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Whiner-in-Chief:
"[W]hether the grumbling is about Republicans on Fox or bloggers in pajamas, there's a word for what the president and his aides are doing. That word is "whining." And nothing [...] does more damage to Obama's credibility or authority than the sense that a popular president is becoming the whiner-in-chief."
- John Nichols, Nation Magazine - 10/12/09
UN rights envoy: US economic embargo against Cuba hampers political rights effort
Via Reuters:
GENEVA (Reuters) – A special U.N. rights envoy expressed alarm on Tuesday at allegations of ill treatment in Cuban jails, but said that a U.S. economic embargo was hampering attempts to improve Cuba’s respect for political rights.
“The extreme tension between Cuba and the United States has created a climate which is far from conducive to the development of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,” French magistrate Christine Chanet said.
In a new report to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Chanet said her main concern was still the detention of dozens of dissidents whose arrest while working as journalists, writers and members of associations in March and April 2003 caused an international uproar.
She said she was “alarmed at the allegations of ill-treatment in detention” submitted by prisoners’ families.
“Food and hygiene are substandard and medical care either unavailable or inappropriate,” said Chanet, whose post was created in 2002.
Furthermore, more people had been arrested over the past year for expressing opinions, added the magistrate, who has yet to be allowed to visit the Caribbean communist state.
But Chanet, whose report was posted on the Commission’s Web site, pointed to a number of “positive” developments in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights, especially in education and health.
Infant mortality had been lowered and life expectancy extended. All Cuban children attended school and illiteracy had been virtually eradicated, she added.
This was despite the 40-year-old U.S. embargo, which had had disastrous economic and social effects as well as causing harm to civil and political rights.
Sidenote: That last sentence – specifically as it relates to “causing harm to civil and political rights” – sounds like an opinion expressed by the writer of the Reuters piece, rather than established fact. Perhaps the author mistakenly left out “she [Chanet] said”?
In any event, what Chanet doesn’t seem to get is that US economic embargo or not, communist Cuba under the rule of Fidel Castro would still harbor a stifling climate of oppression because, well, that’s just one of many things communists like to do.
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33 Responses to “UN rights envoy: US economic embargo against Cuba hampers political rights effort”
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“In any event, what Chanet doesn’t seem to get is that US economic embargo or not, communist Cuba under the rule of Fidel Castro would still harbor a stifling climate of oppression because, well, that’s just one of many things communists like to do.”
What I find interesting about the embargo is the library issue. Castro has put librarians in jail for distributing certain books. If we in the US sent those books directly to cubans, the US would put us in jail. That doesn’t make much sense to me.
It makes sense if you undestand what a US embargo is.
We are not allowed to trade or do business with Cuba. So yes, sending books and other thinsg would be breaking the law.
It is also the point of the article that says we are the only one with an embargo and has not stopped other countries from trading with cuba.
How is cuba’s economic problems our fault?
They still have plenty of countries that can trade with them, so how is it the US fault?
“They still have plenty of countries that can trade with them, so how is it the US fault?”
I think it has something to do with the fact that we’re 90 miles away rather than thousands.
C’mon andrew, that has no bearing on economic status fo cuba and you know it.
The majority of our imports and exports are thousands of miles away and it doesn’t effect us.
The distance between ports does not determine a nations economic status.
While the type of regime and person in charge does.
- Just more of the usual Liberal gutless approach to diplomacy. Always so quick to avoid confronting the real threats and true preveyors of acts against humanity, they asidiously apply twisted memes of “moral equivalency” to turn facts to their liking, not to solve anything really, but its oh so much easier to deal with people that aren’t going to throw your ass in prison or cut off your head. Moral cowardice, in the name of moral equivalency.
- Bang
“C’mon andrew, that has no bearing on economic status fo cuba and you know it.”
I doubt it. How much is a flight 90 miles to Cuba vs. a flight across the oceans?
