MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Havana reacts to new Trump sanctions: “they will not break the will of Cubans”
Cuba on Friday said new sanctions planned by the United States were a futile attempt to change its policies and would only further isolate Washington internationally. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesI would suggest tht it's about time that the U.S. stopped these sanctions against Cuba, 1) due to their total inefficiency 2) for the sake of the Cuban population who are the ones that suffer these measures as the “aristocracy” (or say the hirarchy within the government) are not remotely affected by these measures. Believe President Obama was on the right track in this respect............but then of course DT appeared on the scene.................and so what can u expect??
Nov 03rd, 2018 - 04:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It's about time America extracted compensation from the thieving commies for their confiscation of the private property of our citizens.
Nov 03rd, 2018 - 05:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0During the time my country, Chile, experimented with a Marxist-Socialist government, we were blessed with a month long visit by Cuba's beloved liberator. I still remember him being received as a hero and many of the ignorant people cheered wherever he visited. I also distinctly remember the disgust and anger of many of my countrymen that realized the danger my country was destined for.
Nov 03rd, 2018 - 10:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Obama was an idiot to think Cuba is a free democracy. Ask any Cuban living in the USA.
@Chicureo
Nov 04th, 2018 - 11:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0Obama no more thought Cuba was a free democracy than he believes China or Saudi Arabia is, or the scores of other dictatorships around the world that America is eager to trade with. What he believed is that the sanctions haven't worked and are causing ordinary Cubans to suffer, which is clearly true. The US has maintained them long after the end of the cold war solely out of spite.
DemonTree
Nov 04th, 2018 - 05:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I completely agree with your point about the brutal repression of the people of certain specific sectors of Chinese groups as well as the obvious repressive problems in Saudi Arabia.
I also strongly believe the North Americans should apply the same harsh sanctions against Nicaragua just like they've now done against Venezuela.
Trump's decision is politically popular with the majority of the Cuban diaspora living in Florida, which is an important voting swing state.
On the other hand, it's politically very disadvantageous to sanction the Chinese and Saudis. Morally, there I'd a long list of countries that true democratic societies should sanction, but obviously it's impracticable. Trump needs the Saudis to counter Iran. Morality has really nothing to do with the strategy.
By the way, as you probably know, Chile's number one trading partner is China. You will be surprised to learn that Pinochet, made Chile the first South American country to establish formal diplomatic relations with Communist China because it was very economically strategic. It had all to do with economics and little to do with ideology.
Obama didn't/doesn't think - PERIOD. He's truly a mental midget as evidenced by his failure to repeatedly understand the potential and workings of:
Nov 04th, 2018 - 06:42 pm - Link - Report abuse -2International affairs.
Trade dynamics.
Domestic economy.
Obamy is a blithering idiot. FACT!
Exactly what kind of “suffering” are we talking about?
Nov 04th, 2018 - 07:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Isn't sequestering all private property in the name of an advanced political system called communism supposed to liberate those masses from their suffering? How much could they be suffering? The people control the means of production and they control the distribution of that system's resources.
Are they dissatisfied with their portfolio of resources that only they control? Is that their “suffering”?
Do they then want access to a bigger system, an even bigger system than the EU, Russia, Latin America, Canada, and Asia to which they already have access? Is that bigger system still not enough to alleviate the resources their system lacks and therefore their “clear suffering”?
Will only access to the resources of American capitalism finally alleviate their clear suffering, even though stealing private property and initiating their advanced communist system promised to liberate the masses once and for all?
If Cubans think that:
1) there are benefits to American capitalism and the system of “private” property that system espouses, and
2) they have a clear, dire need to be exposed to the benefits American capitalism, and
3) only that access will finally alleviate their clear suffering,
Should they return the private property that they stole also?
The state of Florida is a swing state in the polarized American electorate. A significant proportion of Florida's populace is Cuban refugees, now Cuban-Americans.
Did Obama also insist that Cuba return their property stolen from them? Shouldn't Obama be fighting for his people first, and then for other peoples?
chronic and Bush Pilot
Nov 04th, 2018 - 08:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The only thing that Obama will be remembered in history is that he was the first “Black” president. (He seems to be a nice person, but seems to have accomplished nothing during his eight years in office. Trump meanwhile in less in two years has been amazing.)
Watching Miami Telemundo channel here, Obama has been campaigning heavily in Florida, yet it looks like the Latinos are strongly swinging towards the Republican candidates there. The ex-President is not popular with many Latinos in Florida.
