- 3,745
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
I'm sure we're all at least somewhat aware of the protests that are taking place across Cuba, and quite a rare happening for a place that almost effectively bans opposition to their government. And this is also a useful example as to how the mainstream media can manufacture consent. From what I've read, the protests are mostly as a result of a move toward economic austerity, as well as certain food and other resource shortages. The main reason for the Cuban government's move toward austerity measures and the food shortages are due to Cuba's largest industry, tourism (which is mostly from the US), completely tanking as a result of the pandemic. Although there have been no confirmed deaths from the protests, they have turned violent in certain instances, prompting police and military action. The issue I have is, the news media as of large, as well as many right-wing figureheads, are framing the protests as nothing more than an uprising against communism (calling Cuba "communist" is a bit of a stretch) and authoritarianism in general.
On both sides of the political spectrum, it is almost engrained into Americans that Cuba's poverty and isolation is merely and example of a failed ideology. I will obviously not deny that the sheer brutality and repressiveness of the Castro regime, as well as the pervasive Soviet influence on Cuban government played a substantial role in limiting Cuba's economic prospects, but to point the finger at "communism" for all of Cuba's woes is simply not the whole story. The US ought to take accountability for their role in Cuba's destitution. The Biden administration officially announced their approval of the Cuban protests today, but performative support is meaningless if US sanctions are not to be ceased, or at least weakened to some degree, nor if the current administration does not seek to further foster diplomatic relations with Cuba.
I would really love to hear a compelling argument as to why the US still has quite harsh economic sanctions on Cuba. Seriously. It's been 60 years since the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred; why on earth is it still relevant to have such crippling sanctions on a tiny island nation that not only poses no economic or imperial threat to the US, nor is it backed by the Soviets or any other totalitarian regime to this date? Given the US being a nation that prides itself for supporting capitalism and comparatively free markets, why should it make sense for us to ban all forms of trade relations between the United States and Cuba, in 2021? The UN has voted on 29 occasions, and as recently as a month ago, to end the US embargo on Cuba. Each of the 29 times, all 184 UN nations voted in favor of this, except for the US and Israel, blocking the embargo from being formally repealed.
I'll also add this tidbit of information, further demonstrating how the US sanctions on Cuba are a form of economic warfare. A memorandum written by the assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, in 1960, outlines that "The majority of Cubans support Castro... The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship. If the above are accepted or cannot be successfully countered, it follows that every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government."
The intents are self evident. Punish Cuban civilians for their support of Castro by forcing the vast majority of them into a life of poverty and subservience. Economic warfare is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as involving "an economic strategy based on the use of measures (e.g. blockade) of which the primary effect is to weaken the economy of another state". I fail to see how the above is something other than overt, economic warfare.
Source: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d499
On both sides of the political spectrum, it is almost engrained into Americans that Cuba's poverty and isolation is merely and example of a failed ideology. I will obviously not deny that the sheer brutality and repressiveness of the Castro regime, as well as the pervasive Soviet influence on Cuban government played a substantial role in limiting Cuba's economic prospects, but to point the finger at "communism" for all of Cuba's woes is simply not the whole story. The US ought to take accountability for their role in Cuba's destitution. The Biden administration officially announced their approval of the Cuban protests today, but performative support is meaningless if US sanctions are not to be ceased, or at least weakened to some degree, nor if the current administration does not seek to further foster diplomatic relations with Cuba.
I would really love to hear a compelling argument as to why the US still has quite harsh economic sanctions on Cuba. Seriously. It's been 60 years since the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred; why on earth is it still relevant to have such crippling sanctions on a tiny island nation that not only poses no economic or imperial threat to the US, nor is it backed by the Soviets or any other totalitarian regime to this date? Given the US being a nation that prides itself for supporting capitalism and comparatively free markets, why should it make sense for us to ban all forms of trade relations between the United States and Cuba, in 2021? The UN has voted on 29 occasions, and as recently as a month ago, to end the US embargo on Cuba. Each of the 29 times, all 184 UN nations voted in favor of this, except for the US and Israel, blocking the embargo from being formally repealed.
I'll also add this tidbit of information, further demonstrating how the US sanctions on Cuba are a form of economic warfare. A memorandum written by the assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, in 1960, outlines that "The majority of Cubans support Castro... The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship. If the above are accepted or cannot be successfully countered, it follows that every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. If such a policy is adopted, it should be the result of a positive decision which would call forth a line of action which, while as adroit and inconspicuous as possible, makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of government."
The intents are self evident. Punish Cuban civilians for their support of Castro by forcing the vast majority of them into a life of poverty and subservience. Economic warfare is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as involving "an economic strategy based on the use of measures (e.g. blockade) of which the primary effect is to weaken the economy of another state". I fail to see how the above is something other than overt, economic warfare.
Source: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v06/d499
Last edited: