« "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay", a must read | Babalu Blog - Main Page | Where's Waldo Beardo? »

First, Helms-Burton would have to be ammended. As long as any of the two Castro crooks are at the helm, the embargo can't be lifted.
There must be freedom for all political prisoners, and multi-party elections supervised by the international community, (let's hope Jimma stays home).
I can't think of any politician in the US that would be against that. But it's up to us. To pressure the US government. The Cuba-American community and our allies are key in this.
Remember "If it is to be, it is up to me".

-"...what do you all think would occur, if, at the exact moment that the news of fidel castro's death is announced, the US government lifts the embargo and all restrictions vis a vis Cuba?"

What would occur?

- an invasion upon the shores of Cuba by Cuban-Americans in hundreds of boats, which would not be able to be contained by the Cuban coast guard.

- this would provided 'critical-timing' impact in a 'fluid-environment' relative to the population at-large in Cuba.

- the hidden potential being the 'air of hope and liberty' that this invasion could ignite - which could prove to be 'momentume-building' and spread through the whole of Cuba - erasing the 'fear' content and overwhelming the cockroach brigades supporting the tyranny.

IT'S WORTH THE GAMBLE! - Let's get behind this policy RIGHT NOW!!!!

Sorry, I ment to type "amended", I shouldn't try to spell before having my cafecito.
Also sorry I missed the show last night but I'm going to listen today and hope I don't get indigestion, or a puking attack. Although I could stand to lose a few pounds.

One correction to my previous post.... I only 'meant' to refer to the TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS. As to the 'fake embargo' currently in-place, I would leave that alone for the time-being to see what effect the complete removal of travel restrictions has on events.

Val,

I think that it would be the same as if we did it 20 years ago. If we lifted every sanction and everything 20 years ago, it would have destabalized Cuba. The reasons for why I don't support lifting the embargo will still be true though, if fidel dies.

Why then would I have kept up the fight? I don't care how powerful fidel was, everybody rushing overthere at once would have destabalized that government during the last 20 years. The issues for not supporting the lifting of the embargo, such as apropriation of American properties, such as political prisoners, such as the freedom of speech, such as human rights, they'd still be there. Not to mention access to the world bank, American credit, and legitamacy of that government.

All very good points. Let's see if others wantto chime in.

It would be genius. The Americans are already clamoriing to go, add in the Cuban Americans and our own mini Berlin airlift, and how can the machinery of repression contain it all? Perhaps now is the time to have it lifted. It would also make us look less intransigent.

Question becomes, how do we phrase it? The Pol's are never going to go for the "Once Castro's Dead"
Act," and as Henry rightly points out, this would have to be legislated beforehand. We would need to phrase it as something like the future of Cuba act. Let better minds prevail on that.

Further with the election coming on, the timing is auspicious. The Pol's are looking for Cuban American votes and the embargo and trade restrictions are growing increasingly unpopular. All we need to do is start contacting our pol's. Do I detect a BUCL campaign in the air?

At worst, the Cubans will be subjected to the American sense of entitlement and the cattle ranchers will take a financial bloodbath when they start extending credit. The very worst, Raul nipping it in the bud, would show him up to his people, because no matter how they restrict access to info, the people will find out. A special fund could also be set up to pay back companies that lost property by setting up a slight surcharge on all transactions.

Genius, Val. Let's see if it could be done. We have a lot of talent out there.

ruth,

Im not sure its the way to go, mind you, I just tossed that up for debate and consideration. there are real problems with lifting the embargo, most of which Lori mentioned in her comment.

And, it is quite a gamble. I dont know if it behooves us to go "all in" at this stage in the game.

Fortunately it could not be done so quickly as the current law requires release of all political prisoners, etc before it can be lifted. When fidel finally dies, rather than granting raul any freebies, the US should lead the world in the repudiation of a castro unelected dynasty trampling the rights of all Cubans to be free.

Aargh, lost my comment and have to dash out. Okay, okay, so I got carried away with the moment. But picture it: an American invasion of a different stripe with Cubans, American and Exile, at the fore.

The basic problem is that I fear we are losing the battle to continue the embargo and the travel restrictions. This way, we get it lifted on our terms.

Did anyone say "EMBARGO"?

EMBARGO- "to officially stop trading with another country"- Cambridge Dictionary online

I wonder how much of the following was "purchased" by the "Cuban people"? In "pesos"???

