The U.S. should end the Cuban embargo
The U.S. should end the Cuban embargo
By Katrina vanden Heuvel
Tue, 02 Jul 2013
Is there a greater example of utter folly than America’s superannuated policy toward Cuba? During more than 50 years corrupted by covert actions, economic sabotage, travel bans and unending embargo, the United States managed to make Castro and Cuba an international symbol of proud independence. Intent on isolating Cuba, Washington has succeeded only in isolating itself in its own hemisphere. Intent on displacing Fidel Castro, the U.S. enmity only added to his nationalist credentials.
A recent visit reveals a Cuba that is already beginning a new, post-Castro era. That only highlights the inanity of the continuing U.S. embargo, a cruel relic of a Cold War era that is long gone.
Cuba is beginning a new experiment, driven by necessity, of trying to build its own version of market socialism in one country. Just as populist movements in the hemisphere looked to Castro and Cuba for inspiration, now Cuba is learning from its allies as it cautiously seeks to open up its economy. A former minister of the economy spoke of how Cuba is committed to fostering private coops and businesses, and is beginning a push to make more state enterprises make their own way.
This month, 100 state-run produce markets and 26 other establishments are scheduled to become private cooperatives. The government says many more establishments will follow, beginning in 2014, as an alternative to small and medium-size state businesses in retail and food services, transportation, light manufacturing and construction, among other sectors.
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...and I just don't know what to think. On the one hand, I say to myself "Jesus, why would he get mixed up in that mess?" and on the other, there's the whole "exploding cigar" story that has been circulated. That was back in the day when assassinating a head of state wasn't off the table.
The sugar lobby is a real thing--I remember going down to Jamaica when suger went through the roof here in USA, it was sometime in the seventies, if I remember, and I went to the supermarket to pick up some stuff. I looked at the price of sugar and it was so flat out cheap that I bought thirty some odd pounds of the stuff to bring home to my aunties who liked to bake. Well, guess who got stopped at customs? And guess how they packaged the sugar down JamRock way? In CLEAR, SEALED, ONE KILO PLASTIC BAGS!
The customs guy thought he'd hit paydirt with me. I think he saw a promotion in his future for the biggest drug bust in history. I'm insisting "It's SUGAR man--haven't you seen the price of sugar lately?"
Of course they wanted to check it, and I -- in martinet-like fashion -- insisted that they get some tape so they could properly seal the bags after they had so done! So they did, they checked a couple, looked real close at the rest of them, had a huge laugh about it...and they allowed me to go on my way!
My aunties loved the sugar, too!
Anyway, I would love that mystery to be solved. I wish someone would just answer the question "Why is Fidel UNFORGIVEN?" in a way that makes some kind of real sense. I do think the animus is towards him as a person. I've noticed how, in past years, Presidential candidates have said "Blah, blah, blah, normalize, blah Cuba, blah" on the campaign trail, and then, they get into office, and all that shit goes away. I just have to wonder what's in that file they read after they are elected...?!
who're sneaking around taking images of their mail, etc.
They should take lessons from countries like the U.S. where it has been casually mentioned, that if one sees sumpthin', one should say sumpthin', in case our neighbor might be a terrorist, we oughta tell. That's to PROTECT ourselves from those muslins!
Love the way your blue smilie bolts right back behind the couch where the yellow one is hiding! Great planning. Harder to catch if you work in teams. 
... but to create a massive database on who is who.
Shit like that doesn't happen in the USofA.
I mean ... imagine US Drs making house calls!!! 
