Study says it's time for U.S. to engage Cuba

[DogPoundPup]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

With the election of Barack Obama, the United States has a fresh chance to reinvigorate its relations with Latin America, according to a new report that recommends Washington overhaul its drug policies at home and pursue a rapprochement with Cuba.

The report, compiled by prominent former policymakers from the United States and Latin America and scheduled for release today by the Brookings Institution, called on the new administration to put Latin America at the center of its foreign policy radar screen.

Among the most striking recommendations is a near-total reversal in policy toward Cuba. The report advocates lifting all restrictions on travel by Americans, promoting more contacts with Cuban diplomats and taking Cuba off the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"This may make the over-40 generation of Cuban Americans in Miami jump-up-and-down mad, but there is a whole generation of Cuban Americans who want to change this relationship," said Thomas Pickering, a longtime diplomat and former undersecretary of state.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/24/MNRD14AN9V.DTL&type=politics

[Billy Burnett]

1. It's not up to Obama, and if it was there'd be little if any change.

-Flashback YouTube vids - Barack Obama did flip flop on Cuba policy-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7867309

-Obama Flip Flops on Cuban Embargo-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x239964


The extra territorial embargo on Cuba and travel sanctions on Americans are controlled by congress.

[Vogon_Glory]

6. The Travel Restrictions Could Probably Go, And Should

The travel restrictions could probably be discarded by the Obama administration, if they so chose. After all, it was far, far easier for Americans to travel to Cuba during the Clinton years even after Helms--Burton was enacted than it became when Team Shrub tightened the screws in 2004. I suspect that some of the other restrictions could also be ended by executive order if the Obama administration so chose.

Certainly there wouldn't be that much opposition in Congress to ending the travel restrictions. Even former Republican Congressman Dick Armey said that there wasn't all that much support for them even when the Rethugs held the whip hand in Congress, and I suspect that November 2008 showed that Democrats don't have to cater to a claque of noisy, bitter expatriates who hate Democrats almost as much as they hate Castro.

I think that the US should have diplomatic relations with Havana. We should also have at least some scientific and other exchanges with the island as well; especially considering that the ecology of the Gulf of Mexico is definitely a common interest and both countries could benefit from horticultural research and weather reporting.

Diplomatic recognition doesn't have to mean approval of the Havana regime's policies. I still have strong reservations concerning the rights of free speech, free association, and freedom of assembly within Cuba. But even the right-wing Francisco Franco dictatorship recognized Cuba, and the US has diplomatic and trade relations with far, far more unsavory regimes than Cuba's.

[Name removed]

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[ohio2007]

11. no, it takes an act of congress to end the embargo. Which congressman will break the ice

without Fidels state funeral to trigger the congress into action ?
There have been false flags in the past. Those in Miami know cuz thats the way it has been for decades.

[Lautremont]

2. If I were to be completely selfish, I'd be against this rapprochement.

It's kind of nice to have a relatively close vacation spot that's completely free of Americans and American crap like McDonalds and whatever else. The Germans sort of take over the role of the Ugly American there, so maybe in the end it wouldn't make much difference. But I think the day the trade and travel restrictions are lifted, the great old 50s cars will disappear and there'll be a Mickey Ds in Revolution Plaza. And that would make baby Che cry.

[Subtropical]

14. If restrictions were lifted,

I would love to visit Cuba before its geographical beauty and history were smothered by the commercialism that would follow.
I've always resented my own government prohibiting me from traveling somewhere.

[Billy Burnett]

16. Why is it a given that Cuba will radically change in the way you describe?

Maybe you should consider some of the other major US tourist destinations, like France, Italy, or the Netherlands among many others. Americans flock to these places and they've not sold their culture down the tubes. We recognize and respect these countries and appreciate them for the strength of their cultural and social heritage.

Why do so many here think that Cubans would 'sell out' and destroy their cultural/social being to accommodate Americans?

They haven't done so to accommodate the many millions of other world travelers from all of the capitalist nations.

I'm baffled at the type of expressions about Cuba(ns) on DU that convey such a low regard for Cubañia (the Cuban way).

Why is it?