59,228,000 Meat, poultry, etc.

50,487,000 Corn

47,199,000 Wheat

40,999,000 Rice

39,145,000 Soybeans

28,382,000 Animal feeds, n.e.c.

21,297,000 Oilseeds, food oils

19,547,000 Vegetables

12,568,000 Dairy products and eggs

5,043,000 Agric. farming-unmanufactured

3,695,000 Logs and lumber

3,649,000 Wood supplies, manufactured

2,469,000 Chemicals-fertilizers

2,397,000 Newsprint

2,107,000 Pharmaceutical preparations

1,411,000 Other foods

1,277,000 Fruits, frozen juices

1,140,000 Chemicals-inorganic

986,000 Agric. industry-unmanufactured

891,000 Miscellaneous domestic exports and special transactions

753,000 Medicinal equipment

441,000 Chemicals-other

394,000 Cotton, raw

308,000 Other industrial supplies

274,000 Shingles, molding, wallboard

246,000 Finished textile supplies

214,000 Measuring, testing, control instruments

162,000 Automotive tires and tubes

145,000 Books, printed matter

144,000 Nuts

128,000 Writing and art supplies

88,000 Other household goods

87,000 Photo, service industry machinery

77,000 Plastic materials

56,000 Computer accessories

54,000 Toiletries and cosmetics

50,000 Apparel, household goods - textile

39,000 Bakery products

35,000 Electric apparatus

18,000 Furniture, household goods, etc.

17,000 Agriculture-manufactured, other

17,000 Mineral supplies-manufactured

15,000 Telecommunications equipment

14,000 Nontextile floor tiles

13,000 Toys/games/sporting goods

12,000 Apparel,household goods-nontextile

10,000 Finished metal shapes

10,000 Sports apparel and gear

8,000 Cotton fiber cloth

7,000 Iron and steel mill products

7,000 Laboratory testing instruments

7,000 Pleasure boats and motors

6,000 Industrial rubber products

3,000 Fish and shellfish

========

347 MILLION $ TOTAL EXPORTS 2006 USA TO CUBA

Source: U.S. Foreign Trade Statistics

Conchita,

Nice find and very interesting. I had no idea the transactions extended as such.

Val, I'd like to be more sympathetic about your experience on last night's show, but you know, if you play with caca, well, you get the idea. And no, I did not listen in, and I'm glad of it.

Val, in case anyone's asking, it didn't take took long to track down and learn WHY in the world would all this stuff wind up in Cuba....

59,228,000 Meat, poultry, etc.... For Elite's survival

50,487,000 Corn.................. For Elite's survival

47,199,000 Wheat................. For Elite's survival

40,999,000 Rice.................. For Elite's survival

39,145,000 Soybeans.............. For Elite's survival

28,382,000 Animal feeds, n.e.c... For Elite's survival

21,297,000 Oilseeds, food oils... For Elite's survival

19,547,000 Vegetables............ For Elite's survival

12,568,000 Dairy products and eggs For Elite's survival

5,043,000 Agric. farming-unmanuf. For Elite's survival

3,695,000 Logs and lumber ...... To reinforce the 'concentration camps'

3,649,000 Wood supplies, manufac. To reinforce the 'concentration camps'

2,469,000 Chemicals-fertilizers.. To clean the military's holding's

2,397,000 Newsprint.............. To provide material for GRANMA's circulation

2,107,000 Pharmaceutical prepara. To support the Elite's Hospitals

1,411,000 Other foods............ For Elite's survival

1,277,000 Fruits, frozen juices.. To support the Military's Tourista Hotels

1,140,000 Chemicals-inorganic.... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

986,000 Agric. industry-unmanuf.For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

891,000 Miscellaneous domestic
exports and special transac.... For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

753,000 Medicinal equipment.... For the Castro Brothers

441,000 Chemicals-other........ For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

394,000 Cotton, raw............ For Dalia Soto del Valle's morning facials

308,000 Other industrial supplies.. For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

274,000 Shingles, molding, wall ... For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

246,000 Finished textile supplies.. For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

214,000 Measuring, testing,
control instruments.......... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

162,000 Automotive tires and tubes. For Elite to sell in black market to potential balseros

