On Wednesday, President Trump announced new sanctions on Cuba. The new measures will block US citizens from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government and restrict US imports of Cuban cigars and liquor.
“Today, as part of our continuing fight against communist oppression, I am announcing that the Treasury Department will prohibit US travelers from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government,” Trump said at the White House. “We’re also further restricting the importation of alcohol and Cuban tobacco.”
The new sanctions are part of Trump’s plan to reverse the Obama administration’s steps to open up trade and normalize relations with Cuba. Since 2017, President Trump has slowly increased travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens, rolling back historic Obama-era policies.
The announcement was made during an event recognizing veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion, the failed CIA-orchestrated attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro, that took place in 1961. The new measures rolled out by Trump are likely an effort to secure the Cuban-American vote in Florida ahead of the November election.
The sanctions are also part of the administration’s campaign against Venezuela and Nicaragua, who, along with Cuba, were dubbed the “Troika of Tyranny” by former National Security Advisor John Bolton. While Bolton is long gone from the administration, the campaign against these left-wing governments is still alive. Trump administration officials often blame Cuba for Washington’s failure to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
A totally moral sicko. Unfortunately, addled-brain Biden, with Kamala by his side, is the only option, which is no option at all. Praise the Lord, we’re screwed.
“In 2016, Newsweek reported that Trump sent emissaries on a mission to secure business ventures in Cuba in 1997 that would allow him to skirt the ban imposed by the embargo. Interviews with former Trump executives, internal company records and court filings confirmed the dealings. He only turned to Cuban Americans and blasting Castro in the Herald when that didn’t work out. And still, Trump didn’t give up on being first in Cuba. He only grew impatient. … Trump’s closest associates continued to travel to Cuba in 2011, 2012 and 2013 on behalf of the Trump Organization to scout business opportunities in violation of the embargo.” — Miami Herald, 09/22/20
Goodbye whatever principles Trump might have had, hello electoral victory maybe. Not that it matters, Trump has made it very clear that he will definitely recognize the November election results as free and fair, as long as he wins. Otherwise, the mask comes off of fascist America. Like what our leaders have generally planned for Cuba, we can resolve our political questions by which faction can kill each other more efficiently.
Which proves that all corporations — Trump included — would be too happy to abolish state, so they can pray on their victims without the obstacles such as laws. I I bet today corporate “market” logic works the same. How many sanctions are skirted ? I bet many.
Perhaps “skirted” is a wrong word. It should be called looking for spoils. Looking beyond sanctions is by design. Trump was doing what every one else is doing.
The sanctions are just for the obstinate country and its population until they see the light and kneel.
But when we need something — exceptions and workarounds are made. After all corporations are the the enforcement branch of US government. Government has become a private business — and way before Trump.
Who needs the pesky voting. Still — people love theater! Yet, I would not be shocked that corporate sharks are turning on each other — thus the unseemly naked fight for power.
Without even bothering to tell us —what is in it for us, the voting fools?
The state doesn’t limit the depredations of corporations. It enables those depredations. The state is the executive committee of the ruling class.
Agree. So — this is the elite, the smartest of the smart, entitled by rule?
Why not — tyrant has the right to its pray. Pray enjoys it. It will devour any naive Prometheus bringing in the light!
“corporations are the enforcement branch of government”…while the “revolving door” system makes it a “chicken or the egg” kind of question, government, with its’ courts and guns is the enforcement arm.
“what is in it for us, the voting fools”?
Well, got to admit the level of corruption is deep, maybe too deep. Yet it is possible to find bills introduced within the system which attempt to thwart that corruption. They lose, being short of the very votes many believe are pointless. Is there a more sustainable government system than constitutional republic ? Perhaps, I havnt seen the plan. How do you regulate greed ? As long as opulent wealth is allowable, greed will be the order of the day.
Yes, there is the way. Elected officials should be concerned only with matters of public interest. And pass laws accordingly. Their involvement in private business is inappropriate and should not exist.
But the concept of public interest has been gone from American legislative bodies for so ling — that I do not think anyone even knows what it is. If in the pursuit of pubic interest a private entity is demonstratively harmed, there are laws regulating such damages and compensation. Otherwise, there is no reason for involvement in private sector. It is not in public interest that CIA and other security agencies, as well as Pentagon’s myriad functions are privatized. There us a dark comedy in Amazon’s Jeff Bezos owning portion of CIA — and getting paid for it – – then leaking anonymous CIA sources to the newspaper he owns — Washington Post!
What happens when the rest of the world starts putting sanctions on us ? Trump reminds me of an angry 13 year old girl who unfriends anyone who offends her. She’s running out of friends.
I really hope I live to see that. I’m so sick of watching the US bully every country that doesn’t behave the way the US thinks it should.
“Recognizing veterans”?! I don’t suppose they were recognized as the murderous mercenary thugs who have no respect for due process and the rule of law that they are..? No, when America makes a big mistake / crime, we lean into finding ways to make the mistake even bigger and more criminal, in flippant preparation for the next opportunity to mess things up.
Looking for that vote the banana republican’s way, as usual.
“Today, as part of our continuing fight against communist oppression, I am announcing that the Treasury Department will prohibit US travelers from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government”
Fighting oppression with oppression.
“The new sanctions are part of Trump’s plan to reverse the Obama administration”
Trump’s version of cancel culture.
The US still seems to think that if they make the people of Cuba suffer enough they’ll overthrow their government and install a capitalist government friendly to the US. If the Cubans haven’t done that after 60 years of embargo and sanctions is highly unlikely they are ever going to do it. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and thinking that THIS time it’s going to work. Meanwhile all Cubans have state-funded healthcare, something millions of Americans can only dream about.