<p>If this action helps stamp out Cuban communism and socialism, I’m all for it. Otherwise, I’m against it. I have my doubts based on who initiated it. </p>
<p>Putin is a threat, but even with all the oil and gas revenue, Russia doesn’t have the resources to pull another cold war, but he is a regional threat, not one to the US, this isn’t communism versus capitalism, this isn’t about ideological purity, Putin is a dictator, a dangerous one, but he also knows that there are things worth doing and not worth doing, and putting missiles in Cuba would hurt him, with Russia tied into the world economy if he did that you would see action no one is going to do over Ukraine or the like. Putin scares me more in that he will give excuses to politicians in the US looking to increase defense spending, especially on large scale weapons systems, not because there is a threat, but because many of those weapons systems are massive pork in their districts. </p>
<p>And if Cuba has economic ties with the US, it won’t want to piss off the US, being pals with Russia is not worth the economics of hard currency and so forth. </p>
<p>@ dadx-
The 50 year embargo hasn’t stamped out communism there yet, so maybe trying something different might work, we know the embargo failed, so why not give it a shot?</p>
<p>You don’t know that, Andrei. There are countries in Central America that successfully resisted U.S. – Costa Rica is an example. And there is plenty nasty stuff being done in Latin America by multinational companies based in Europe. Or China. If you’re really so concerned about Cuba’s economic sovereignty, you need to cast a wider net of possible villains than just the U.S. That’s very 1950’s thinking. </p>
<p>I think the Cubans think that too. At least most of their cars are from the '50s, it seems. Its a good way to protect yourself from exploitation. You just stop buying new things. </p>
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<p>Moving to where you are free to make a living or a better one is an honored practice. That’s why they (and lots of us) are here in the first place. It was better than “home”. </p>
<p>“And if Cuba has economic ties with the US, it won’t want to **** off the US, being pals with Russia is not worth the economics of hard currency and so forth.”</p>
<p>Yup. Agree with you that a new Cold War is unlikely, but Putin’s recent air “patrols” in the Caribbean and just the mere threat of having his presence in Cuba could give the US politicians a leg to stand on when asking for increase in military spending.</p>
<p>@dadx - They will travel to open business, make money over there, bring money back to the US and live in the US. They will not live daily in Cuba.</p>
<p>" Actually Cuba is more likely to bend over and USA is most likely to take advantage of that posture. That saddens me". </p>
<p>True. It would be completely awful if Castro weakened his repressive policies and stopped spying on, imprisoning, and brutalizing the Cuban citizens. How sad if the communist system stopped working as well as it does, and capitalism and freedom started invading this peaceful little slice of heaven.</p>
<p>I hadn’t thought of that angle, but this pope’s endorsement of it is another reason to question it.</p>
<p>And yes, I’m in favor of it if it “works”. I think the question is whether the policy’s authors define “works” the way that I do. I don’t think they do. That’s part of the problem with it. :)</p>
<p>And I have to chuckle at the line of reasoning that says if something hasn’t worked in fifty years, why not try something else. Does this not apply to Castro and Cuba first and foremost? Of course, they think it has worked. Its made Cuba one of the worlds bastions of equality.</p>
<p>Dadx, the issue is not whether Cuba is a failed state or not. There are plenty of failed states around the globe. </p>
<p>The. Issue is whether we should have diplomatic relations with them or not. Two entirely separate questions. The majority of people in this country think that If we trade with and travel to China, Vietnam and other similar places, why is Cuba any different. </p>
<p>Cuba is not a failed state as the term is usually used. Failed states are not countries with bad governments that do bad things to their people, like North Korea. Failed states are countries with essentially NO national government, like Somalia.</p>
<p>There is no more communism in the world. There are only 5 countries still have communist party in the government. They are China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba. The US has already normalized with China, Vietnam, and Laos. Everyone knows that the party members in those countries don’t practice communism. They are in fact practicing capitalism and imperialism. The normalization with the US and economic relations with western countries do in fact provide the opportunity to loosen up the grips of the government and improve human rights in China, Vietnam, and Laos. </p>
<p>Better for us to have good relationship with Cuba before the Castro brothers die so after they are gone we already have an established relationship with the State and between our two countries. </p>
It was better than “home”. </p>