Just a few days ago I returned from a “people-to-people” trip to Cuba. This morning, the current US administration banned such trips. This not only hurts the Cuban people, it hurts the American people. And as with everything else this administration does, it also boosts Russian power.
The United States imposed an embargo on American trade with Cuba in 1962. They expanded the embargo in 1996 with the Helms-Burton Act to penalize foreign companies trading with Cuba. In other words, not only do we block our own companies from trade, we effectively block foreign companies from trade. Combined with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, this has had a devastating effect on the Cuban economy. It did nothing, however, to change the political structure – our stated goal.
As the aging Fidel Castro turned over control to his brother Raul, the United States had an opportunity to change a policy that for more than half a century had essentially no impact on global relations. President Obama restored diplomatic links and even visited Cuba in 2016. These actions provided some hope that the United States could become a world leader in bringing Cuba into a 21st century economy and lead to a modernized political structure. These hopes were dashed, however, when the current administration reversed all the gains made under Obama.
And now they are banning the one option most Americans had to visit and learn about Cuba. “People-to-people” programs, which includes the Road Scholar tour I just returned from, allow personal interactions with the Cuban people. We met artists in their homes, talked with the owners of paladars (family-owned small restaurants), and saw performances of dance and music. In every case, the Cuban people were welcoming and friendly. There was no personal animosity against the American people. We saw first hand the hardships Cubans must endure (lack of supplies, long lines waiting for basic commodities like chicken, eggs, and rice), and learned that “all Cubans are mechanics” by necessity, as they must use inventiveness and innovation to make up for non-availability of basic parts to keep machinery and cars running (only 1 in 167,000 Cubans has a car because of shortages). The embargo, and this expansion, hurts the Cuban people greatly.
It also hurts Americans. Americans wanting to travel abroad are now blocked from doing so even more than the severe restrictions that were already imposed. American companies can’t expand their markets. American allies are blocked from independent trading because of the penalties we impose. The rationales offered for such restrictions are pathetically dishonest as we willingly trade with multiple countries that sponsor terrorism and even use our own weapon sales against us and our allies (neither of which Cuba does). The ban is purely political and highly punitive.
Who the increased ban does help is Vladimir Putin. With every attack the current administration makes on our allies and our American norms, the administration strengthens the global power of Russian and the Putin-led Russian oligarchy. As the current administration weakens US influence and power in the world and spits on our allies, it is China and Russia that benefit the most.
Elections have consequences. While most Americans might not care about what happens to the Cuban people, they should care about what happens to the American people. The current administration has intentionally dismissed American norms, American intelligence, and the American people. It’s time to remove this disgrace from office.
David J. Kent is a science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.
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katechampagne said:
Very sad, this backwards-moving policy re: Cuba. I remember when Cuba became banned. I remember, too, in Canada, that people with Canadian citizenship loved going to Cuba. As a country, we had been moving forward, I had thought, until the current doofus moved in to the White House. Hate only spawns more hatred, never love, acceptance and trade.
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davidjkentwriter said:
Not surprisingly, Cubans were very disappointed that the current administration decided to return to the worthless, painful policies of the past just to spite Obama’s gains. With the Castros no longer in power, there was a chance to turn Cuba into an ally. Now we’ve strengthened Russia instead.
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Josette King said:
David – Thank you for this eloqouent analysis ! You can imagine my reaction to this latest sensless edict! All I hope for now is a reversal of it within the next few weeks…
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davidjkentwriter said:
I would hope for a reversal too, but don’t see one coming from this ignorant, pathetic, thoroughly corrupt man.
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Lightness Traveling said:
Checked in here because I’d just caught this in the news this morning and thought how ironic. And I agree that this just isn’t going to accomplish anything beneficial, either to the US or for the Cuban people. I simply figure that every time an ordinary Cuban citizen meets an American (like you) and realizes that person isn’t the enemy, that’s a win-win. However, I think the reality is that the opening of Cuba was done with the intent of economic benefit to some large American financial interests. And when that didn’t actually materialize, it all kind of fell apart. Really too bad for everyone else.
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davidjkentwriter said:
No doubt the financial interests of American companies are the basis for most international decisions. This current decision is pure politics with no benefit to anyone but the Russians.
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estebang said:
Thanks David.
I don’t like conspiracy theories, but any sort of explanation that provides a unifying viewpoint is good for rallying public support.
From that perspective, it seems like most of the current populism favors individual, largely criminal wealth regardless of nationality. (I still work with Russians.)
That being said, I think that much of what the current US administration does is just the outcome of extremely shallow, short-term greed and comfort rather than a plot.
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davidjkentwriter said:
I agree that the current administration makes “decisions” based on short-term greed, as well as racism and a deep hatred of Barack Obama.
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Silberstein said:
Correct. In principle any EU resident would allow his/her government to say where she or he can go on vacation! Trump action recalls me the Russian ban on their tourists going to Turkey couple of years ago. Surprisingly they both share the same crazy definition of democracy. And by the way does that mean to help the Cubans?
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davidjkentwriter said:
The recent actions by the administration clearly help neither Americans or Cubans.
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