NUance Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 NY Times Articlenytimnes.com Aug. 3, 2011 Cuba Under Raúl Raúl Castro has seemed to take more pragmatic approach to governance than his older brother. He has given signals he might try to follow the Chinese example of state-sponsored capitalism, and has often pledged to make Cuba’s centralized, Soviet-style economy more efficient and open up opportunities for people. Cuba’s budding private sector is the frail backbone of his plan to reinvigorate the country’s feeble economy. ... Relations with the Obama Administration Instead of lifting the trade embargo with Cuba, enacted in the 1960s in an unsuccessful attempt to force a change in government after Fidel Castro came to power, Mr. Obama is using his executive power to repeal President George W. Bush's tight restrictions and the looser restrictions under President Bill Clinton so that Cuban-Americans can now visit Cuba as frequently as they like and send gifts and as much money as they want, as long as the recipients are not senior government or Communist Party officials. Mr. Obama is also allowing telecommunications companies to pursue licensing agreements in Cuba, in an attempt to open up communications there by increasing access to cellphones and satellite television. LINK It’s been a half century. Isn’t is about time we took our boot off Cuba’s neck? Link to comment
knapplc Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 It’s been a half century. Isn’t is about time we took our boot off Cuba’s neck? Castro's death will be the game-changer. Link to comment
808Husker in KCMO Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 CAn't wait to vacation there. Link to comment
Hingle McCringleberry Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 I honestly dont know how hard our foot is on there neck. Cuba has tons of new and modern resorts, and is full of Canadians and Europeans... To be honest it is not to hard for us to go, just fly to Canada or the Dominican Republic, by a plane ticket (an intrepid travel agent can handle this) and go to Cuba. Cuban customs will put a removable page in your pass port, and you pull it once you leave.... On a development side the Norwegian state oil company (Statoil) is helping them develop off shore oil resources, and they have trade with Europe etc. I am sure they would benefit from open trade with the States, but as with most things, the Cuban vote is very powerful in Florida, and that state is a toss up most years, so politics plays a huge role. In the end, like Knappic said, once Castro is gone everyone clams victory and moves on... Link to comment
NUance Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hard to say what will happen when Fidel dies. Raul--the "Dictator Lite"--probably might not last much longer either. But in Cuba whoever controls the military controls the country. And there are plenty of top officers ready to take over. I think the situation right now--with Fidel ailing and Raul in charge--shows the most promise for Cuba opening up some. If this lasts a few more years Cuba could end up where China is today, communism with socialist market economy characteristics. Link to comment
808Husker in KCMO Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I honestly dont know how hard our foot is on there neck. Cuba has tons of new and modern resorts, and is full of Canadians and Europeans... To be honest it is not to hard for us to go, just fly to Canada or the Dominican Republic, by a plane ticket (an intrepid travel agent can handle this) and go to Cuba. Cuban customs will put a removable page in your pass port, and you pull it once you leave.... On a development side the Norwegian state oil company (Statoil) is helping them develop off shore oil resources, and they have trade with Europe etc. I am sure they would benefit from open trade with the States, but as with most things, the Cuban vote is very powerful in Florida, and that state is a toss up most years, so politics plays a huge role. In the end, like Knappic said, once Castro is gone everyone clams victory and moves on... I've thought about going through Canada, but I prefer hassle free vacationing. Link to comment
NUance Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 I honestly dont know how hard our foot is on there neck. Cuba has tons of new and modern resorts, and is full of Canadians and Europeans... To be honest it is not to hard for us to go, just fly to Canada or the Dominican Republic, by a plane ticket (an intrepid travel agent can handle this) and go to Cuba. Cuban customs will put a removable page in your pass port, and you pull it once you leave.... On a development side the Norwegian state oil company (Statoil) is helping them develop off shore oil resources, and they have trade with Europe etc. I am sure they would benefit from open trade with the States, but as with most things, the Cuban vote is very powerful in Florida, and that state is a toss up most years, so politics plays a huge role. In the end, like Knappic said, once Castro is gone everyone clams victory and moves on... I've thought about going through Canada, but I prefer hassle free vacationing. I think there are a few exceptions that the U.S. gov't will allow you to get into Cuba for. Like if you're doing research for a book or article. A friend of mine was in Cuba and actually got to meet Castro a few years back. Link to comment
strigori Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 What I have always thought is that the ban on all things Cuban just helps Castro. If they were serious about effecting change there, and not so focused on a small, but active, block of South Florida voters, we would normalize relations. For the most part, any nation that has been exposed to us, has ended up becoming a bit more like us. 2 Link to comment
VectorVictor Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 One of the biggest problems with China's emergence is that they're on the cusp of becoming a political and cultural hegemonic power--this is what strigori alluded to in his post by saying any country we deal with starts to resemble us. Hegemonic influence and power is nothing new--this has been going on for as long as there has been trade between nations. What *is* of concern is the ability for America to remain the supreme hegemonic power in the world--as our fiscal influence dwindles internationally, our political and cultural capital will soon follow. In short, we should be striking while we still have an iron in the fire to play--Europe and Asia (read: Russia and China) have beaten us to the punch in Cuba, but there is a *lot* of money to be made on both sides--more than what Europe and Asia have pumped in so far. China is already being sought out by Cuba and (recently) Italy for fiscal and (ultimately) political guidance. If we have learned anything, it's to make sure we're friendly with the countries around us, lest we have Cuban Missile Crisis 2: Electric Boogaloo on our hands. I know this still rankles the former Cubans in South Florida, and I do feel for them...but ultimately, we're not going to be able to get them reparations from Castro's government for what they lost--records, data, the people, and events are too far gone. What we can do is expose Cuba to what they've missed out on for the past 50+ years, which could be a boon for the financial and cultural (read: Hollywood) sectors, and maybe we can normalize relations at some point so we don't have to expend any more political capital on them? Link to comment
Nebula Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Meyer Lansky will be thrilled. Link to comment
VectorVictor Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Meyer Lansky will be thrilled. I suppose he would be, had he not caught an acute case of the death. 1 Link to comment
Nebula Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Meyer Lansky will be thrilled. I suppose he would be, had he not caught an acute case of the death. That might put a damper on his enthusiasm, yes. I was talking about Meyer Lansky the aquarium repair man though. Beautiful, exotic fish around the Cuban mainland. Link to comment
NUance Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 Fidel Castro = Meyer Lansky with a beard disguise. Think about it. Have you ever seen them together? Link to comment
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