Say “Viva Fidel” in Miami and you'll probably get your arse kicked.
@Chicureo
Nov 04th, 2018 - 11:44 pm - Link - Report abuse -1“I completely agree with your point about the brutal repression of the people of certain specific sectors of Chinese groups as well as the obvious repressive problems in Saudi Arabia.”
But you want America to put sanctions on Nicaragua instead. Sure. Evidently you're perfectly well aware that US sanctions have nothing to do with morality, and everything to do with politics, so I suppose you were being disingenuous in your previous comment about Obama.
“You will be surprised to learn that Pinochet, made Chile the first South American country to establish formal diplomatic relations with Communist China”
Indeed, I'm very surprised you'd claim that, since Wikipedia says it was Allende who established relations with China, in 1970.
DemonTree
Nov 05th, 2018 - 12:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Actually I personally would like to see the majority of the countries in the Americas to sanction Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba. (Won't happen, but that's my belief.)
I said nothing disingenuous about Obama. He did indeed upset a large percentage of Florida Cubans with his handling of Cuba. Watch what happens in Florida mid-term elections night.
Allende's government indeed began diplomatic relations with all Communist countries, including with China but Pinochet actually established official formal diplomatic relations with them. Cuba's embassy was shut down.
Wikipedia is not always accurate.
@Chicureo
Nov 05th, 2018 - 11:12 am - Link - Report abuse -1You didn't say Obama was an idiot for upsetting the Cuban-Americans, you said he was an idiot to think Cuba is a free democracy, which you know is nonsense. US sanctions have nothing to do with democracy.
As for Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, I don't think US foreign policy should be controlled by the wishes of a small minority, but it seems you disagree. Why do you want to see sanctions on those countries rather than the various much worse regimes around the world? Because you hate left-wing governments?
RE China, Wikipedia is not always accurate, but the Chinese Embassy website lists their first ambassador to Chile as taking office in June 1971. Pinochet's coup was in 1973. Perhaps your memory is also not so accurate?
http://cl.chineseembassy.org/esp/dsxx/lrds/
@Bush Pilot
I hope that Cuba continues to stand up to the bullying of their much bigger, more powerful neighbour, just as I hope the Falklands will continue to stand up to Argentina's bullying.
DemonTree
Nov 05th, 2018 - 12:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I went through the El Mercurio online archives and did indeed note that the People's Republic of China and Chile completely formalized during the government of Allende. I stand corrected, you have my apology for doubting you.
I hate Marxist-Leninist governments anywhere in the Americas. I've given up on taking a position about the rest of the world. Perhaps I've become too pragmatic.
Look for the news reports from the mid-term Florida elections. Obama's backed candidates will probably lose in Latino predominant districts.
DT, why are you so utterly ashamed of your land of origin?
Nov 05th, 2018 - 06:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just by its very existence, Cuba has been a sore point for the US, a country that believes in its God-given right to control Latin America's destiny.
Nov 05th, 2018 - 07:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Decades of blockade, sabotage and numerous attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro, however, have failed to defeat the Cuban regime.
Barack Obama's measures were a step on the right direction and favoured a détente that, if continued, had chances to improve dialogue and exchange.
The measures now imposed by Donald Trump show the hypocrisy of claiming worry about human rights in certain countries, while tolerating or openly supporting their blatant violation in others.
Trump's measures may secure votes from the Cuban exiles in Miami, but have no more chances of success than the previous ones and could worsen the situation for all concerned. Not something the current American president would care much about anyway.
Poooooooooooor Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekie!
Nov 05th, 2018 - 08:07 pm - Link - Report abuse -1You can't scare the kiddies if you don't have a boogeyman.
Lol.
Dumbass!
Trump's 2016 Florida presidential win was fundamental and he already has announced he'll run in 2020. Enrique Massot writes: “...Trump's measures may secure votes from the Cuban exiles in Miami...” which is absolutely accurate. Add the diaspora from Venezuela and Nicaragua now residing in Florida, and you see the genius of Trump's political strategy. The majority of those Latinos intensely despise the Cuban government.
Nov 05th, 2018 - 08:22 pm - Link - Report abuse +1Good example is Florida congressional race between Democrat Donna Shalala and Republican María Elvira Salazar in a district that heavily voted for Clinton. Shalala originally was predicted to win the race, but she made the fatal mistake of allowing a guest who once praised Fidel Castro attend one of her campaign meetings. The reaction was violent...