145,000 Books, printed matter...... For Elite's pleasure reading

144,000 Nuts....................... For Elite's pleasure

128,000 Writing and art supplies... For School Propaganda campaigns

88,000 Other household goods...... For Dalia Soto del Valle's home

87,000 Photo, service
industry machinery........... For Seguridad de Estado's surveilance

77,000 Plastic materials.......... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

56,000 Computer accessories....... For Ramiro Valdez's surveilance room

54,000 Toiletries and cosmetics... For Dalia Soto del Valle's bathroom

50,000 Apparel, household goods... For Dalia Soto del Valle's kitchen

39,000 Bakery products ........... Cake for the masses

35,000 Electric apparatus......... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

18,000 Furniture, household
goods, etc................... For Dalia Soto del Valle's home

17,000 Agriculture-manufactured,.. For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

17,000 Mineral supplies-manufact.. For Elite's 'black market' enterprises

15,000 Telecommunications equipm.. For Ramiro Valdez's surveilance room

14,000 Nontextile floor tiles..... For Seguridad de Estado offices

13,000 Toys/games/sporting goods.. For Alejandro Castro's bedroom

12,000 Apparel,household
goods-nontextile............ For Alejandro Castro's bedroom

10,000 Finished metal shapes.... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

10,000 Sports apparel and gear.. For Alejandro Castro's garage

8,000 Cotton fiber cloth....... For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

7,000 Iron and steel mill prod. For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

7,000 Laboratory testing instru. For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

7,000 Pleasure boats and motors. For Alejandro Castro's bedroom

6,000 Industrial rubber products. For Seguridad de Estado's torture techniques

3,000 Fish and shellfish......... For Elite's pleasure

yikes! $374 million with the embargo, imagine the numbers without it.

I've wondered about Val's question too, now that biology is taking its course & the expectations are high. I'm no expert or historian of any sort, however, I've observed what happened in the former USSR and its satellites when they crashed and burned. Generally, some did well and some did worse. Russia has slowly returned to its totalitarian days, with the help of a former KGB kingpin; the people had no institutions or foundations to hold them through the transition from the commie state, and are quickly headed back to square one.

My fear is that the status will remain quo if the top echelon that is now entrenched in Cuba is allowed to remain, embargo or not. Does anybody believe these people will relinquish power without a fight? Look at the chitcoms (Chinese commies); they like the capitalist economy as long as they manage it themselves, and while some improvements do trickle down, the control is such that the people there aren't really free, not even with advanced technology.

While the US and other countries are looking at the $$$$ signs during the kasstro death watch, it should sober us to remember that many dictatorships are able to provide a decent standard of living ---- but a gold cage is still a cage.

...but a gold cage is still a cage.

Exactly.

7,000 pleasure boats? For who, and how is that allowed? That enought for an invasion for sure.

Units and source please

take care and be well

Larry

P.s. I think Raul will end up like Mussolini... hanging upside down,,,

Ziva, fyi....the "7,000" (Pleasure Boats) is a "DOLLAR AMOUNT" - you can see the "TOTAL" at the bottom of the original listing (347 $MILLION)

La Conchita- I'm a non-comprehension roll it seems. I need more sleep and a lot more café. Thanks

Ziva, don't worry, tomorrow's Friday. By the way, $7000 (for all of 2006) doesn't get you a whole hell of a lot in terms of 'pleasure boat'. It either went to 'Alejandro' or one of the Elites who wanted to get out there real fast with one of these...

I think we have already established the fact that the "embargo" is internal to Cuba. I loved that list and where everything goes. Val, I agree that we should not do anything right away. It's the perfect time to put MORE pressure on the Cuban government. They are releasing political prisoners in a trickle, to tease us into thinking there will be some basic changes in the system. I don't think there will be. So now is the time to hang tough. Also, the last things Cubans want is a bunch of Cuban-Americans coming over there and telling them what to do. I have heard this from people on the island who are ANTI-Castro. Nor would a military invasion help. The "liberation" forces inside Cuba are disorganized and scattered. The rest of the folks just want peace and more food on the table. Negotiations might be in order, but only if they release ALL of the political prisoners, plus other concessions to US. This is no time to drop the ball.

I'm still wondering how we can have an embargo with Cuba and still it is ranked 25th out of all the countries in the world to whom we export goods. Hmmmmm...

I want to correct my error. It was Jewbana who pointed out that Helms-Burton would have to be amended. I was thinking of another legal discussion. My apologies.

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)

URL:
Remember me? YesNo

Comments: