The United Nations vote on the Cuba embargo – 22 years in a row

[polly7]

For years American political leaders and media were fond of labeling Cuba an “international pariah”. We haven’t heard that for a very long time. Perhaps one reason is the annual vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution which reads: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”. This is how the vote has gone (not including abstentions):

Year Votes (Yes-No) No Votes
1992 59-2 US, Israel
1993 88-4 US, Israel, Albania, Paraguay
1994 101-2 US, Israel
1995 117-3 US, Israel, Uzbekistan
1996 138-3 US, Israel, Uzbekistan
1997 143-3 US, Israel, Uzbekistan
1998 157-2 US, Israel
1999 155-2 US, Israel
2000 167-3 US, Israel, Marshall Islands
2001 167-3 US, Israel, Marshall Islands
2002 173-3 US, Israel, Marshall Islands
2003 179-3 US, Israel, Marshall Islands
2004 179-4 US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau
2005 182-4 US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau
2006 183-4 US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau
2007 184-4 US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau
2008 185-3 US, Israel, Palau
2009 187-3 US, Israel, Palau
2010 187-2 US, Israel
2011 186-2 US, Israel
2012 188-3 US, Israel, Palau
2013 188-2 US, Israel
Each fall the UN vote is a welcome reminder that the world has not completely lost its senses and that the American empire does not completely control the opinion of other governments.

Speaking before the General Assembly, October 29, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez declared: “The economic damages accumulated after half a century as a result of the implementation of the blockade amount to $1.126 trillion.” He added that the blockade “has been further tightened under President Obama’s administration”, some 30 US and foreign entities being hit with $2.446 billion in fines due to their interaction with Cuba.

Full article: http://williamblum.org/aer/read/122

And for those who will complain about the original article: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57609836/u.n-general-assembly-votes-against-u.s-cuba-embargo-for-the-22nd-year-in-a-row/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Isn't that pathetic? If the US gov't didn't have these countries totally dependent

upon U.S. taxpayers, legally obligated to pay taxes, for their survival, there's NO WAY they would keep slavishly agreeing to support this economic war on Cuba, which a great number of U.S. Americans believe should be relieved of this embargo.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Its called buying votes Judi.

[cqo_000]

3. Obama Makes Tepid Call for Change in US Policy on Cuba

HAVANA TIMES — Without mentioning any specifics US President Barack Obama called Friday for a revision of US policies towards Cuba.

In an address to a fundraiser in Miami Obama said, “We have to be creative and we have to be thoughtful and we have to continue to update our policies.”

...

President Obama added: “Keep in mind that when Castro came to power I was just born, so the notion that the same policies that we put in place in 1961 would somehow still be as effective as they are today in the age of the Internet, Google and world travel doesn’t make sense.”

http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=99944

[bemildred]

4. The notion of a successful commie economy is seen as a threat.

And it's been taken very seriously for 50+ years, like Iran is still being punished for it's temerity in throwing us out.

Of course some of that is the exiles, who thankfully will be dying out now.

So they don't seem to pragmatically believe all that bullshit about communism not being workable.

[Marksman_91]

5. The embargo is a really dated Cold War relic. It honestly isn't doing any good to either country

It's a policy that should be lifted, as even the US itself isn't really winning anything out of it except the support of some overzealous Cubans who emigrated there, and their offspring which they've brainwashed to have their views. However, I'd really like to see some hard proof that shows the embargo is what's keeping Cuba from prospering economically. It's certainly not helping the country, but I'm still not convinced it's the main reason why the Cuban economy is at the point where the Cuban government has passed reforms that has allowed private markets and businesses to rise in order to produce more capital.