He argued , hence , that the US Government - in addition to the embargo 's direct influence on supporting Cuba 's regime - indirectly inhibits potentially constructive pressures towards change , insofar as third countries , foreign non-governmental organizations and prominent individuals lend support to Cuba 's resistance to the US embargo , and this offsets external pressures to democratize , thereby allowing the Cuban regime to convert such `` empathy '' into a source of legitimacy at home .
That is because third countries , foreign non-governmental organizations and prominent individuals lend support to Cuba 's resistance to the US embargo , and this offsets external pressures for democracy , thereby allowing the Cuban regime to convert such `` empathy '' into a source of legitimacy at home .