It is time....

This embargo has been a joke since day one. Every country in South and Cetral America, most notably Mexico, has been ignoring it since day one.

It never hurt the ruling class, it only hurt the average citizen. Hopefully the present Administration will see the light. I have written letters to my Senators and Congressman as well as the President and so far all, without exception never merited even a canned response. By the way, I didn't mean just this Administration, I've been doing this for decades, long before it was somewhat popular.

As long as our Government caters to the Cuban vote the embargo will not be lifted, however, the hard liners are old and dying off, the new generations feel the way I do.

Birch, once again thank you for bringing this up. I should have mentioned this in my other post.

BTW, Canada and Spain have been investing very heavily in Cuba, China has come aboard as a strategic partner in oil exploration. And here we are, 90 miles away, the ones that could benefit the most, sitting on our thumbs

Loomis, Not knowing much about this situation and just who and or what to believe. I trust your judgment and therefore must agree... time to stop this silly thing.

I am surprised that Obama has been mute on this subject. Maybe after the November election when he announces his Afghan policy.

Loomis: "It never hurt the ruling class, it only hurt the average citizen." This is always the case in an embargo. The Cuban people have suffered enough... as you well know. I can't help but think that the best way to unseat the present administration is to give the Cubans a higher standard of living via economic prosperity, or at least a rise from seemingly abject poverty. Right now Castro and his cronies are able to blame the US for Cuba's problems. I say we take ourselves out of the equation and let the regime be seen for what they are... oppressors of their own people.

The USA has put itself at a significant business disadvantage by refusing to trade with Cuba. We can no longer afford to financially support archaic Cold War foreign policies.

I will stand with you and with the "average citizen" of Cuba, and call for this embargo to end...it is the right thing to do

Birch and skeptic, you both have it right. We have not only hurt the average Cuban citizen we have prevented our citizens from putting themselves in an advantageous position, business wise. This embargo has been a lose- lose for the people of both Countries.

Hopefully things will change.

Thanks

I can't think of anything that I care less about than the UN's opinion on this or any other topic. The US should lift it because its not effective. Its had more than enough time to accomplish something and hasn't delivered.

There have been a good number of presidents who have kept this embargo in place with the approval of the congress. If the liberals and far left as well as the conservatives and the far right are in agreement concerning this action who am I to question them, maybe they know something we don't, just a thought. It seems to me this is the only thing they have come to consensus on.

loomisresident - Why is it our elected officials seemed to freeze in fear of geriatric anti-Castro Cuban activists such as Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada, (and until their deaths) Jorge Mas Canosa and Frank Sturgis?

grinunbarrett: Your statement, "who am I to question them [?]" says it all. Just be quiet and let them continue thinking for you.

Oops... that last comment was mine, not Observers. (sorry Observer)

Loomis, this news makes me happy. The Cuban people have suffered enough.

I am confused by this line; "prevented our citizens from putting themselves in an advantageous position, business wise." Are you speaking about the Cuban expats or the Cubans? I would hate to see revolution start again. It is the Haves and Have Not's that started it last time.

Skeptic, I am always saddened by the news that Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada are still alive.

Chuxxr, I meant the American people, not the expats, they are at this point of no consequence. Like skeptic said the geriatric anti Castro group is dying off and the new generation doesn't see things in the same light, they really are reduced to a minute group of self indulging morons that have caused and continue to cause a lot of grief for the average person living in Cuba.

Boy can I tell some stories about Mas Canosa. One source of real pride for me is that my father kicked the shit out of him once. Sorry for the word but spelling it any other way would not be giving the drubbing he gave that jackass due credit.

Birch, you see what you started. It's all your fault. I was just happy to send letters to my elected representatives who I can say are great at ignoring them. Now you got me cussing. Jeez.

I hear you, Loomis. Somewhere in Washington a secretary for Obama is sending me another form letter.

I forwarded it today Birch, check your email.

Got it. Thanks.

loomisresident ,

You must be very proud of your father's unflinching heroism for kicking Mas Canosa's cachetes. Canosa was a very powerful man among Cuban-American exiles. Canosa could (and did) destroy anyone who opposed him.

Recently declassified CIA reports reveal that Canosa did a lot more than just lobby against Fidel. He personally gave $5,000 to Luis Posada Carriles to blow up Cuban and Soviet vessels docked in Veracruz. Posada was the mastermind of the bombing of Cubana airline flight 455 in mid-air, an act of terrorism that took the lives of all 73 passengers including the Cuban teenage fencing team and the crew. Nice friends.

The declassified documents: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB288/index.htm

Is it true that "No Mas" intended to become the first president of liberated Cuba?

Mas Canosa was disliked, perhaps despised is a better word by most Cuban exiles, even the fanatical anti Castro ones. He catered to a corrupt group, mostly Batista's cronies. Mas Canosa and Mariano Faget destroyed a lot of good Cuban expatriates lives. Faget's son was arrested tried and convicted for being a spy for Castro, a fitting end to one of the most ruthless killers in the Batista regime and later an employee of the US Government, he "cleared" Cuban immigrants for citizenship. I have quite a story about Faget Sr.

Canosa may have been interested in the presidency but I doubt that he would have been voted in legally.