Cuba Has Weapons of Mass Destruction!
We don’t have time to argue about this. We must bring about a regime change in Cuba! Every moment we dither is another moment for Fidel Castro to build up his deadly arsenal. He could wreak total destruction in the Western Hemisphere if we don’t ACT NOW!!
But don’t worry, it’ll be a cakewalk. Our soldiers will be greeted as liberators. They’ll be showered with cigars and mojitos by throngs of grateful Cubans.
Seriously though, the discovery of oil in Cuba might change a few things. The U.S. has had a trade embargo against Cuba since 1961. That’s 45 years! The purpose of the embargo was to topple Fidel Castro. NEWSFLASH — It’s not working. He’s still there.
The embargo has mostly hurt Cuban citizens, whom our government (supposedly) doesn’t have any quarrel with. And any American who travels to Cuba is facing a prison sentence and a huge fine if Big Brother catches them.
However, the embargo hasn’t stopped Cuba from having a much higher literacy rate than the United States. Go figure.
Money talks. Oil companies from China, India, Norway, Spain, Canada, Venezuela and Brazil are interested in Cuba’s oil.
At this point, continuing the trade embargo can only hurt the United States. (Ergo, anyone who wants to continue the Cuban embargo Hates America!)
The founder of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association says “Our choice is: Are we going to let those other countries take that oil? Or are we going to look at our strategic interests and recognize that very close to our shores is a substantial quantity of oil that is going to be exploited?”
If you’re still gung ho about the Cold War, afraid there’s a Communist under every bed, etc., AND you want lower oil prices — you’re in kind of an awkward position right now.
posted by Tom Harper @ 4:20 PM
13 Comments:
Yeah, the Cuba embargo is really idiotic. Especially when you consider Communist China has practically become our banker...
I believe the U.S. and Cuba could mutually benefit from us lifting the trade embargo and hopefully normalizing relations with that country. I can see tourism being a positive thing on both sides, and I'm sure there a lot of conservatives still into the cigar-smoking craze who would love to have legal access to those great Cuban cigars. There are undoubtebly other benefits, and gee, if there is oil down there, why not try to acquire some of that legally as well, instead of invading them without provocation or without good reason?
45 freakin' years... I can understand why the embargo was on for the first, say, thirty years or so, but since then? I think Clittin' and Dumbya could have both done a lot better in that area...
J. Marquis: True, it doesn't make much sense. If our Cold Warriors actually believed their own rhetoric, they'd apply the same standard to Cuba and China, whatever that standard is.
Annonny-maus: I think I heard that too, about Kennedy and Cuban cigars. You've been to Gitmo? Were you a guard there or something (unless I'm being too nosy)?
Snave: The tourism would definitely be beneficial. And it would be nice to be able to go to Cuba without wondering if the FBI is gonna pay you a visit and haul you off to prison. It doesn't happen very often but there's always the possibility.
The main reason this embargo has lasted so long is the political clout of those rightwing Cuban immigrants in Florida. They still dream of Castro being overthrown so they can go to Cuba again. Florida is a swing state with tons of electoral votes, and any politician who offends this group is finished.
Wouldn't Castro use the opportunity to laugh in our faces and embarrass the hell out of us?
Still, it would probably be worth the risk.
Cuban cigars is a great example of how the embargo doesn't work. I can buy Cuban cigars here anywhere. You think they can't sell them? HA!
Prague Twin: I think Castro has been laughing in our faces for 45 years anyway. Our government has tried every trick known to man to get rid of him and nothing's worked. If you can't lick 'em, join 'em.
I wouldn't want to live under that form of government, but with a 97% literacy rate, maybe we could learn something from him. And millions of Americans would probably like to travel to Cuba and check it out. Lots of Americans have already traveled there, but if you're caught -- bye bye. I think we need to change this.
yummy.
mojitos and cigars.
now we're talkin'.
hey, where did these come from?
must have been a mix up in the mail..
http://mikevnet.com/images/smokes/smokes3.jpg
Mmmmmm Cigars and Mojitos.
Hey, that package was for me. Give it back.
The Goppers have to have the "Big Enemy" to scare the uninformed with, or they lose. They sure as hell will never win running on their record.
Joly Roger: Yup, fear of The Enemy is the only way the wingnuts can maintain power. Turrists and Eye-Rack have mostly replaced Communism, but somehow Castro keeps hanging in there.
Hmmmm, now Fidel seems to be in ill health and his brother has taken over, at least temporarily... Maybe we will see some changes in Cuba soon. When we do, how much will the U.S. meddle in Cuban affairs? It will be interesting to see.
Snave: From what I've read, Fidel's brother is even more gung ho and idealogical. If the U.S. doesn't make some sort of overture before Fidel dies, his brother might just dig in his heels and never make peace with the U.S. Everybody else except us will get Cuba's oil.
I'm late on this one but wanted to add my Canadian two cents - whatever that converts to. I've been to Cuba and I had a friend who came from the island. All I know is that regardless of the misguided American embargo that should perhaps be reconsidered, is that what Castro did to that country and its people is a travesty. Outright travesty. I left the sandy beaches for towns on the outskirts of the pristine make-believe hotels made for tourists. Did I mention travesty? The hotel where I stayed at employed an electrical engineer who earned his degree in Russia. There he was handing out towels to Westerners for a buck a month. He could barely speak to me without looking around his shoulders. This much he told me: don't buy the myth. Yet, the soul of those people remains as energetic and full of spirit as any people on earth. Amazing really. As for the literacy rates, yeah, but they are also indoctrinated with communist revolutionary mumbo jumbo. They may have access to health care but the shelves are empty. Cuba gets direct investment from the EU and Canada - yet, this beautiful island filled with so many cultural legacies is now a shit hole - thanks to Castro.
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