The Embargo on Cuba: A 50-year Mistake and Failure

In 1958, the United States committed one of its biggest diplomatic blunders, one that it, quite stubbornly, remains committed to. It placed an economic embargo on Cuba. Under the rules of the embargo, U.S. companies may not trade with Cuba. U.S. citizens are prohibited from travelling to Cuba (except under special circumstances). Only Cuban-Americans are authorized to travel to Cuba with special permission from the government.

There has never been a seemingly clear-cut, justifiable reason for the embargo. Each successive presidential administration has claimed that the embargo was put into place as a message to communism and to pressure Fidel Castro into allowing democratic reforms.

Okay, I’m completely lost. During the whole time we had this embargo in place, we had diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union, the leader of the communist world. In 1979, we switched diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the communist People’s Republic of China. In the 1990’s, we finally did the right thing and let bygones be bygones with Vietnam.

What is the purpose of the grudge against Castro?

And 50 years after the embargo was placed, it has not accomplished it’s intended purpose. Fidel Castro remains in power, outlasting 10 U.S. presidents, although he has handed control of day-to-day affairs to his brother, Raul. Although the Cuban government has some limited market reforms, the government still maintains power over aspects of Cuban life.

Many countries have flaunted the embargo and Cubans still enjoy unbelievably high standards of living. The country is known to have one of the best health care systems in the world, not to mention that medical care is free in Cuba. And the island country has one of world’s highest literacy rates, approximately 98%. With the exception of Israel, nearly every country in the world has voiced opposition to the embargo.

The embargo has been disastrous for the U.S. in many other ways. The embargo is the center of the rapidly deteriorating ties with Venezuela, which is slowly rallying all of Latin American against U.S. influence in the region.

Dropping the embargo could be of tremendous help to the U.S. in many ways:

1. It would certainly help us regain much of the worldwide favor we lost while Bush was in office, especially with Latin America. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez would lose one major justification for continuous efforts to irritate us. It may well help to get him back on our good side and aid us in talking some sense in Iran.
2. Opening diplomatic and trade ties with Cuba would open door for heavy American investment in the island country which, despite the embargo, is one of the Caribbean’s biggest tourist destinations. It could be a big help in economic recovery.
3. Having relations with Cuba would give us a powerful ally against Iran and North Korea, our two main adversaries who depend partly on trade with Cuba to continue to defy the world. With Cuba in our corner, North Korea would be further isolated and Iran will have one less friend to depend on. Besides, has it ever occurred to anyone that keeping such a close friend of two of main enemies right on our door-step may not be a particularly smart idea? 
4. Widely believed to be one of the hiding places of funds for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, resuming friendly ties with Cuba would help further choke two of the main forces that routinely disturb efforts to bring a final peace treaty in the Middle East.