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/protesters-greet-pelosi-with-expletives-during-florida-campaign-stop
@Chicureo
Nov 05th, 2018 - 10:18 pm - Link - Report abuse -1It's interesting that Pinochet maintained relations with communist China - one more way in which he defied the will of the US for Chile's advantage.
But as to sanctions, after 60 years of failure, it's time to try something else. The US normalising relations with Cuba was the best chance of moving them towards democracy; as with the Paris agreement, Obama did something constructive to improve the world, while Trump did what was best for Trump.
DT, why are you so ashamed of your land of origin?
Nov 05th, 2018 - 10:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0chronic
Nov 05th, 2018 - 11:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I thought DemonTree is a UK citizen.
DemonTree
“...he defied the will of the US for Chile's advantage.” Exactly!
I was a junior naval officer when Senator Edward Kennedy made things extreemly difficult for here in Chile. One reason why I'm so pro-British is because they continued to support us when we were under strict USA sanctions.
Trump is a unabashed populist and has a very calculated political strategy that has been completely contrary to the Obama administration. Going against the concept of normalizing relations with Cuba and supporting the Paris agreement really irritates most Democrats, but appeals to his conservative voter base.
The Paris agreement: “...Obama did something constructive to improve the world...” That was the perspective of what was his liberal Democrat voter base, but there were a large number of voters that apparently didn't agree with Obama's vision. Especially the coal miners in West Virginia.
@Chicureo
Nov 06th, 2018 - 12:02 am - Link - Report abuse 0I am a British citizen, and I'm proud of my country. Chronic is a bit strange, like a right-wing version of TH.
And yes, it's not surprising the coal miners were opposed to the treaty; ours certainly haven't forgiven Thatcher for closing the mines. As for the rest, unfortunately many Americans are anti-science, and the Republicans have been encouraging that attitude and taking advantage of it. It's another thing that's worrying for the country in the long term; you can be sure China is not neglecting science education in favour of myths, or banning cutting edge research.
Re Kennedy, do you think the US sanctions on Chile helped it become democratic again?
“just as I hope the Falklands will continue to stand up to Argentina's bullying.”
Nov 06th, 2018 - 12:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0DT,
You used the “bully” word.
I asked you to specify on this suffering that the U.S. is “clearly” inflicting on Cuba, and do you get specific about that suffering? No, you do the opposite and get even more vague with the “bully” rhetoric.
Communist governments are the bullies, and to their own people. To say that, “The U.S. is opressing the oppressors and that is terrible!” sounds a bit unusual.
Straighten me out on some Falkland Islands history in 1982,
Did the Falklanders sequester all Argentine landholdings in the Falkland Islands? Is that why Argentina invaded them?
Did all the Argentines have to flee the Falkland Islands to keep from having their families disappeared?
Did the Falklanders point nuclear missiles at Argentina 35 years ago?
Is that how the Falklanders pissed off Argentina?
I'm not so good on the U.S. Constitution either. Do we have anything in there about annexing Cuba?
So, I can kind of see your comparision of Cuba and the Falkland Islands. Good one.
Personally, I hope that Cuba does keep its distance from America and Americans. Who in thee heck would want a bunch of Americans, and American business people, let loose in their country?
And how do you think lifting that blockade would affect Cuban baseball? It'd be ruined! All their talent would head north.
Fine, maybe we could lift the blockade on cigars. That would work well for everybody.
DemonTree
Nov 06th, 2018 - 01:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0Regarding the treaty, it was probably more about the petroleum industry which surprisingly the USA has now become the largest producer. Unemployed coal miners however became a symbol of the consequences of embracing non-carbon based energy. Like I said, Trump is a conservative based populist.
As far as the international sanctions we experienced in Chile during Pinochet: you may find it difficult to understand, but Chileans have generally been very pro-USA, even when the Jimmy Carter government went strongly against us. (One of our major boulevards in Santiago is named after John Kennedy.) In reality, it made military purchases difficult, but economically Chile prospered.
I don't think Trump's policy will have any effect on the Cuban government changing.
“you can be sure China is not neglecting science education in favour of myths”
Nov 06th, 2018 - 01:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0China educates their people intensely about clean air.
China is reknowned for its clean air and their scientifically based air quality reports.
