UN votes to end US blockade of Cuba

[joepunk]

For the 17th consecutive year in a row the UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to end the US blockade of Cuba.

LINK (http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/773/39861)

[és:]

Viva Fidel. Viva Cuba.

[mkrishnan]

I'm not overly fond of the Cuban communist regime, but in many ways, I think we've done more harm to the Cuban people than Fidel has. A plan that has not produced any notable results in terms of providing freedom to the Cuban people in 17 years should surely meet criteria as a failure. I think it's time to try something different. Who knows? Obama sounds open to it.

[JG271]

I'm not overly fond of the Cuban communist regime, but in many ways, I think we've done more harm to the Cuban people than Fidel has. A plan that has not produced any notable results in terms of providing freedom to the Cuban people in 17 years should surely meet criteria as a failure. I think it's time to try something different. Who knows? Obama sounds open to it.

I agree, I think it is time for something different. Raoul Castro has also lifted bans on ordinary cubans having some items such as computers and mobile phones i believe, so things appear to be changing for the better in Cuba.

[Counterfit]

It's an embargo (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/ga10772.doc.htm), not a blockade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade).

[Peterkro]

Since when has the US regime taken a blind bit of notice what the UN thinks?

[skunk]

Since when has the US regime taken a blind bit of notice what the UN thinks?Obviously not for the last 17 years, at any rate.

[iGary]

No hope in sight, either.

[és:]

It's an embargo (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/ga10772.doc.htm), not a blockade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade).

No, it's a blockade. It doesn't matter how the Americans want to slyly term it, or how much they object to the term of blockade, it is what it is.

[MacDawg]

One of those family grudges that has gone on so long, nobody remembers the real story behind what started it, but both sides are too stubborn to work through it and resolve it.

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[3rdpath]

please, for the sake of cigar-loving mankind...end the blockade.

[MacHipster]

No, it's a blockade. It doesn't matter how the Americans want to slyly term it, or how much they object to the term of blockade, it is what it is.

I don't support the embargo, but it's not a blockade. Or are you saying you have evidence of the US using their naval ships to prevent trade between Cuba and the rest of the world?

[Ntombi]

I'm not overly fond of the Cuban communist regime, but in many ways, I think we've done more harm to the Cuban people than Fidel has. A plan that has not produced any notable results in terms of providing freedom to the Cuban people in 17 years should surely meet criteria as a failure. I think it's time to try something different. Who knows? Obama sounds open to it.
I agree, but I'm not sure Obama's ready to risk his political capital to change decades of American policy towards Cuba. If he does, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Counterfit]

I don't support the embargo, but it's not a blockade. Or are you saying you have evidence of the US using their naval ships to prevent trade between Cuba and the rest of the world?

^^ Without the use of physical force, it's not a blockade.

[joepunk]

please, for the sake of cigar-loving mankind...end the blockade.

What and end a thriving Cuban Cigar bootlegging ring across the Canadian Boarder?

[SactoGuy18]

Even if we do end the blockade, Cuba's infrastructure is still inadequate to handle the potential flood of American tourists into the country. It could take 7-10 years of upgrading airports, upgrading and building new roads, building new hotels, etc. just to handle the surge of American tourists down the road.

[Abstract]

please, for the sake of cigar-loving mankind...end the blockade.

End the blockade. Let the flow of cigars and good baseball players flow freely to the US! ;)


Oh, and Cuba is a nice country. You should visit it sometimes. ;)

[Piarco]

End the blockade. Let the flow of cigars and good baseball players flow freely to the US! ;)


Oh, and Cuba is a nice country. You should visit it sometimes. ;)

9 days and counting until touching down in La Habana :D

[Peterkro]

Even if we do end the blockade, Cuba's infrastructure is still inadequate to handle the potential flood of American tourists into the country. It could take 7-10 years of upgrading airports, upgrading and building new roads, building new hotels, etc. just to handle the surge of American tourists down the road.

I don't think the Cuban people would allow to their country to be turned into a tourist sh*thole like Florida.

[Badandy]

I don't think the Cuban people would allow to their country to be turned into a tourist sh*thole like Florida.

Enjoy your gloomy days, Brit.

[skunk]

Enjoy your gloomy days, Brit.I think Cuba should maintain the embargo and keep the US cut off. Who the hell wants a MacDonalds on every corner and shopping malls everywhere? They're much better off as they are.

[Peterkro]

Enjoy your gloomy days, Brit.

I'm not and never have been a "Brit".

[chilipie]

I think Cuba should maintain the embargo and keep the US cut off. Who the hell wants a MacDonalds on every corner and shopping malls everywhere? They're much better off as they are.

Exactly. Cuba's a beautiful country, a lot of which is because it's not full of the crap the rest of the world is.

[SactoGuy18]

I don't think the Cuban people would allow to their country to be turned into a tourist sh*thole like Florida.

You must be skewed by the fact most of the tourists end up in the Orlando area or around Miami. Get away from those places and Florida is a nice place to vacation, especially in winter. :)

[Peterkro]

You must be skewed by the fact most of the tourists end up in the Orlando area or around Miami. Get away from those places and Florida is a nice place to vacation, especially in winter. :)

It was a bit of a silly statement and of course I know there are nice places and people in Florida but the nasty bits are nasty. Still it makes a change from those who gleefully abuse the French.

[gotzero]

I am going to get a chuckle out of the collective groan of the rest of the world when the US does lift the embargo, and Cuba floods with US vacationers.

Maybe the UN will vote to put the embargo back in place... ;)

[solvs]

How come China is ok to deal with, but Cuba isn't?

[SactoGuy18]

How come China is ok to deal with, but Cuba isn't?

It took China nearly ten years to upgrade their facilities to handle the crush of tourists from the rest of the world after the USA resumed diplomatic relations with China. It's going to take nearly as long for Cuba to do the same.