this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2024
0 points (50.0% liked)

politics

19102 readers
3160 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Cuba has been sanctioned for longer than any other country in modern history. But almost a decade ago the Obama administration softened sanctions on the island and restored diplomatic relations with Havana, admitting that over half a century of immiserating the island had failed to oust the communist government. The economic rebound was swift. But in the final weeks of the Trump administration, the White House put Cuba back on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, alongside Iran, Syria and North Korea, for nakedly political reasons and without providing evidence.

Cuba watchers expected that Biden would restore Obama’s raft of achievements. After all, on the campaign trail in 2020 Biden promised that as president he would “reverse the failed Trump policies that inflicted harm on Cubans and their families.”

Instead, Biden has one-upped Trump by going further than the previous administration in attacking Cuba’s tourism industry – the main engine of the island’s economy. Two years ago, the Biden State Department barred foreigners who visit Cuba from visa-free travel to the U.S.

It kind of is America's fault.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

No it isn't. It's not the fault of the fault of the US that Cuba ran out of clean water, electricity and food. They are inept, and no longer supported by the Soviet Union and Venezuela. Venezuela ran out of toilet paper once, and people blamed the US. Ridiculous

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

So can I tie someone down to a set of train tracks and absolve myself of any culpability when they eventually get run over by a train?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The easy response is that they tied themselves to the tracks. Besides human rights abuses, there's this.

https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2019/cuba/#:~:text=Overview%3A%20Cuba%20was%20designated%20as,guerrilla%20groups%20and%20individual%20terrorists.

The US can choose who it does business with.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

The easy response is that they tied themselves to the tracks.

No they really didn't and you're intentionally deflecting the point. Relationships were being normalized. True, Trump walked them back. But Biden campaigned on bringing it back and not only did he fail on it, he made them worse. And people wonder why Democrats aren't getting as many latino voters. You're insistence on deflecting the blame is counter-productive to the kind of discussions needed for a healthy political climate in America.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Biden did not remove the sanctions that Trump had put in place because they provoked the Cuban electorate living in Florida to vote Republican.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Can you source this please? I'm not able to find anything like that on my own.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (7 children)

Although the news is from a year ago, it is still relevant. Cubans in Miami are usually anti-Cuban regime and if they see that the government is lifting sanctions against Cuba, the first thing that comes to mind is that they are Communists or Socialists.

Link 1

Link 2

load more comments (7 replies)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Cuba never lived up to its side of the deal. Free and fair elections were not held, prisoners were not released and the safe haven for terrorists was maintained. Takes two to tango. Still, their present situation is not due to an embargo. That's. Simply their excuse.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Exactly, even China is getting tired of Cuba because it does not want to implement economic reform. But it spends that money on building hotels or on luxuries for the island's political elite.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What deal in specific are you talking about here?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

There were high level diplomatic discussions between the US and Cuba in 2016. The result of which Raul Castro announced he would not stand for re election. Fidel, who was still alive, seemed good with this. Then, the brothers Castro re reversed themselves. They conducted the same old shame elections. As usual, they wanted their cake and eat it too. Congress, particularly Cuban American members, became more more reluctant to continue the diplomatic thaw.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ok, so no actual deal right? Just discussions. Gotcha.

So in the absence of any actual deal that was supposedly reneged on Cuba's part. What's the justification of the sanctions imposed by Trump and Biden, and it's continuation of it?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No actual documents exist for the diplomc thaw. If you want those, fill out an FOI request. Otherwise, the congressional journal will have to do.

Here's your justification

https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2019/cuba/#:~:text=Overview%3A%20Cuba%20was%20designated%20as,guerrilla%20groups%20and%20individual%20terrorists.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No actual documents exist for the diplomc thaw.

Because they don't exist.

You're link is for 2019. Biden ran in 2020 and he included in his platform to move towards normalizing relationships with Cuba. He has since decided to impose even more sanctions which had a direct negative result on the Cuban economy making them much more vulnerable to disasters like this. So again, what are the justifications of the sanctions?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They do exist. There were at least 4 rounds of diplomatic discussions. Notes were taken.

The link still stands at State. It's the current position.

What new sanctions? Specifics.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They do exist. There were at least 4 rounds of diplomatic discussions. Notes were taken.

Ok so show me evidence of this supposed deal then.

The link still stands at State. It’s the current position.

And Biden campaigned on changing it but broke that promise.

What new sanctions? Specifics.