There’s also a competition argument. Our farmers and agribusiness want to export to cuba. Right now they buy from other sources, when the US could be cheaper.
I have no idea what the scale of hte effect is, but that is the general argument. The US is a big economy. Losing out on it, when you are 90 miles away, is a big deal.
Maybe, but not to the degree cuba is now.
There are many other countries that can trade with cuba, the US just won’t be one of them.
The US embargo did not destroy cubas economy, castro did that himself.
Same goes with the conditions of his prisons. He is responsible for that not the US.
Personal Responsibility again.
A novel concept.
I find it amazing how liberals will always blame the US for the worlds problems its not “There form of Government” we are just oppressive. It is amazing what the Cuban people will do and endure to set foot on US soil to have Freedom. I just can not remember anyone swimming from the US to live in Cuba under a communist dictator. There were those that went to Canada oh but I digress Canada isn’t communist! No matter what the facts you can not convince a liberal the socialism or communism can not support itself for very long.
Really though. I understand why the embargo (as well as the various other attempts to get rid of castro/communism) was important 40 years ago…but why now? Cuba is a pissant little country who’s dictator is on death’s door. They’re only one of five or so communist countries on the map.
It doesn’t make much sense politically or economically. And besides, if we’re so anti-communist or so against human human rights violations, why does all my stuff say “Made in China?”
What does Cuba produce besides cigars that we can start business with them? We could trade them some newer cars for the 55, 56 and 57 chevys they still have there. I think the Cubans that live in America want to keep pressure on Castro. CB Howell you have a point and if Castro started his stuff again we could always throw another naval blockade around him again.
Jim, I have a better idea. How about a Mariel boat lift in reverse. We send back all the criminals, Janet Reno, and all the lefties who supported sending back Elian starting with Barry Lynn.
That ought to be enough human debris to make Castro change his mind. We could tell him we’ll send the entire membership of NAMBLA next.
PCD, How about Jimmy Carter and a few Hollywood libs and some Urban Outdoorsman that would help with the “Homeless problem” .
Jim, what is the difference between Carter and a Cuban in the first place?
“What does Cuba produce besides cigars that we can start business with them?”
They’re underemployed, and according to some people, overeducated for that undermployemet. You can outsource work to there with the proper capital investment. Engineering, biotech type work.
andrew, they are Communists. They don’t believe in Captial Investments.
And how many Europian companies are there?
How many Arabic companies?
Why does it always fall to the US to bail out some other country who regime/government has put them in this position?
There you go from Andrew the Cubans are “underemployed and overeducated ” boy the workers paradise (Communism) is really working for Cuba is it Andrew? And if we just follow people like Teddy (We need to do away with the cult of Individual) Kennedy we can have a workers paradise here in the US. A burger flipper can earn as much as an Engineer or a Doctor wow just think of the creativeness when everyone is paid the same! That is why we need to tax the rich more and then redistribute it to the poor so that life is fair and we have a level playing field no winners or losers.
This embargo has failed and should have been lifted 30 years ago. If you don’t like the way the Cubans run their government, don’t go there. The Right still hasn’t learned from Iraq. Don’t go around sticking your nose in where it does not belong. Remember, no good turn goes unpunished. Peace
Let’s see, “underemployed and overeducated,” makes all the sense in the world (read facetious here). It would be logical for Fidel to want to exploit all that education and talent to produce superior goods and services to demonstrate to the world just how wonderful his system is, to show it to be the model for the world. Hmmm. Have we seen that or is it more correct that what we’ve witnessed is an almost complete suppression of the use of such education and talent for the betterment of the Cuban population and the coincidental propping up of his governance from external forces and sources? Seems to follow a pattern cpncerning particular types of rulers, doesn’t it? Such a wonderful system to behold!!!!!
Steve why don’t you go to Havana you and Castro seem to feel the same way about the US and just think about how much better life would be for you with socialized medicine and everything else a good liberal like you wants. Anybody for taking up a collection to sent Steve to Cuba? One way of course!