Could it be that Americans know so little of the nation and it's heritage? Is the Cuban struggle for sovereignty and national dignity virtually unknown in the US? Do Americans really think that socialism and the Cuban social infrastructure is forced on Cubans? Do Americans think that Cubans don't run Cuba?

Why is that?

How is it that so many Americans who've never been there assume the worst about the outcome of American travel to Cuba?

Considering the easy access to information, blogs, travel news sites, and a wide range of topics on Cuba travel and tourism available to so many in the US, it is interesting to read the commentary here about how Cubans will be unable to control their own nation in the face of American travel there.

I urge all herein who feel this way to take time to consider this: Just why is that sentiment so common here? Why the pre programming? Why project the negative on Cuba - and Americans?


My opinion, based on experience in Cuba, is that opening up dialog and travel with/to Cuba will be good for Cubans AND Americans. Now, more than ever, we need to take a look at the Cuban way, to take a look at their hardy and strong culture of social responsibility and conservation. It's time to look at how Cubans have done so much with so little.

Plus - they could put the revenue generated by US tourism to good use also.

[cyclezealot]

3. Could it be- oil

Cuba now has more oil reserves than the US... But, too late.. China has been assisting the finance of it' s new oil fields and its not bound thru the Panama canal for China..

[ohio2007]

12. Florida has oil also.So does California,Texas,Alabama,the whole gulf coast

I doubt Cuba holds more reserves then Alaska but I would like to see you link that says so.

[cyclezealot]

13. Cuba claims massive oil reserves

The state-owned Cuban oil company says the country may have more than 20bn barrels of oil in its offshore fields - more than double the previous estimate.
snip

f correct, Cuba's oil reserves would be almost the same as those of the US - 21bn barrels, according to the Oil & Gas Journal - and nearly twice the size of Mexico's - 11.7bn barrels.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7675234.stm

[Bushies gotta go]

4. Christ, don't give shrub any more ideas

... if he hurries, he might be able to take over the whole world in 50-some days.

[predfan]

5. It really would be nice to have a conversation about the pros and cons;

after all, doesn't Viet Nam now have most favored nation trade status? and aren't they (drumroll) COMMUNIST?

[peacetalksforall]

7. It's posted on SFGate, but it came from the NYT and is too forgiving and diplomatic, but the

message is clear.

I don't think the U.S. should dictate what Cuba should do and what they will do with CUba. Cuba is Cuba and we have found they are capable of making decisions. I think there should be no more invasions, even if considered friendly.

I would suggest to them, if I were able, to take things slowly and don't take orders from anyone, especially Cuban-Americans some who created a treasure of a time warp in non- modernization by their selfish agenda; they made those people suffer, then hypocritically sent all kinds of money to them in spite of the Embargo.

Time for Raul and Fidel and the people to do it the way they think is best.

I hope there are no more takeovers by the CIA and Mafia.

If anyone is going to be corrupt - let it be the Cubans.

The message is clear in this Hemisphere - Latin American has finally said NO to corporate takeovers, Hit Men, IMF and World Bank predatory usury.

Finally. some sense and sensibility within an article from the NYT.

[Billy Burnett]

10. You've really touched on something very important.

And that is: Cuba has been able to do so much with so little. Not only because of the USSR/Russian withdrawal in the early/mid 90's, but all the while the most powerful nation in the world has been breathing down Cuba's neck (if not outright attacking, undermining, or funding exile terrorist private armies to do the dirty work), they've been able to expand their social infrastructure, and their democratic processes, to include everyone.

There is a reason that the US klepto/corporatocracy doesn't want the citizens of the greatest A#1 über-consumer nation to understand what and how Cuba has done this. Now that it looks like we are about to crash and burn it seems that we really could learn a lot from Cuba about the survival of a nation, and a return to true social responsibility.

If one is interested in the various aspects of this subject, may I recommend this book? ...

http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-1997-98-Elections-Arnold-August/dp/0968508405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227574434&sr=1-1





on edit: I've been to Cuba many times.

[peacetalksforall]

15. Thanks - I will look for this book. I have a feeling that it will be very

interesting - meaning it will say what I already suspect and I hope for even more knowledge.

[Alexander]

8. Oh good. I thought they meant "engage" as in "invade".

Just what we need. A second Bay of Pigs.