Dude, you rock. Thanks so much Z.

My pleasure :-)

Thanks for all the hard work, Val.

Can i ask what your opinions on China and Vietnam are? Ive noticed a lot of people condemn trade with 'Communist' Cuba, despite the fact the US keeps up a healthy trade with China and Vietnam, who (suprise suprise) are an infinite source of cheap labour.

Filthycommie,

I believe a couple of the BlogCuba entries address the China/Vietnam link.

Trade sanctions against the Chinese would be completely useless in the same way that they were, ultimately, useless against Hussein.

No matter how we tighten the sanctions in the US, other developed nations won't join us. For a country with oil or with China's cheap and abundant resources, and without the backing of other nations, trade sanctions like those I support for Cuba are useless. Cuba, with a far smaller economy and far less in the way of natural resources (even human resources) is much eaiser to influence with economic sanctions in my opinion.

And, you'll note, my goal with sanctions isn't just to punish the island, but to draw its leadership into talks.

The China question is far more difficult to address than that of Cuba.

As for Vietnam, I can't answer because I simply haven't given it much thought.

The fact is, though, that situations that appear similar on the surface may well require wildly different responses. This is, in my mind, one of those cases. And, no, it has nothing to do with cheap labor and everything to do with whether we can attain our goals through the method being questioned.

Thanks for the reply. Im unconvinced however. I dont think sanctions against Cuba is going to draw the defiant Castro into 'talks.' Not now, not ever. It seems to me like trying to starve the Cuban people into submission.

''For a country with oil or with China's cheap and abundant resources, and without the backing of other nations, trade sanctions like those I support for Cuba are useless. ''

But the blockade of Cuba also isnt supported by other nations. The UN voted hugely to condemn the US blockade, and now i believe only the US and Israel actually support it.

I dont know...I just think it seems ironic to hold an extreme blockade against a country for being a dictatorship, while enjoying unrestricted trade with other countries that are generalised as being 'evil' and what not in the same way. I think putting Cuba on the so called 'axis of evil' list is simply ridiculous.

Two things: as I said, the situation is different with Cuba because our trade sanctions can have a dramatic impact on the country. If we can cut the illegal tourism from the US to even half the current level, it will cause at least an estimated $1 billion loss to Castro. Even without the support of other nations, that's a huge loss for Castro's regime.

With China that level of a loss would be laughable.

Also, let it be known that trade with countries like China is always restricted. The items that can be traded and sent to China are restricted to those items that couldn't be weaponized or used in the creation of weapons, for instance.

I certainly don't want to "starve the Cuban people into submission"; the tourist money doesn't go to the Cuban people, it goes to Castro. In the same way that the oil for food money made it's way to Hussein instead of his citizens.

As to how I feel about the UN's pronouncements, well I'll simply leave that for you to consider.

Would I put Cuba in any axis of evil list? Probably not simply because their ability to project power has been so drastically crippled since the fall of the Soviet Union. Would I put in on a list of countries who deserve liberal reform, freedom, and a representative government? Yep, absolutely. And as to whether a different approach to sanctions could be effective--well, we'll just have to disagree on that.

I don't expect the guy who praised Castro on this site, though, to be particularly sympathetic with that idea.

''Also, let it be known that trade with countries like China is always restricted. The items that can be traded and sent to China are restricted to those items that couldn't be weaponized or used in the creation of weapons, for instance.''

True, but the financial benefits of trading with China are still reaped in by the corporate big wigs. China hardly need US weapons technology anyway.

''If we can cut the illegal tourism from the US to even half the current level, it will cause at least an estimated $1 billion loss to Castro.''

So you have no qualms over restricting peoples freedom, and prohibiting them from going to a controversial country, that is extremely safe...much more so than Iraq for instance?

''I certainly don't want to "starve the Cuban people into submission"; ''

I didnt suggest you did, but i think everyone has to concede that the blockade affects the everyday people of Cuba.

''Would I put Cuba in any axis of evil list? Probably not simply because their ability to project power has been so drastically crippled since the fall of the Soviet Union. ''

Precisely. A reason why it is ridiculous.

''Would I put in on a list of countries who deserve liberal reform, freedom, and a representative government? ''

A matter of American conservative opinion.

''I don't expect the guy who praised Castro on this site...''

To an extent, but im certainly not without critisism.

Z- you may recognize FC by his former handle, Guerilla Radio. That may explain the dejá vú....

Yep. I figured he wanted a change of name--and as someone who blogs anonymously, I don't think I have much room to judge-- so I wasn't going to say anything in a public manner.

Oooo detective Rae....... I thought by the way my screen name was laid out, and its overall similarity it was painfully obvious anyway. Not to mention the same email address, and the same IP. I change my SN regularly. Im not hiding anything.

Now, FC, take no offense. I still love ya-you keep me on my political toes. If it weren't for you, I'd be some fat-brained Republican housewife ;) I don't think you're hiding anything, just having fun.

Come on, shake?

Of course. I didnt mean to sound offended actually. Haha, if it wasnt for moderate conservatives blogs id be a shaggy haired indoctrinated hippy ;)