This is the kinda shit I'm talking about....

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » October 10, 2003, 5:21 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3181048.stm

Watch out for the communist boogeyman!

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » October 10, 2003, 5:35 pm

Cuba suffers so Bush can try to get re-elected. Whoopee.

I wish americans would open their fucking eyes and see what an evil and greedy bastard that guy is.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » October 10, 2003, 5:54 pm

The main points of the policy from the article.

Strictly enforcing an existing US law forbidding Americans from travelling to Cuba for pleasure.

Cracking down on illegal money transfers

Imposing controls of shipments to the island.

The embargo hasn't worked, its long past time to scrap it entirely. Not try to tighten it.

Aggressive campaign to inform Cubans of safer routes to reach the United States

Increasing the number of Cuban immigrants in the US.

This is better though, if they want to come to the U.S, let them.

More US radio, television, satellite and internet broadcasts to break the "information embargo" Mr Castro had imposed on his people.

A better way to breach the "information embargo" would probably be to get rid of our embargo. Information would flow more naturally with trade and tourism.

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » October 10, 2003, 6:10 pm

From what Ive seen, Bush isnt very well liked down here, hes gonna need to do a lot to gain more favor here.

Fallanthas · Post by **Fallanthas** » October 10, 2003, 6:17 pm

It's way past time the embargo was lifted.

Somehow I doubt Bush is going to curry favor with many voters strengthening an embargo our fathers were sick of hearing about.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » October 10, 2003, 6:21 pm

the embargo is a joke. however, there is a very politically (read: $bling$) influencial group of Cubans in Dade county that are so anti-Castro that nothing is too extreme.

this move is purely to try to get that critical voting block in Florida to swing Republican (they go either way) and therefore secure one of the critical electoral states.

so sorry Cubans, you are fucked. but at least they are used to that by now.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » October 13, 2003, 5:49 pm

Interesting article from back in June that talks a bit more about the embargo and some of the discussion around it.

http://www.reason.com/0206/cr.mw.foul.shtml

A couple snippets.

After some 41 years of the embargo’s measurable failure to topple Castro, the Bush administration appears to favor the concept of throwing good money after bad. "Just because the policy hasn’t yet brought results, I don’t think it’s an argument for doing away with it," State Department Deputy Director of Cuban Affairs Kevin Whitaker told a Palm Beach public affairs forum in mid-March, according to the Palm Beach Post. "I think we’ve taken enough grief for the Cuba policy over the years that we ought to get something for it."

Then again, after 41 years maybe you should admit its likelyhood of suddenly bearing fruit may be pretty slim. On the plus side, some people in Congress are trying to restrict/eliminate the embargo.

The travel crackdown is being prosecuted against the wishes of the House of Representatives, which voted 240 to 186 last July to forbid the Treasury Department from spending money to enforce the ban. The measure was stalled in the Senate, but 34 members of Congress have recently created a new bipartisan Cuba Working Group to challenge the embargo. They’re beginning with restrictions on travel.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » October 14, 2003, 4:21 pm

I wish americans would open their fucking eyes and see what an evil and greedy bastard that guy is.

It's not that we don't know, it's just that it's against the law to shoot the fucker between the eyes and piss in the newly made hole.

As for the embargo.. I'm rather peeved that my government seems to think they have the right to tell me where in the world OUTSIDE of this country I can and can not go. Hello, you don't fucking run Cuba, you have no right to say I can't go there. What I do when I leave the country is none of your fucking business as long as I'm not bringing anything back.

I had this discussion the other night with someone actually. I'm just amazed beyond believe that I'd be arrested and tossed into jail for visiting a foreign country for pleasure.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » October 15, 2003, 11:49 am

The Cubans who are in favor of these sanctions are mostly from families who had their lands and businesses seized when Castro took power. They seem to be under the mistaken impression that when Castro dies and/or Cuba becomes free, they'll get the stuff back.

Forthe · Post by **Forthe** » October 15, 2003, 1:04 pm

US blocks action on Israeli 'wall'

Israel says it needs the structure to protect it from Palestinian attacks
The United States has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel's controversial West Bank barrier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3192762.stm

You know you are in a rut when you veto a resolution that is condemning something you have already publicly condemned.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » October 15, 2003, 4:02 pm

Like I said in the other thread it is US policy to veto every UNSC resolution regarding Israel.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » October 16, 2003, 4:58 pm

kyoukan wrote:I wish americans would open their fucking eyes and see what an evil and greedy bastard that guy is.

unfortunately he isn't the governor of California, or we would run a recall election!

laneela · Post by **laneela** » October 16, 2003, 5:23 pm

masteen wrote:The Cubans who are in favor of these sanctions are mostly from families who had their lands and businesses seized when Castro took power. They seem to be under the mistaken impression that when Castro dies and/or Cuba becomes free, they'll get the stuff back.

Being from a family "who had their lands and businesses seized when Castro took power", I sincerely doubt that anyone is delusional enough to believe that they'll get anything back. Though I don't like Bush in the slightest, I don't think this will affect the people in Cuba as much as you guys seem to think. It's not like they make any more money when travel and the export business is "thriving". The only people getting richer are Castro and his supporters. I have a friend who came over from Cuba three years ago. She was a teacher and her husband was a doctor over there. They had a combined income of approximately 80.00 pesos monthly. It can't get worse than it is...