Bush vows not to lift embargo on "dungeon" Cuba

[grateful1]

Bush vows not to lift embargo on "dungeon" Cuba

Rutroh!

 

[MadMonk]

Wow, that was a real news article. I was expecting "something completely differant". :whistling:

I do hope that the embargo will be lifted in my lifetime.

 

[Mabpi]

Being born and raised in Miami, I know that feelings are "mixed" about this issue there. In addition, as noted in the article, things may change at least slightly depending on the outcome of the election. In the meantime, don't hold your breathe.....

 

[SiriusBlack]

Wow, that was a real news article. I was expecting "something completely differant". :whistling:

I do hope that the embargo will be lifted in my lifetime.

A lot guys say they can't wait for the embargo to be lifted but what do you think that will do to the quality of cigars coming out of the island? The economics of it makes me think that the mere rumor of a lift would send the factories into overdrive. What will that do to quality and consistency of the smokes being produced. I haven't had the fortune to sample a lot of cigars from cuba (hope to try more in the future) but I know there have been quality issues over time. I just wonder if that will be worsened by a lift of the embargo. NOW I am by no means saying that for that reason I think it shouldn't be done...I just think we are going to have to ride a wave of poorer quality until the novelty wears off.

 

[Infinity]

I don't think the quality will suffer in the short term, the prices will go up though. After all, their production will only have to increase by say 30%. Come on, every cigar smoker in the US that
wants CC's, will get CC's, majority already have whatever they want.

Brian

 

[tsmckenney]

I don't think the quality will suffer in the short term, the prices will go up though. After all, their production will only have to increase by say 30%. Come on, every cigar smoker in the US that
wants CC's, will get CC's, majority already have whatever they want.

Brian

Yep, there are legitimate arguments both ways. This may sound naive, but whatever happens down the road, I hope it works out well for the everyday Cuban citizen.

 

[Doc Wylie]

Rumor has it that the Castro brothers are green with envy over watching the U.S. on the road to becoming the socialist state they could only dream of in Cuba.

Of course, that's just a rumor.

 

[SiriusBlack]

Come on, every cigar smoker in the US that
wants CC's, will get CC's, majority already have whatever they want.

Brian

True I guess. At this point I am more interested in being able to visit Cuba freely.

 

[Mabpi]

Rumor has it that the Castro brothers are green with envy over watching the U.S. on the road to becoming the socialist state they could only dream of in Cuba.

Of course, that's just a rumor.

Besides the fact that with the direction that the economy has been heading, Cuba's might surpass ours. Also just a rumor of course.....

 

[Infinity]

Rumor has it that the Castro brothers are green with envy over watching the U.S. on the road to becoming the socialist state they could only dream of in Cuba.

Of course, that's just a rumor.

Besides the fact that with the direction that the economy has been heading, Cuba's might surpass ours. Also just a rumor of course.....

Rumor has it that Cuba have put their best brain panel together to figure out why America, who is so rich, does no have free health care. The panel are working out the amount of money they
could charge for health care to make Cuba rich. :sign:

Brian

 

[Charley]

If the embargo were to lifted though, what would happen from a legal standpoint? I mean doesn't Altadis and General Cigar hold the import rights to most, if not all, of the Cuban brands? How would that play out?

 

[uptown_isy]

Being born and raised in Miami, I know that feelings are "mixed" about this issue there. In addition, as noted in the article, things may change at least slightly depending on the outcome of the election. In the meantime, don't hold your breathe.....

I agree 100%.

 

[bamboo_wrap]

Wow, that was a real news article. I was expecting "something completely differant". :whistling:

I do hope that the embargo will be lifted in my lifetime.

A lot guys say they can't wait for the embargo to be lifted but what do you think that will do to the quality of cigars coming out of the island? The economics of it makes me think that the mere rumor of a lift would send the factories into overdrive. What will that do to quality and consistency of the smokes being produced. I haven't had the fortune to sample a lot of cigars from cuba (hope to try more in the future) but I know there have been quality issues over time. I just wonder if that will be worsened by a lift of the embargo. NOW I am by no means saying that for that reason I think it shouldn't be done...I just think we are going to have to ride a wave of poorer quality until the novelty wears off.

I think you've got a huge point here, I mean the United States is a market with over 300 million people. If Cuba all of a sudden has a great demand to supply it will have an effect and they will have to adapt.
The embargo lifting is one issue that if resolved will have a lot of ripple effects.

If the embargo were to lifted though, what would happen from a legal standpoint? I mean doesn't Altadis and General Cigar hold the import rights to most, if not all, of the Cuban brands? How would that play out?

THIS IS SUCH A GOOD QUESTION!!!

Could we please get a lawyer's opinion on this ?!?

All of the Cuban factory names have been copy-catted making it impossible for them to sell cigars of the same brand in the states. Would Cuba have any weight if they could prove that they were the original representatives of that/those cigar brands. Those would be some heated court room sessions...I think it would take a long time AFTER the embargo was lifted before the US saw any big brand names.

 

[moki]

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday called Cuba a "dungeon" and vowed Washington would not lift its economic embargo until Havana released political prisoners and allowed free expression.

He must be talking about Gitmo?

 

[MaxNoodle]

U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday called Cuba a "dungeon" and vowed Washington would not lift its economic embargo until Havana released political prisoners and allowed free expression.

He must be talking about Gitmo?

From a military perspective - Gitmo was on the agenda to be shut down. Bush rejected it. I don't expect McCain to overturn that if he wins.

~ t

 

[Mike33]

If the embargo were to lifted though, what would happen from a legal standpoint? I mean doesn't Altadis and General Cigar hold the import rights to most, if not all, of the Cuban brands? How would that play out?

I don't think anyone could possibly tell for sure what would happened when the embargo gets lifted, but it could be several years before you see ANY Cuban products sold in the US and vice-versa. There are several problems that deal with cigars specifically, and more problems that deal with Cuban goods in general.

For cigars, the ownership of individual brands would have to be settled first and foremost. This could take a very long time and may or may not involve the US government stepping in which could further complicate the issue. I'm not sure if there were lawsuits filed after the embargo was enacted or when property was taken during the revolution, but the judgments of those cases would have to be enforced before moving ahead.

The other big obstacle I see is the demand of Cuban-Americans that their pre-revolution land/property be restored to them and/or they are compensated for the taking. This would likely involve protracted arbitration and it is unlikely the embargo would be lifted before this is settled. Another problem is that it is doubtful the Cuban government would have the capital needed to handle such a situation.

Suffice to say that even if Cuba became a democratic country tomorrow and the embargo was lifted, it would be highly unlikely that you could see Cuban cigars in your local B&M for several years.