The American Trade Embargo Against Cuba should be eliminated

C1)The US should not deny the right of any buisnesses or persons to do business with whomever they choose. If GM wants to sell cars to Cuba then why should we stop them? You say its to starve a totalitarian government when this logic is obviously flawed. We buy 11% of our crude oil from Venezuela which is run by a dictator, Hugo Chavez [1]. If we are just trying to starve dictatorships we wouldn't purchase oil from Venezuela, Iran, etc. so this can't be the sole reason for our blockade. You then say that this blockade is the only "leverage" the US holds over Cuba when this is obviously false since this blockade has been going on for years and Cuba has not crumbled or given in but merely exists in a state of economic stagnation because of our failed efforts. It does nothing but hurt the Cuban people. Either be consistent with embargoing dictatorships or stop discriminating against Cuba.C2) The Cuban economy might be nationalized but their government is letting up on it. Cubans are now allowed to buy and sell their own property. [2] This remarkable change shows a move towads a future with less government control. If we ended the blockade then we could be there to help the Cubans during this transition phase. As to fueling the oppression of 11 million people... they are being oppressed with or without the US blockade. With the blockade they are are oppressed and forced to drive cars from the 1950's because we refuse to sell to them. Without the blockade Cubans are oppressed but get to drive new cars. Either way Cuba is what it is, why punish it for who it is? C3)The Castros are both well into their 80's, while they might "hate" the United States they are close to death. [3] Now I don't know what you mean about this policy of hating the US, sure at one point they did but now that the USSR is gone and the US's crusade against communism is finished Cuba has no more reason to hate us just as we have no more reason to hate them. Cuba has done nothing to us in years, since before the USSR collapsed. This blockade is obviously out of date. The next part of your argument is pure speculation. I too can speculate. What if, after the Castros are dead and the country is in a phase of transition the US opens trade with Cuba and helps it recover, helps it into the modern world? We could build a friendship where their previously was none. You speculate that our enemies would take advantage of a newly rebuilt Cuba but I say why can't we benefit from that? Besides, Cuba is no longer on the world stage. China and Iran could make agreements with Bermuda and Mexico too but they don't do that. Why not? They are both semi-modern countries close to the US. No, if we moved in and showed the Cuban government decency I think eventually we would get some in return. C4) Your quote about Castro is from 2002 when Fidel was still in office. Now Raul is in office he is much more lenient than his brother was (evidence by the rights to buy and sell property). Have we negotiated with Raul? No we have not. But we should. Your fact is out of date by 10 years. Let's try again.P1) An Embargo out of DateSince the collapse of the USSR in 1991 Cuba poses no legitiment threat to the United States. This conflict is an out dated one with roots leading back to the 60s. With the USSR gone, communism effectively crushed and no recent problems with the Cuban government we should lift the embargo. It is an old and out dated policy that only hurts both sides.P2) Both Sides Would BenefitMany US citizens say that they would vacation in Cuba if given the chance. A thriving tourism industry would be set up benefiting the Cuban people while giving them an incentive to treat tourists and foreigners well. The Cuban people suffer from old out dated infrastructure and equipment due to the embargo. Both sides could benefit from the lifting of the embargo while forging a new friendship in a potetial age of transition and friendship.P3) The War of IdeasThe best way to fight the communist regime would be through ideas. The internet is the best way to learn new ideas, spread your own ideas and further expand ones own mental capacity. With the embargo in place Cuba has minimal internet capacity and is severly crippled in their technology industry. If we opened trade with Cuba internet and TV could surface and spread new ideas to the Cuban people. Sure it might be censored but limited spread of ideas is better than none, which is what they have now.* Cuba is changing, Fidel is gone and their economy is transforming.* The embargo is born of rivalries and sentiments long gone and dead* The embargo hurts both America and Cuba* Why should we punish the Cuban people with a poor economy and substandard goods for something they can no longer control?* Forging a friendship with Cuba now could help the US usher in a new Cuba when this regime passes away.Thus the blockade on Cuba should be lifted.Thank you. [1] http://www.cfr.org...[2] http://www.nytimes.com...[3] http://en.wikipedia.org...