U.N. again condemns U.S. embargo of Cuba

[Jimmy2]

U.N. again condemns U.S. embargo of Cuba

The vote was 187-3, with two abstentions, as the United Nations once again denounced the U.S. embargo of Cuba.

The United States found itself up against virtually the entire world Wednesday as country after country at the United Nations denounced the nearly 50-year-old trade embargo against Cuba, which the island government says is as strong as ever under President Barack Obama.

It was the 18th time the U.N. General Assembly voted to condemn the embargo, and the first time since Obama took office in January. In a near unanimous vote -- 187 to 3 -- the only nations to side with the United States were Israel and Palau, a country of 21,000 people in the Pacific.

Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.

ISOLATED POSITION

Experts said the vote underscored Washington's increasingly isolated position on Cuba, and highlighted how little Obama has moved on the topic since taking office.

While the buzz in the U.S. is how Obama is warming relations with the long-hostile nation, Cuba's government says much of the talk is a media gimmick. ``The vote represents the fact that the continued consensus around the world is that the United States policy doesn't make any sense,'' said American University dean William LeoGrande, an expert on Cuba. ``The more time passes without the Obama administration doing something significantly different than [former President] George Bush did, the more hollow the promise of change for Cuba policy looks.''

Calling trade sanctions an act of genocide and economic warfare, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the embargo has cost the country $96 billion.

`ARROGANCE'

``The blockade is an uncultured act of arrogance,'' Rodríguez said, according to the Associated Press. In a report submitted to the General Assembly, Cuba asserts:

• The food sector alone lost $121 million because of the embargo last year.

• The nation spends $5.2 million a year refrigerating stockpiled eggs in case there are shortages.

• Increased shipping of educational materials from Asia cost $1.39 million, which Cuba could have used to buy 40 million pencils or a half million boxes of crayons.

• Cuba can't buy child-size specialized medical supplies for sick kids -- and the report made the point of listing the kids by name.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. called Rodríguez's speech a ``hostile'' relic of the Cold War.

``Here we go again,'' Ambassador Susan Rice said. ``I suppose old habits die hard . . . We will not respond in kind to painfully familiar rhetoric that we have heard in years past -- rather, I am prepared to acknowledge that there is a new chapter to this old story.''

She stressed that the Obama administration had renewed family visits to the island and loosened restrictions on U.S. telecommunications companies to do business in Cuba. Talks are under way for direct mail and migration, she said, and the American companies last year sold Cuba some $700 million in food. In 2008, the United States was Cuba's No. 5 trade partner.

NOT RECIPROCATED

``Regrettably, the government of Cuba has not yet reciprocated these important steps taken by my government,'' she said, adding that Washington has the sovereign right to conduct economic relationships how it ``sees fit.''

Lifting the embargo would require an act of Congress, but Obama has the right to issue licenses that would chip away at it.

``The United States is standing on principle,'' said the University of Miami's Jaime Suchlicki. ``We cannot have a policy that stands for democracy, human rights and elections and then suddenly lift the embargo and get friendly with Cuba. It would be a major contradiction.''

[anacostiakat]

"...The United States is standing on principle,'' said the University of Miami's Jaime Suchlicki. ``We cannot have a policy that stands for democracy, human rights and elections and then suddenly lift the embargo and get friendly with Cuba. It would be a major contradiction.''

Amazing! This is the biggest load of crap. Defies logic!

[thechenman]

"...The United States is standing on principle,'' said the University of Miami's Jaime Suchlicki. ``We cannot have a policy that stands for democracy, human rights and elections and then suddenly lift the embargo and get friendly with Cuba. It would be a major contradiction.''

Amazing! This is the biggest load of crap. Defies logic!

I actually agree with him...I don't see why the U.S. should change its policies towards Cuba if Cuba is unwilling to change. Concessions must be made on both sides. The Cuban people suffer not becasue of the embargo, but because of the leadership in their country, or rather the lack thereof. Do I want the Cuban people to suffer as they have been these last 50 years? Of course not...but this is a two sided argument. Barter and trade is a simple concept. You want something, you have to give something up. It's really quite simple.

[Danashan]

OMG, hypocrisy at the UN, how can it be? Never!!! I am shocked to the depth of my being!

[reigndrop]

I hope they don't let go of the embargo. I don't wanna pay $300+ for BRC's and PSD4's.

