Why do we allow a major embargo of an entire island nation and allow an entire people to live without the proper necessities and resources in order to maintain their nation?
Because the people there didn’t allow US capitalists to exploit them and their resources; because the people started to organize themselves and their resources around public interest; because they were voting in leaders who didn’t allow US elite to exploit them.
… probably done as a deterrent against other near by nations looking to station nuclear arms in close proximity.
Stops places like Mexico, Canada, or Panama from making an offer to China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia to station Nuclear their silos/launch bases for them.
Canada is probably still thinking about it though.
You can control a nation’s ability to import and receive nuclear weapons, especially if you are trying to control the supply of arms … it doesn’t mean you get to starve and decimate an entire country just because you don’t like their politics or they don’t happen to support you.
So, while I would agree, politics has unfortunate side effects, both internal cuban politics, and external cuban politics, as the cuban exiles really, REALLY want to get all their shit back.
We shouldn’t be in it, but our Cubans hijacked a large part of our politics by living in such a strong swing state, so we’re at the mercy of them as much as anyone.
The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t. Cuba can and does buy goods from them. Cuba’s real problem is paying for them. The US does not embargo food or medicine goods to Cuba, yet the country has problems feeding their people. Poor economic management of a communist country with no real resources.
Cuba can’t pay because Cuba can’t conduct normal finances with the rest of world because of the US embargo
It’s like having having someone handcuff you, cuff you feet and pin you to the ground and rest their knee on your neck and ask you why you can’t get up on your own.
You are technically correct … but there are several convoluted rules and regulations controlled and mandated by the US that it makes it either very difficult or impossible for most countries to do business or trade with Cuba.
Cuba can trade with anyone they want … it’s just purposely made so difficult that very few do so and the ones who do provide very little in exchange.
The question is, with what currency? The Cuban dollar is not really worth anything outside Cuba, so they can only rely on exports to fund currency needed to buy imports.
This is true, but not due to a US embargo. I should think that the state has access to many different currencies. But, in the end, they have limited resources. Cigars, some Rum (though a lot of countries distil and export rum in the Caribbean). They used to export mercenaries and doctors but noone is buying now.
You don’t think being explicitly barred access from what is essentially considered “the world currency” at this point wouldn’t change their access? C’mon.
The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t.
Technically, but the US has sanctioned companies in other countries who do business in Cuba scaring off a ton of possible choices. The companies have to choose between the richest company on earth and Cuba. Not much of a choice.
Plus IIRC boats that go to Cuba can’t go to the US after for some period of time. Which considering location makes it hugely inconvenient for shipping companies.
Plus since the US and US based companies control a huge portion of the world’s financial systems Cuba is locked out of all of them
There are exceptions for the very few things the US authorizes to export to Cuba, but in general:
What are the “180-day rule” and the “goods/passengers-on-board rule”?
The 180-day rule is a statutory restriction prohibiting any vessel that enters a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of goods or the purchase or provision of services there from entering any U.S. port for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for 180 days after leaving Cuba, unless authorized by OFAC. This restriction is applied even if a vessel has stopped in Cuba solely to purchase services unrelated to the trade of goods, such as planned ship maintenance.
This just begs the question
Why do we allow a major embargo of an entire island nation and allow an entire people to live without the proper necessities and resources in order to maintain their nation?
Because the people there didn’t allow US capitalists to exploit them and their resources; because the people started to organize themselves and their resources around public interest; because they were voting in leaders who didn’t allow US elite to exploit them.
And so they must be punished.
Longest embargo in US history!
… probably done as a deterrent against other near by nations looking to station nuclear arms in close proximity.
Stops places like Mexico, Canada, or Panama from making an offer to China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia to station Nuclear their silos/launch bases for them.
Canada is probably still thinking about it though.
You can control a nation’s ability to import and receive nuclear weapons, especially if you are trying to control the supply of arms … it doesn’t mean you get to starve and decimate an entire country just because you don’t like their politics or they don’t happen to support you.
I think the history of the US and every other imperial power ever would disagree.
So, while I would agree, politics has unfortunate side effects, both internal cuban politics, and external cuban politics, as the cuban exiles really, REALLY want to get all their shit back.
We shouldn’t be in it, but our Cubans hijacked a large part of our politics by living in such a strong swing state, so we’re at the mercy of them as much as anyone.
Unfortunately like so many things in this world the severity is the point.
The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t. Cuba can and does buy goods from them. Cuba’s real problem is paying for them. The US does not embargo food or medicine goods to Cuba, yet the country has problems feeding their people. Poor economic management of a communist country with no real resources.
Cuba can’t pay because Cuba can’t conduct normal finances with the rest of world because of the US embargo
It’s like having having someone handcuff you, cuff you feet and pin you to the ground and rest their knee on your neck and ask you why you can’t get up on your own.
They can certainly conduct commerce with the rest of the world.
You are technically correct … but there are several convoluted rules and regulations controlled and mandated by the US that it makes it either very difficult or impossible for most countries to do business or trade with Cuba.
Cuba can trade with anyone they want … it’s just purposely made so difficult that very few do so and the ones who do provide very little in exchange.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jul/19/facebook-posts/cuba-can-trade-other-countries-heres-some-context/
What I read in your link is not so much Political fact but a disagreement of experts.
What I read in your text is that trade is to difficult, however it is done.
If you’re a company why would you even fuck with more difficult trade.
The important part that you miss is that they do. So, it must not be that difficult
Survivorship bias!
The question is, with what currency? The Cuban dollar is not really worth anything outside Cuba, so they can only rely on exports to fund currency needed to buy imports.
This is true, but not due to a US embargo. I should think that the state has access to many different currencies. But, in the end, they have limited resources. Cigars, some Rum (though a lot of countries distil and export rum in the Caribbean). They used to export mercenaries and doctors but noone is buying now.
You don’t think being explicitly barred access from what is essentially considered “the world currency” at this point wouldn’t change their access? C’mon.
They’re not barred from access. Just can’t use US banks. There are many banks in the world.
The world is run by the USD. If you can’t do business using USD, it is crippling.
They’re allowed to play monopoly, they just can’t use the regular monopoly money.
The global economy is run on the US dollar. It’s the measuring stick all other currencies use as a reference point.
Technically, but the US has sanctioned companies in other countries who do business in Cuba scaring off a ton of possible choices. The companies have to choose between the richest company on earth and Cuba. Not much of a choice.
Plus IIRC boats that go to Cuba can’t go to the US after for some period of time. Which considering location makes it hugely inconvenient for shipping companies.
Plus since the US and US based companies control a huge portion of the world’s financial systems Cuba is locked out of all of them
A citation is needed on the first paragraph
Barges float to Cuba from the US twice a week.
Last paragraph is true. Cuba cannot use US banking.
There are exceptions for the very few things the US authorizes to export to Cuba, but in general:
https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/1541
So you couldn’t find anything. Nice
Really has nothing to do with article.