constitutional monarchy, invaded and tried to impose their will on the American public, how do you think Americans would react? They'd rightly tell them to get the hell out of their country and fight tooth and nail to make sure that happened.

Wherever the US has toppled government in South & Central America because they didn't like their politics (many of them democratically elected) the result has been anarchy or fascist dictatorships - as bad as Castro's Cuba is, the alternative you're hypothesising about would be far worse.

If the US wants to speed up the decline of the Castros power all they have to do is lift the embargo - the only reason Castro has lasted in power this long is because the one thing the Cuban people can all agree on is that no other country has the right to tell them what to do. If the embargo is no longer in place, the Catros wouldn't last too long.

[harryleech]

You know it would be trivial to liberate the Cuban people, just show up with food, money, gifts, cars, buses, boats and there will be open arms.

At some point there's a moral hazard though in forgiving a people that took so much private property from people, are those that are living in stolen homes and working in stolen factories ready to give back and atone? Isn't El Laguito an example? It certainly wasn't built by the people (do they even have the raw materials to build anything like that??) but rather I assume it was stolen in the revolution, no?

That's a quite simplistic view of life - every revolution results in good people losing their homes, property and even lives. There are many people in Britain and Canada whose ancestors lost home, property and lives during the American revolution. Does that make that revolution any less just? Britain has pretty cordial relations with America last time I checked...