Also, through scientific education of their people, they banned coal mines decades ago.
China is also reknowned for educating their people scientifically and “not” polluting their minds with political propaganda.
DT,
Do you see the students of our university education system marching on Washington to open the coal mines?
No, they're marching on Washington protesting against a person's right to choose their leader. They have exactly the kind of education you approve of.
“I'll support the poor, hardworking people of the world but they have to vote the way I want them to vote.” And there you sit in your educated, tidy world.
Nice ideology.
DT, why are you SO VERY ashamed of where you and your ancestors were born?
Nov 06th, 2018 - 12:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Why?
@Chicureo
Nov 06th, 2018 - 03:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It probably was the oil industry, the mines are becoming uneconomic in any case. Or by saying Trump is a populist, were you intending to imply that he did it solely to aid his election/reelection and not because he think's it's a good idea?
Re sanctions on Chile, the limitations on military purchases must have been a problem with Argentina busy plan an invasion. But it it was Carter, the sanctions must have been during the ten years you said were very difficult for Chile, before the economy started to grow?
If you don't think Trump's policy will have any effect on the Cuban government, then why do you support it, exactly?
@bushpilot
Don't sell yourselves so short. If Argentina alone is capable of hurting their small island neighbour, then certainly so is the US. Besides, there are only two possibilities here: either the US sanctions are doing their intended job and harming Cuba's economy, or else they are a waste of time. So which is it?
As for 'oppressing the oppressors', you must know it's the ordinary people who suffer when the economy is bad, and not the party hierarchy. If the US wanted to contain the damage to the leaders, they could have put sanctions only on them, the same way they have for Venezuela.
Re China, I was thinking of their research on biotechnology and expertise in microelectronics. They started out a long way behind the US, but now they're pulling ahead.
And I don't know anything about your students. The only student march I could find in Washington was against gun violence, and it doesn't take a university education to know that is a bad thing.
DemonTree
Nov 06th, 2018 - 06:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As I've repeatedly said before, Trump is a populist nationalist. Obama was a progressive globalist. The Paris accord was about renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions. Trump has had a transparent “USA first” agenda that is completely contrarian to global progressive ideas.
Trump's strategy has been to address the middle class and disenfranchised blue collar voters. It clearly was resonant with his voter base and he's focused on winning with a “take no prisoners” philosophy.
Personally, climate change does concern me, but I'm a pragmatist as well. Two years ago, I installed costly solar panels on my roof here and I've been disappointed in the results. Chile as a country has however been very successful in adopting mega solar-wind-geothermal projects that will eventually be cost effective.
Regarding the sanctions: The UK was exceptionally supportive of allowing Chile to critically arm ourselves from a planned Argentine invasion. (Operación Soberanía)
Chile's economic recovery took a long period because we completely restructured our economic model, with an independent central bank, embracing privatized free markets and trying to diversify away from copper. In the '70s and '80s we always thought our ideal would be to reach the social and economic success of Argentina. Per capita income, economic stability, medical care, universities, infrastructure, military... and ironically we see that we excelled those goals.
Truthfully speaking, despite liking the Cuban people, I intensely despise the legacy of Fidel Castro.
By the way, they're voting in the USA today. It should be interesting.
@DT (contn of “Lula on stage calls ..”)
Nov 06th, 2018 - 07:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“baffles me why people reelect corrupt politicians”- because they are stupid. “Why isn't Renan in jail if he's been taking bribes?” because he's still in office, can only be tried by the STF…which always drags its feet.
The drug market is downtown because that’s where the homeless 'n addicts hang out…move it to the distant suburbs, ‘n you’d probably see the druggies wandering aimlessly like the ‘walking dead’. The main complaint of social workers is the addicts never think they need help. Very few actually agree to be treated.