It's literally in the article as well as one of the excerpts I quoted to you in my first comment:

Instead, Biden has one-upped Trump by going further than the previous administration in attacking Cuba’s tourism industry – the main engine of the island’s economy. Two years ago, the Biden State Department barred foreigners who visit Cuba from visa-free travel to the U.S.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thats not new, the US can and does bar travel in the US based on previous travel. Post 911, if you visit a terrorist state, you don't get to roam the US. But, it's interesting that you blame Cuba's electrical grid failure on it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ok now you're really just being intentionally obtuse. The terrorist designation was older than the Biden administration. The limitations on the tourism was during the Biden administration.

But, it’s interesting that you blame Cuba’s electrical grid failure on it.

I blame American sanctions on Cuba's inability to adequately help it's people during a disaster, yes.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It's not obtuse, it's a fact. Maybe just realized as a fact, but a fact nonetheless.

First, the way the Caribbean countries work, the original ownership countries are supposed to help out after disasters and sometimes they dont. So the british are reactive usually. France sometimes. Dutch do what they can. US should always be there for Puerto Rico and the VI.

I guess it would be Spain for Cuba. Have they asked? Has Cuba asked the US? Personally I'd be all for helping. To a point.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s not obtuse, it’s a fact. Maybe just realized as a fact, but a fact nonetheless.

Show me evidence of this supposed fact of yours then.

I guess it would be Spain for Cuba. Have they asked? Has Cuba asked the US?

An intentional deflection from the point of US sanctions harming Cuba's ability to support itself after a natural disaster. But to entertain your question, yes they did ask.

Personally I’d be all for helping. To a point.

No you just want to tie your views on humanitarian aid to political beliefs, and not actual humanitarian ones. It's abundantly clear you're not able to see America do anything wrong on the world stage and instead insist that everything it's done is justified but fail to actually provide the justifications.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

yes they did ask

They asked for money? That's kind of funny. They know Congress would never give them money.

No, actually I'd be for it, to a point. Had a friend of mine piloting a hurricane hunter during the height of tensions with Cuba. He was in the middle of a storm run and lost an engine. An oh shit moment and declared an emergency. Cuba gave himn permission to land, gave him coffee, fixed the plane, sent him on his way. Cuba watches NOAA and appreciates it.

But, not money. They can buy food and medical supplies from us, so maybe a small line of credit. Congress would be needed for that BTW

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I see nothing funny about a country whose in abject poverty, thanks to foreign interference, be in a dire situation due to a natural disaster.

They know Congress would never give them money.

Kinda the point, no?

They can buy food and medical supplies from us

With what fucking money?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The expectation is funny, considering Congress hasn't financed disaster recovery in the US yet.

Its not the US taxpayer's problem if Cuba can't afford something. If you've ever visited the Caribbean you would know there are a lot of countries on a tight budget.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The expectation is funny, considering Congress hasn't financed disaster recovery in the US yet.

What? What are you even talking about here?

Its not the US taxpayer's problem if Cuba can't afford something. If you've ever visited the Caribbean you would know there are a lot of countries on a tight budget.

It is, when they apply international pressure to sanction them and forcing the entire country into poverty.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

What? What are you even talking about here?

Congress is not in session, and hasn't passed a bill to pay the damages from two hurricanes.

It is, when they apply international pressure to sanction them and forcing the entire country into poverty.

BS. There is no international pressure.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (8 children)

And yet, the US just announced foreign aid to Gaza the other day.

BS. There is no international pressure.

Just read the article man. This is just getting sad. I feel like I'm talking to a MAGA voter with the amount of deflection and fanaticism you're displaying. And I haven't even touched on all the misinformation I had to call you out on.

load more comments (8 replies)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Look what you made us do.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Cuba is not the most sanctioned country in the world, that position is held by Iran and Russia. Cuba only uses sanctions to justify its mistakes and its ineptitude, but with each passing year it becomes more difficult.

Even China is getting tired of Cuba because it does not want to change its economy.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Cuba is not the most sanctioned country in the world

I never said that? Not sure what the point of your comment is here.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

When confronted with the consequences of decades of timidity, centrists start sounding like what happens when you pull the string on the back of a trump supporter.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

That sentence has been strangled fir all it's worth, which isn't much. Communist controlled states have these consequences and they blame others for them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Communist controlled states have these consequences and they blame others for them.

Yeah I'm sure it has nothing to do with the embargo that has been in place for, what, ~80 years now? Completely unrelated.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You'd think the US can't choose who to do business with.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Huh?

Did you forget the point you originally made, and default to "hurr durr we're allowed to embargo whoever we want"?