Economic sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives.

Trade creates the habits of freedom, to create the expectations of democracy and demands for better democratic institutions. Societies that open to commerce across their borders are more open to democracy within their borders. And for those of us who care about values and believe in values—not just American Values, but the universal values that promote human dignity—trade is a good way to do that" Because I agree with former President George Bush I stand Resolved: Economic Sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives. Definitions: Foreign Policy: the diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations. Economic Sanctions: domestic penalties applied by one country (or a group of countries) unto another country for a variety of reasons. Examples are tariffs, trade barriers, import duties, and import or export quotas. Value: Free Trade. Free Trade is basically what it says. It is a policy in which countries exchange goods, services, and money without applying restrictions or tariffs on imports or exports. (www.greeniacs.com/Glossary.html) With this definition of free trade, all countries trade equally and all countries prosper. The affirmative will prove that by not using economic sanctions to achieve foreign policy objectives we will open the world to free trade and all countries will have some gain as a result. Criterion: Book IV of Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations. Book IV is entitled Systems of Political Economy. In this Book Adam Smith argues that government interference in the field of economics creates inefficiency and higher costs in the future. He then goes on to explain the idea of the invisible hand. The invisible hand is the basic concept of why we act the way we do in an economy. "Adam Smith assumed that consumers choose for the lowest price, and that entrepreneurs choose for the highest rate of profit. He asserted that by thus making their excess or insufficient demand known through market prices, consumers "directed" entrepreneurs' investment money to the most profitable industry." (http://plus.maths.org...) The invisible hand leads us to a free market, which in turn will benefit the world as a whole. This idea will be demonstrated in my third contention. However, my first two contentions will give us an understanding of how economic sanctions don't work and the flaws that are within them. Contention I: 1. The Economic Sanction on Cuba is a Foreign Policy Failure A. In Daniel Griswold's article entitled "Four Decades of Failure: The U.S. Embargo against Cuba" he makes the statement that Cuba is no longer a threat to American or Regional security. Not only does the embargo against Cuba make Cuba's citizens worse off-the effect of political leaders taking any monetary surplus and using it in their best interest-it gives Castro a handy excuse for why his socialism is failing. For example he can complain for hours that his people are suffering under the embargo when his people suffer more under the policies that he passes. B. The American Economy is injured as a result of the Embargo. As a result of the Embargo on Cuba, America is no longer allowing trade or tourism to come from them unto Cuba. By having the Embargo American firms are loosing, on average, $700 million to $1.2 billion a year. Also in Daniel Griswold's article, he states that by allowing U.S. tourists into Cuba we are allowing money to flow through Cuba. The money that is being spent in Cuba on tourism will come back to America in the purchase of farm goods. II. Economic sanctions themselves are not enough to achieve foreign policy objectives. A. The stated resolution wants us to believe that economic sanctions themselves, and only themselves, will be able to achieve foreign policy objectives. However, if we look to the embargo on Cuba we can see that there were two acts passed by the president, The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 and The Cuban Liberty Democratic Soliditary Act of 1996. The later act of 1996 punishes any foreign-based companies that engage in "wrongful trafficking in property confiscated by the Castro Regime." This act does not punish the Castro regime itself, however it punishes our closest commercial allies such as Canada and the European Union. This Act of 1996 was meant to be used as a foreign policy tool however it failed to have any result but to punish our allies and us. However the act of 2000 allows cash only sales to Cuba in the form of farm produce and medical supplies. This act itself helps boost our economy because as stated in my contention I point B we were loosing money because of the sanction itself. Economic Sanctions themselves do not work as a foreign policy tool because as previously stated there will be acts and laws passed to help engrain the strain that the sanction is to put on the desired country. B. Note the plurality of the word "sanctions" exactly how many do we need to imply to achieve our foreign policy objectives? Just one? Maybe two? Ten tops. The point is that with the lack of clarity in the stated resolution we are using other countries as our little play dolls to show the rest of the world just how powerful the United States is. III. By getting rid of Economic Sanctions we can promote stable government and better achieve our foreign policy objectives. A. If we look to the economic sanction on Cuba we see that all the sanction does is harm the citizens of Cuba and not the enemy we were trying to target: Castro himself. The Castro has set up a specialized form of Socialism that is unique to him and his country. However if we get rid of the sanction we will see that it will not be a win for the Castro himself, "It would be an overdue acknowledgement that the four-and-a-half decade embargo has failed" (Daniel Griswold). However, by ending the sanction on Cuba we will not be ending the fight to help the Cuban citizens. With the sanction lifted the United States will once again allow trade and tourism back into Cuba. By allowing both trade and tourism back into Cuba, we can undermine Castro's authority from below. B. With the extinction of the Socialism Castro created; Cuba will be open to a form of democracy that will allow it to open itself to free trade. With Cuba accepting Democracy as their form of government, they will become more politically stable and grow as a nation. With political stability, foreign policy objectives will be easier to discuss and enforce without the worry of unstable countries rebelling against any objectives that are carried through. Conclusion: Given the stated information I have presented today you can see that economics sanctions themselves can result in failure, are not enough, and by eradicating them we will better achieve foreign policy objectives. I have demonstrated reasonable doubt within the resolution without attacking my opponent.