U.S. Maintains Embargo of Cuba After 50 Years, Despite International Condemnation

There are no commemorations planned in Washington, D.C., but today marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. embargo against Cuba — the longest-running embargo in the world. On February 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy formally expanded the harsh regime of commercial and financial sanctions against Cuba that have continued to the present day. The embargo has been solidly bipartisan, notably intensifying under the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The United States has targeted Cuba in defiance of widespread international condemnation. "That’s been the longest-enduring embargo we have had in the world. And the question is, why is it still there? What good has it done? Of course, it has squeezed the Cuban people," said Michael Ratner, president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who has been involved in efforts to challenge the U.S. embargo against Cuba for many years.

Guest:
Michael Ratner, president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York City and past president of the National Lawyers Guild.

SNIP* AMY GOODMAN: On the embargo’s 50th anniversary, a new poll from Angus Reid shows a majority of Americans oppose the harsh U.S. approach to Cuba. Sixty-two percent of respondents say they support re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba, while half say they back lifting the 50-year-old embargo.

To discuss this 50th anniversary of the U.S. embargo against Cuba, I’m joined by two guests. Michael Ratner is president emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights here in New York City, past president of the National Lawyers Guild. He’s been involved in efforts to challenge the U.S. embargo against Cuba for many years. And Michael Steven Smith is a New York City attorney, board member of the Center for Constitutional Rights. They together have written the book, Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away with Murder, about the U.S. role in the killing of the Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

Before we talk about Who Killed Che?, Michael Ratner, talk about this embargo.

in full: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/2/7/us_maintains_embargo_of_cuba_after