Al Neuharth: Why is China OK, but Cuba 'enemy'?

USA Today ^ | February 22, 2002 | Al Neuharth, USA Today founder

[Cincinatus' Wife]

In Beijing, Bush called China our ''partner.'' Cuba officially is our ''enemy.'' Why?

Because a small number of powerful exiles in South Florida cow our politicians into keeping the crazy Cuban policy. That was designed to castrate Fidel Castro and has failed for more than 40 years.

[Jhoffa_]

It's an honest question.. one I would like to have answered.

All this talk about Iraq, China and Cuba has me wondering if an embargo is really the way to go. I mean, if it's beneficial then great.. Let's whip up some embargo. I always supported not trading with commies, especially those with a terrible human right's record.

I viewed it as propping them up and acting as an "enabler"

Now, if it's not, or if it's hurting the citizens there and we still gain nothing by it, then maybe we should re-think our position.

Cause it looks to me like Castro isn't going anywhere and neither is Saddam.

[Demidog]

Yeah yeah, and I suppose you also are for reperations for slavery as well right?

[GuillermoX]

I never said lifting the Embargo would end all problems in Cuba, nor did I say that Castros thievery is OK. My family knows about stolen property. I'm 100% for recovering it all. Keeping the Embargo is not recovering any of it now.

Lifting the Embargo would be huge propaganda victory for the US and a huge propaganda loss by Castro. Assigning conditions to lifting the Embargo is fruitless, because Castro would NEVER run out of conditions. Castro is the LAST one who wants the Embargo lifted. He is the one who has the most to lose if it is lifted. He has NOTHING to gain.

(BTW, I'm opposed to all embargoes/sanctions around the world. Its intended effect rarely takes place)

[GuillermoX]

Also, that 800MM number is only an estimate. It may or may not be true, but it's not verifiable.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The embargo is more of a moral statement than anything else, maybe a little difficult to explain to someone who talks about the exiles as if he were talking about strangers and not his parents, uncles, aunts. etc., but the fact that the things that belonged to us got stolen by Castro.

It may not mean a damned thing to you that my family's land was taken, after generations of us working that land, taken at gunpoint. But it means something to me, and to many more of people just like me.

The line of thought that you are promoting is part of the Maceito brigade's propaganda, and I am not buying it because it isn't the truth. The truth is that whatever suffering the Cuban people in Cuba may face, is the sole fault of Fidel, not the US.

There are morality issues involved here, real complains by real people, and your characterization of your own people as intractable old fools holding on to an idea just for the sake of that idea, brings shame on your family.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Lifting the Embargo would be huge propaganda victory for the US and a huge propaganda loss by Castro. Assigning conditions to lifting the Embargo is fruitless, because Castro would NEVER run out of conditions. Castro is the LAST one who wants the Embargo lifted. He is the one who has the most to lose if it is lifted. He has NOTHING to gain.

Castro will gain and I know you see it. As you say, he never runs out of conditions and with each ill conceived consession, he will come up with another and another reason to rail against the U.S. and capitalism. He will be sitting easier with U.S. taxpayer subsidized wealth and have money to spend on his terrorist activities around the world. The Cuban people will gain nothing but contempt for us because we then will have told them and all people held by communist dicatatorships, they have lost and there is no hope. This wouldn't be any kind of victory for the U.S. We're not interested in victory, we're interested in freedom for the Cuban people.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The people whose land was STOLEN are still alive, I am one of them.

Am I to understand that you are against the return of stolen property to its rightful owner?

[Demidog]

The people whose land was STOLEN are still alive, I am one of them.

In a communist state nobody has property rights. Let me ask you something. Were you claiming that we should steal Elian from his father or not? I'm just curious how consistent you are regarding property rights.

[GuillermoX]

Maybe you missed the part where I said my family had quite a bit taken from them. Also, I never blamed any of Cuba's suffering on the Embargo.

Can I assume you are for an embargo on China as well?

Also, I'm old enough to recognize when someone has held onto a belief for so long that it is not possible for them to change that belief.

[GuillermoX]

The Embargo has not contributed one bit to the freedom of Cuba, nor has it loosened Castros grip on the island.

I don't know where you're getting this idea that the US Taxpayer will subsidize Castro if the Embargo is lifted.

I'm almost certain that people in Cuba want the Embargo ended.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Were you claiming that we should steal Elian from his father or not? I'm just curious how consistent you are regarding property rights."

It was my understanding that we overthrew the notion that people could be considered "property" years ago.

[Demidog]

Your understanding is incorrect. If you do not own yourself you have no rights. All property rights are derived from your self-ownership.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don't know where you're getting this idea that the US Taxpayer will subsidize Castro if the Embargo is lifted.

This is becoming a LOOP.

Go back and begin at the beginning and read the LINKS and LEARN.
Repeating myself is a useless exercise and I have no intention of doing it.

[Cardenas]

Those who want to keep alive and maintain, with US taxpayers' dollars, a terrorist regime that has been a menace to the stability of this hemisphere for 43 years, is responsible for the death of tens of thousands of Cubans, and the main training ground for terrorists in this hemisphere are the ones who are insane. Get over it. As long as Bush is in the presidency there is not going to be any change in the U.S.'s policies against Castro's evil rule.

Those who want to keep alive and maintain, with US tax payers' dollars, a terrorist regime that has been a menace to the stability of this hemisphere for 43 years, is responsible for the death of tens of thousands of Cubans, and the main training ground for terrorists in this hemisphere are the ones who are insane.

[GuillermoX]

I said I was opposed to gov't backed business ventures. To say we can't have the Embargo lifted without the Gov't backing business ventures is ABSURD. Seems like a red herring to me.

[Congressman Billybob]

Since "interstate commerce" has meant "that which crosses a state line" since the words were written, and includes the placing of "tarriffs" on imported goods -- at one time the sole source of US revenue, and since you said the Constitution gives "no power" to Congress over US trade with Cuba (which would cross at least one state line, perhaps several of them), you are self-evidently, blatantly, and totally wrong.

Don't you get just a little embarrassed, wandering around in public with an electronic dunce cap on your head? Or do you spend all your time that way, and have grown to like it?

Congressman Billybob

New column up: "The Un-Music Man." You'll like this one a bunch.

[Demidog]

Meaningless propaganda. Your embargo doesn't work.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"You still have not offered a shred of evidence that most Exiles send $'s to Cuba."

You're the one that started throwing figures around, (most, half, 80%+...remember?) perhaps you could enlighten us and provide some support for YOUR figures.

[Demidog]

and since you said the Constitution gives "no power" to Congress over US trade with Cuba

Your reading comprehension should embarrass you. I never said that.

[Luis Gonzalez]

So then, Elian owned himself?