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Embargo on Cuba extended

uptown_isy

The Man Uptown
Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Messages
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WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has extended the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba for one year, the White House said in a statement released on Monday.

The extension was expected and has been the practice of all U.S. presidents dating to the 1970s under a section of the so-called "Trading With the Enemy Act."

Obama extended the embargo even though he has made reaching out to old U.S. foes a key plank in his foreign policy.

There have been signs of a possible thaw in U.S.-Cuban ties since Raul Castro early last year took over as president from his ailing brother Fidel. Fidel Castro had held the post since heading the revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed Batista regime on Jan. 1, 1959.

Obama has sought to reach out to Cuba by easing travel and financial restrictions on Americans with family in Cuba. The two countries have said they will hold talks on resuming direct mail links. But Obama has also said he will not lift the embargo until Cuba undertakes democratic and economic reforms.

In signing the extension, Obama was taking a symbolic step because existing law, the Helms-Burton Act, requires Congress to take action specifically ending the embargo.

But Obama also bypassed an opportunity to suggest a willingness for easing U.S.-Cuban animosity.

The White House statement renewing the provisions was dated Sept. 11 but only released on Monday, when the last extension, issued by former President George W. Bush, was to expire.

"I hereby determine that the continuation for one year of the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States," Obama said in a memorandum addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
 
What is he up to here? As the article says, the embargo doesn't need "extending". So why do that?
 
I think Obama is just sending a message to Raul. He has already made an overture by reducing travel restritions for family, and the amount of U.S. dollars that can be wired or brought into Cuba. I don't think the U.S. saw that Cuba was making any worthwhile progress in trying to come towards some sort of common ground. So, while it is only a symbolic gesture, it sends the message to Raul and Cuba that while Obama wants to further relations between our respective countires, they have not done enough to warrant it.
 
Simply because China is the single biggest commercial market in the world. The U.S. does not need Cuba to function, but without China buying literally tens upon tens of billions of dollars of U.S. Treasuries, the U.S. would not be able to fund our national deficit. Sad to say, the U.S. needs China to help finance the lifestyle of Americans.
 
Without any signs of them improving the Cuban peoples poverty stricken lifestyle, we must not fuel their machine with US dollars. The Castros can never be trusted...ever.
 
SNIP<<<<<the amount of U.S. dollars that can be wired or brought into Cuba. >>>>SNIP

Cubans in the US should go to any bank, exchange for Canadian funds and send that. They lose to much on the USD in Cuba since Castro placed a tax of sorts on USD and introduced the Convertible Peso.

EDIT TO ADD:

Without any signs of them improving the Cuban peoples poverty stricken lifestyle, we must not fuel their machine with US dollars. The Castros can never be trusted...ever.

The Castros don't want USD (at least, that's their opinion in public). See above.
 
SNIP<<<<<the amount of U.S. dollars that can be wired or brought into Cuba. >>>>SNIP

Cubans in the US should go to any bank, exchange for Canadian funds and send that. They lose to much on the USD in Cuba since Castro placed a tax of sorts on USD and introduced the Convertible Peso.

EDIT TO ADD:

Without any signs of them improving the Cuban peoples poverty stricken lifestyle, we must not fuel their machine with US dollars. The Castros can never be trusted...ever.

The Castros don't want USD (at least, that's their opinion in public). See above.

I don't think he meant literally USD
 
SNIP>>>>I don't think he meant literally USD

Maybe he didn't, but many people still believe that Cubans are still "hot 'n horny" after USD for the Black market, like it used to be a while back.
 
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