US embargo of Cuba

I find it ironic that my opponent has chosen the environmental route to defend the US embargo of Cuba, as I consider myself about as "green" as Al Gore. This argument is just the latest in a series of U.S. excuses D.C. has used to perpetuate the embargo. It is also hypocritical following the Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil DISASTER a couple years ago: https://en.wikipedia.org... something for which Halliburton (A US firm) has admitted guilt to. http://www.huffingtonpost.com...My opponent lists he is "con/against" animal rights in his profile (So why are you concerned with coral reefs/marine life?) But I am getting off topic here.My opponent states "We first put the embargo on Cuba to end the Cuban Missile Crisis" Not true, the embargo was placed on Cuba in 1960 because the US was angry Castro came out of the closet as a communist and because he overthrew Batista (Popular uprising), a ruthless/oppressive dictator and US puppet. See below info. and the missile crisiswas not until 1962.From: http://forcechange.com... a site that lists animal rights first and the environment second on its banner.The U.S.-Cuba embargo was signed into effect in October 1960 and ceased any commercial or economic interactions between the two countries. This was done in reaction to the nationalization of the country under Fidel Castro, including some properties of U.S. citizens. However, the political importance and idealistic significance of the embargo increased as a result of the rising tensions in the Cold War.Note the word outdated below: In 1992 , soon after the Berlin Wall fell, the U.S. government passed the Cuban Democracy Act, promising to continue the embargo until the Cuban government made progress towards a true democracy. Unfortunately, this outdated piece of legislation has stunted Cuba’s economy for over 50 years and left millions of Cubans living in poverty. With the Cold War long in the past, it’s time to open America’s doors to Cuba and help them grow their economy whether they believe in communism or not.From Forbes: http://www.forbes.com..."SENSELESS" Lifting the embargo will immediately jump start the Cuban economy through tourism and American investment, raising the living standards of impoverished Cubans and, at the same time, sections of the American economy. Moreover, there are millions of Cubans currently living in the U.S. They are our friends, neighbors, work associates, and relatives. This outdated piece of legislation, put in place 53 years ago, has had severe consequences for the Cuban people both here in America as well as in Cuba. If America is truly the altruistic modern super power the U.S. government continues to insist it is, this embargo must be lifted in order to help Cuba in the same way Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and even Haiti has been helped. The U.S. is China’s biggest importer, and China is still a proponent of communism. Why has Cuba remained the shut out of American markets for so long, when they are so close? This is pure politics my fellow debater. Since when has DC placed embargoes on countries for environmental reasons? If so we should embargo ourselves and China. But that would bankrupt Walmart. A bit of humor to end this round.