Argentina urges end of U.S. embargo against Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

Argentina urges end of U.S. embargo against Cuba
2009-04-18 08:00:45

http://news.xinhuanet.com.nyud.net:8090/english/2009-04/18/xin_15204061813430931002010.jpg

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez (R) talks with U.S. President
Barack Obama before the opening ceremony of the 5th Summit of the
Americas in Port of Spain April 17, 2009. Leaders from across the
Americas gathered on Friday for a summit overshadowed by an intense
debate over a possible reconciliation between the United States and
Cuba and how this could be achieved.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

By Marcelo Cajueiro

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez on Friday urged the United States to lift its trade embargo against Cuba at the opening of the fifth Summit of the Americas here.

She asked the United States to immediately lift the embargo against Cuba while expressing appreciation for the Obama administration's recent easing of restrictions on Cuban-Americans' travel and their remittances sent to Cuba.

http://news.xinhuanet.com.nyud.net:8090/english/2009-04/18/xin_5620406181332593290489.jpg

Presidents of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Argentina Cristina Fernandez,
the U.S. Barack Obama and Brazil Inacio Lula da Silva (L-R) talk
before the opening ceremony of the 5th Summit of the Americas in
Port of Spain April 17, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"It is now to look at the embargo and ... request that it be lifted," Fernandez said. She described the embargo as "an anachronism".

Fernandez also said it was important to "look at a new starting point," which is "based not on subordination but on coordination and cooperation ... integration but not intervention."



Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/18/content_11207629.htm

[Selatius]

1. Honestly, I don't see any relevant reason left to continue the economic embargo.

The Soviet Union has been gone almost two full decades now. The Cold War is something of history texts, now. After five decades of embargo, Fidel Castro is still there, but the embargo has only really succeeded in depriving the Cuban people of opportunities to build a better future. Economic sanctions appear to accomplish nothing but hurt the civilian population instead of the regime in power.

[scarletwoman]

2. What you said. It's just silly on the face of it. (nt)

[bemildred]

3. It's all about power, or illusions of power.

The disobedient must be punished.
Bad examples must be ostracized.
Insults must be clutched to our bosoms for centuries.
Consider Haiti.

[Blue_Tires]

6. full trade relations can also give added spark to both economies

[Mika]

7. Only in some sectors.

There are the US tourism sectors that will suffer from the lifting of the US travel ban on Americans. Disney predicts a severe downturn in the event of a lifting of the US ban. Same goes for the US gambling industry. Same for foreign tourist destinations. They are (their lobbyists are) all pouring megabucks into the campaign coffers of the anti trade Repukes and Dems. Why else would Obama be demanding that Cuba, the victim of this injustice, make concessions (which really isn't going to happen, imo)?

Then there are also the pro trade interests, such as big AG, travel industries, shipping industries, telecom, etc.


But a resolution of the policy (lifting the sanctions and US travel ban) would kill this US political fundraising plank. Neither side wants to lose a richly rewarded plank such as both sides represent to US politicians who must raise serious cash from anywhere they can in order to run for reelection.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Not to mention the 27 electoral votes South Florida controls every 4 years.

Never really thought about it until the 2000 election, and then it became painfully obvious. That's a lot of power concentrated in a small area, all things considered. What a shame!

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Unilateral state of war against Cuba for 50 years. Stop it now.

America held hostage by a rapidly dwindling group of aging rightwing Cuban exiles in Miami.

[Mika]

5. C'mon. You don't really think that its a few thousand RW MiamiCubans, do you?

There are many billions of dollars worth of commerce at stake (on both the pro and anti trade sides). Both foreign and domestic business interests are pouring campaign money into election coffers all over the country as we speak.

The Miami Cubans are a good cover for what is really going on here... US campaign finance corruption (pay to play).

Status quo rules, because resolving the embargo/sanctions kills the US campaign cash cow (for both sides)

[IndianaGreen]

8. Some day we will have a woman as President to meet with women leaders

of other countries. Ironic that the machismo-ridden Latin America has produced such fine women as leaders of their respective countries.

Back to OP, in just a couple of days President Obama has done more to undue the harm Bush did to our relations with Latin America, and remains poised to ditched the failed US policies towards Cuba. It was Obama that walked over to Hugo Chavez to shake his hand. This is an important symbolic gesture because Chavez is not just the thrice elected democratic President of Venezuela but also an icon to progressives across Latin America and the world.

[PufPuf23]

9. The incremental change in Cuba policy is very encouraging

and the photos that have been posted of the POTUS Obama at the OAS meeting put a smile on my face.

OT Too bad we can't trade Sarah Palin for Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez.

She is everything Palin is not.