Last month, the Obama administration announced its intention to lift the long standing trade embargo with Cuba and normalize diplomatic relations with the country. Cuba is an oppressive, communist state led by the Castro family, and has been an enemy of the United States during the Cold War. This issue is highly controversial in Congress, and not simply along party lines -- there are those on both the left and the right who are strong opponents of the Castro regime and oppose lifting the embargo and travel ban. Today, a group of bipartisan senators introduced the first piece of legislation towards the reparation of relations: a bill allowing US citizens to freely travel to Cuba and use their bank cards there. Despite the intentions of the Obama administration, bills must pass through Congress to promote any change on this issue.
From my point of view, lifting the ban has immediate benefits, but still may not be the best course of action for the United States. A few of these benefits: Cigars, rum, the freedom to vacation in Cuba, freer North American markets (goods and financial), and improved quality of life for Cubans who can now receive more remittances from the United States and spend more time with family members who defected. However, there may be implicit costs of this policy. This action by Obama is cooperation with a communist regime that has a terrible human rights record. As part of the restoration of relations, Raul Castro also wants Guantanamo Bay back -- the US will have to hand back the prison that it had been using to harbor its most dangerous inmates, a highly controversial action Obama has planned on taking anyways since his presidential campaign. Unthawing the diplomatic relationship with Cuba in this manner, after Cuba has made little progress in improving the welfare of its citizens and continues to enforce a strict communist regime, appears weak on a global stage. Is now the time to begin to heal relations between the United States and our neighbors 100 miles to the South, who very much consider us their enemy?
From my point of view, lifting the ban has immediate benefits, but still may not be the best course of action for the United States. A few of these benefits: Cigars, rum, the freedom to vacation in Cuba, freer North American markets (goods and financial), and improved quality of life for Cubans who can now receive more remittances from the United States and spend more time with family members who defected. However, there may be implicit costs of this policy. This action by Obama is cooperation with a communist regime that has a terrible human rights record. As part of the restoration of relations, Raul Castro also wants Guantanamo Bay back -- the US will have to hand back the prison that it had been using to harbor its most dangerous inmates, a highly controversial action Obama has planned on taking anyways since his presidential campaign. Unthawing the diplomatic relationship with Cuba in this manner, after Cuba has made little progress in improving the welfare of its citizens and continues to enforce a strict communist regime, appears weak on a global stage. Is now the time to begin to heal relations between the United States and our neighbors 100 miles to the South, who very much consider us their enemy?
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