Since '62 Cuba has suffered under the US Trade/Travel Embargo. During the hight of the Cold War, the Soviets took off much of the pressure but after the Fall in '91 that all changed. The military, once a world class force and celebrated to this day as liberators in Africa, was forced to drastically downsize. The economy fell apart up as trade fell off. The people grew poor, humbled by crushing poverty.
As the years went by, increased trade with the Europeans, Canadians, Mexicans and South Americans combined with the Cuban Gov't's heavy investment in public education started to turn things around. But the US, once Cuba's #1 trading partner making up a full 70% of it's trade, maintains the embargo. The US, which could flood Cuba with tourism money, much needed medical supplies and the experts and tech needed for the creation of a high tech industry does not. The Cuban Gov't is unbowed, the people suffer and the US economy suffers from the continued closing of what has been historically some of the most profitable trade routes in the South.
If the embargo was to end, up to 500,000 Americans are expected to visit in the 1st year alone, the economy, it's major trade routes restored and the resources needed to harness it's highly educated population, would expense massive growth. Vary quickly Cuba would become one of the major economic powers in Latin America.
So why do we maintain the embargo? It's a major humanitarian disaster and it's stated goal of deposing the socialists has proven to be 1 of the greatest policy backfires in US history.
It's time to end the embargo, the suffering and the mutual economic harm.
18 Comments
Recommended Comments