Terry will never admit he got it all wrong….he either insists - because besides being stupid, he’s stubborn – or, he simply changes the subject. Even Adriana Carranco of “The Atlantic” (THs unreliable source) is INcapable of translating what B said, ‘n translates it as “his wife’s ‘weakness’ ” (which in fact, was a joke abt a ‘moment of weakness’...of his)…but TH laps it up, ‘n has now decided to go off at a tangent to criticize B for his ‘alleged’ comments on women…well, let’s correct those twisted half-truths ‘n ustand what was really said, in context :
In a 2016 interview with TV presenter Luciana Gimenez (Mick Jagger’s ex), B claimed he never “defended” lower salaries for women. He explained that there’s no difference in the public sector, ‘n in the private sector, the CLT (Labor Law Consolidation) is supposed to guarantee equal pay, but it was not his responsibility to make employers comply. He did however admit that if he had private employees he would probably pay the women less….“becos they get pregnant, take 6 months leave, abandon the job to get married etc”…when he mentioned that many women earn far more than men, Luciana tried to contradict him, but when asked if she earned more than B, she just gave a yellow grin. Just shows what happens when a group of women, anti-Bolsonaro, create a movement (#Ele Não) against him, 'n twist the truth...fake news.
B’s daughter knows he was joking ..
@Chicureo
Nov 06th, 2018 - 09:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Was Obama really a globalist? I suppose in as much as all the recent US presidents were, until Trump.
Earlier you said Trump had been 'amazing', but you keep talking about how he does things just to appeal to voters. Is that what you admire, then?
Anyway, Chile has certainly done well, and I particularly admire your stabilisation fund as a way to mitigate the inevitable booms and busts. Many fully developed countries are not that far sighted.
Re your solar panels, what was the problem with them? We're thinking off getting some once we move house but don't want to waste our money. Were you able to install them facing north? Our current roof faces east-west, so it's not really worth it, especially since the UK is not exactly renowned for it's sunshine.
@JB
I replied to you on the other thread, since I saw that one first.
DT
Nov 06th, 2018 - 09:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0OK, I saw yr reply, have answered it.
Clinton, Bush and Obama were more or less Globalists. Trump's achievement is economic growth and emphasizing the USA first. He's noteably reinvigorated the USA energy, steel and domestic manufacturing sectors. Unemployment is at a historical low and the stock exchange is booming. His rhetoric is very strange, but he's a “Black Swan.”
Nov 07th, 2018 - 12:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Approximately 35% of my roof faces North and I do have an expensive battery storage to use the electricity at night. The house exterior is entirely luminated at night generally by solar. (I have a 5km3 lot here in Chicureo so it takes a lot of lighting.). My wife is quietly furious with my decision as she's already did the actual cost/benefit analysis and it is not cost effective. (“Hell hath no fury like a woman” ignored.) They do look impressive, but when my neighbors asked what it cost they were not enthusiastic in doing the same.
Unless you have a large UK solar tax subsidy, I wouldn't recommend doing it.
@Chicureo
Nov 07th, 2018 - 11:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0While I can understand an American liking Trump's nationalism, why does it appeal to you? Trump cancelled Chile's trade deal with the US, didn't he? Shouldn't you support Chile first?
Also, what is a black swan?
Re solar panels, in the UK you can sell your electricity to the grid during the day. I don't know if it's more economical than batteries though, because AFAIK they give you a lower price than you pay to them. But it's pretty well known that it takes 10-20 years to recoup the cost of solar panels, and that's if you use them for your normal electricity needs. Why do you even want to illuminate your whole property at night? My town has started turning the street lights off at night to save money, and it's pretty cool, you can actually see the stars.
What kind of batteries do you have, and do they fully charge each day? The advantage of batteries is that you can use them during a power cut, so I guess we'd want some anyway, though really the national grid here is very good. Even when the local substation caught spectacularly on fire, with a plume of smoke visible for miles, the power was off for less than half an hour (although we had a reduced voltage for quite a while afterwards).
DemonTree...
Nov 08th, 2018 - 12:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0All a con... it will take 20 years to recoup the cost because they limit you on the amount of panels and so the amount of electricity you can generate to sell to the grid...
The power supplies from the grid all run in circles so if there is a break they isolate that small part and the electricity flows from the other side of the circle...so yeah power is never off for long...
Best system I ever heard of was solar panels running a ground source heat pump combined with underfloor heating...heat in the ground is 11 degrees underfloor heating only needs 15 degrees...only has to raise the temperature 3 degrees...the concrete surrounding the pipes slow releases the heat at night when there is no light for the panels...
How cool is that...
Really? How do they stop you installing more panels? (And why?)
Nov 09th, 2018 - 12:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0They had to bring in temporary generators for a few weeks after the fire, but I was pretty impressed with the service.
You system sounds good, but like something that would have to be built into the house what with the underfloor heating. And is it really 11 degrees under group? Caves I've been into felt much colder, and you always get the get the chill coming up from the ground when camping.
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