“andrew, they are Communists. They don’t believe in Captial Investments.”
That’s what we would do.
“There you go from Andrew the Cubans are “underemployed and overeducated ” boy the workers paradise (Communism) is really working for Cuba is it Andrew? ”
Underemployed and overeducated doesn’t sound like paradise, not in the macroeconomic sense.
Once again…give me a legitimate reason the embargo is still in place. The us govn’t wouldn’t ahve to lift a finger except to lift the embargo. Tourism along would be a huge boost right off the bat.
Here is an interesting read:
Racism in Cuba and
the failure of the American Left
Another decent read:
AMERICAN TRADE WITH CUBA:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT EMBARGO
AND ITS FUTURE
Reasons behind the Embargo and how it first started:
Read the complete portion here
I hate to say this, but I may be in agreement that the embargo is past its prime. It did not solve anything, especially if its major point was the hopes of the Cuban people to over throw Castro.
The ebargo has been in place for over 40 years, and at this point does not seem to be worth anything.
And don’t say because of trading with communist cuba, we trade with China all the time.
The time for the embargo does seem to be way past due to be lifted or changed.
And look at it from a fresh point of view, it would most likely stop the flow of Cubans fleeing and trying to come illegaly to the US shores. So one could look at this as a benefit to Border Security.
Quite frankly, a trip to Cuba might be fun if only bush would give us Americans our rights and let us travel there. It’s always good to expand the “rights” of free people. The freedom to travel wherever we’d like, the right of Privacy so we could get whatever medical care we choose and to marry whomever you love as long as they are 18 or older. Peace
Please point out these rights as you so describe them in the Bill of Rights or the Constitution please.
- Probably because, according to Castro’s own daughter, his brother is ready to step in and take over when he dies, countinuing the the unholy rein. BTW. shes very much in favor of the embargo. She wishes there was more we could do to bring on a change of regimes.
- Bang
Like I said before steve, you are free to go. Grab the nearest flotation device that’s been brought to our shores by those that have enjoyed about as much as they can stand, at the Utopian Cuban peacefest.
If that doesn’t work, there are people capable of getting you there free of charge, really. I recommend that you don’t fasten the seat belt. Catapults as I understand them can be a harsh, if not rude awakening. But whatever it takes to remove the blinders, I always say.
PULL! 
Forest Hunter can I bring my over and under to the last edge of the US when someone yells pull with Steve in the sling?
JimM: The only thing better would be to suit him up in an Islamodope vest special. All he’s got to do is read the five digit phone number on the bow of a boat named “happy inhabitant” on his flight over and dial 73223 to diffuse it. And hope the line’s not busy.
When you hear “PULL”, dial and blast or blast and dial at will.
Jim M: There’s a party barge hotline for just these kinds of occasions. The shoreline is bound to be crowded.
BTW did you check your phone buttons to see what 73223 spells out. There are other meaningless combo’s possible, than the one I have in mind, however.
Since few, if any, other nations observe the embargo, how in hell do we harm anyone? I support the embargo – it’s our way to show our displeasure at the ugly little Communist dictatorship on our doorstep. But Cuba suffers because of its own government, not because of the USA.
Cuba can trade with anyone they like in the entire world. Just not with us. If that harms them, good! Screw ‘em! Maybe the commie goons will be overthrown.
Just don’t expect me to swallow the idea that a unilateral embargo damages them. It ain’t so.
Castro, wouldn’t last 10 minutes after a bunch of crazy spring breakers began to spend their money in Cuba. This place is 90 miles off the US coast and an invasion of “ugly” American tourists is just what the place needs. Unfortunately, we have a Fascist in the WH who won’t grant “we the people” all of our rights. Like the Freedom to travel. Peace
There is nothing stopping them from going Edited. –ST
You can’t travel there by the US, but you can get there by other means, through other countries.
If no americans are able to go, then how do americans keep getting down there?