The US economic embargo on Cuba “has failed” and should be re-evaluated, senior Republican Senator Richard Lugar argues in a report.
“We must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuba regime in a way that enhances US interests,” Senator Lugar says.
President Obama promised a new look at the US policy on Cuba, including easing travel restrictions.
While he believes the embargo is an “inducement” for change in Cuba.
Senator Lugar, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and very influential in US politics, says Washington’s policies towards Havana have been ineffective.
“After 47 years… the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of ‘bringing democracy to the Cuban people’,” he says.
“It may have been used as a foil by the regime to demand further sacrifices from Cuba’s impoverished people.”
Senator Lugar’s views are contained in a report that was drawn up by a member of his staff and was due to be released on Monday.
“By directing policy toward an unlikely scenario of a short-term democratic transition on the island and rejecting most tools of diplomatic engagement, the US is left as a powerless bystander, watching events unfold at a distance,” the report says.
It stops short of calling for the trade embargo to be lifted and does urge:
* an end to restrictions imposed during the Bush administration on travel and remittances to Cuba
* reinstituting formal co-operation on migration and tackling drug-trafficking
* allowing Cuba to buy US agricultural products on credit.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Johnson // Feb 25, 2009 at 10:45 am
another failed conservative policy…
2 Walter Peterson // Feb 28, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Cuba I think,is the only country Americans are not allowed to visit. I think the restrictions on travel to Cuba is preposterous. I`ll be one of the first to buy airline tickets when the restrictions are lifted.
3 Hans Wynegart // Mar 26, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I would like to see President Obama get on the highest soapbox he can find, face south and issue a blanket statement that apologizes to all the Latin American countries for past sins of the US. Apologize for all of the direct and indirect involvements we have had with the various countries. Apologize for being so arrogant as to think we know what is right for the countries. Apologize for most of our military actions and promise to keep our hands off unless specifically invited by the country.
Then in the next breath, give a special mea culpa to Cuba and say that we recognize that Cuba is a sovereign country and recognize Cuba as such. Open up Cuba to trade and travel even though this will bring huge complaints from some citizens, especially in Florida.
Then, set policies that will recognize the intelligence and sovereign nature of the many Latin countries.
4 Martin // Nov 9, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Nonsense. Cuba (Castro) received a life sentence,
for allowing the Russians to stock the Island, only 20 miles from Florida, with nuclear weapons.
Cuba is still the only hard core Communist country in the world, after Russia gave it up and China is relaxing. Obama has shown that he is willing to work with Raoul Castro, but Fidel must be completely gone. I hope then, that the US will Liberate the Cuban people from a Communist dictatorship and let them share in our riches like Puerto Rico does. We owe no apologies, they do for endangering the North American continent with nukes and WWW III.
5 Martin // Nov 9, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Cuba is still in the grip of a dictator, I dont expect an invitation any time soon. Very naive thinking.
Russia cut them off financially a long time ago,
they are under a trade embargo from the UN for good reason. It is up to them if they want to be part of a free world, right now they are running 30 years behind in Technology and Health care. Ask the Cubans in Miami.
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