[gfoster]

Yeah the embargo has worked *so* well up to now.

I say we lift the embargo, flood them with Coca Cola and McDonalds franchises and crappy budweiser beer and let THAT topple the government.

The hypocrites aren't the UN (well, they are but they aren't the only ones). We're the hypocrites too because we willingly and knowingly prop up friendly regimes, we trade with other commie countries and continue to try and claim that what we are doing is for the "greater good of the people".

Baloney. The only reason we're still embargoing Cuba is because of sheer inertia. I hope Obama has the guts to fix it.

-- Gary F.

[zuma]

I actually agree with him...I don't see why the U.S. should change its policies towards Cuba if Cuba is unwilling to change. Concessions must be made on both sides. The Cuban people suffer not becasue of the embargo, but because of the leadership in their country, or rather the lack thereof. Do I want the Cuban people to suffer as they have been these last 50 years? Of course not...but this is a two sided argument. Barter and trade is a simple concept. You want something, you have to give something up. It's really quite simple.

Yeah... the US should put an embargo on China too... they are just as totalitarian as Cuba... oh wait, I forgot that China is "democratically" a special interest case...

[thechenman]

Yeah... the US should put an embargo on China too... they are just as totalitarian as Cuba... oh wait, I forgot that China is "democratically" a special interest case...

Actually they are not the same. China has opened up econmically and moved towards a more capitalistic system. Yes...they have the luxury to do so. Cuba doesn't. Everyone has to bring what chips they have to the table. Just because you have a smaller stack, doesn't mean you should go around to everyone crying about it. The world is not a fair place. You don't get something for nothing in the world of global politics. The Cuban government needs to suck it up and do what is right for it's people. Most Americans don't give a frick about Cuba, we on this forum do becasue of a shared common interest. An embargo that lasts until the end of time won't affect Americans in the slightest. Cuba does not have that luxury. Yes...you are right...it is a waiting game...but you tell me...who is suffering? It's not the government of either nation...it is the people of Cuba. Who's responsibility is it to take care of the Cuban population. That of the U.S., or its own government? Fidel and Raul need to come towards reality, or at the very least step down. Communism does ot work. Even in China and the former Soviet Union it has to exist hand-in-hand with captialism.

[Shelby07]

Yeah the embargo has worked *so* well up to now.

I say we lift the embargo, flood them with Coca Cola and McDonalds franchises and crappy budweiser beer and let THAT topple the government.

The hypocrites aren't the UN (well, they are but they aren't the only ones). We're the hypocrites too because we willingly and knowingly prop up friendly regimes, we trade with other commie countries and continue to try and claim that what we are doing is for the "greater good of the people".

Baloney. The only reason we're still embargoing Cuba is because of sheer inertia. I hope Obama has the guts to fix it.

-- Gary F.

Does anyone here actually believe that Cuba wants the embargo lifted? For years Castro has used the US embargo as the focus of blame for all the woes of Cuba. The embargo doesn't continue to exist simply because of the US, it is there and continues to stay in place because the Castros don't want it to go away. Don't fool yourself. The embargo will go away when the Castros no longer have a political need for it, and not before.

[smk819]

I agree that the embargo has lived out its usefulness, but who gives a good god damn what the UN thinks. That is probably the most useless organization on the face of the earth.

[laficion]

Baloney. The only reason we're still embargoing Cuba is because of sheer inertia. I hope Obama has the guts to fix it.

-- Gary F.

This has been the debat for years, YOU get rid of this and WE will do that.

All of this is fine and dandie but the real problem is not inertia nor is it the will

to see a truly democratic Cuba as a FREE country. all you need to do is to look

at the HISTORY between the US and Cuba and you will see that the US has never accepted

the fact that this small Island, only 90 miles away, is NOT under it's control, culturally and economically.

The US did not respect Cuba's will to become democratic after the Spainish rule nor

will it after the castro's, that's plain reality .

[Jimmy2]

"...The United States is standing on principle,'' said the University of Miami's Jaime Suchlicki. ``We cannot have a policy that stands for democracy, human rights and elections and then suddenly lift the embargo and get friendly with Cuba. It would be a major contradiction.''

Amazing! This is the biggest load of crap. Defies logic!

Than why do we deal with China and other countries that do the same even when they have differant types of goverments?

As far as cigars going up in price I would this Canada ,UK and the US would remain high. All other countries would remain the same .