Posted by
Reeson on Sunday, January 14, 2007 12:29:09 PM
I actually differ with a lot of conservatives on this issue. I am in favor of lifting the economic sanctions on Cuba for two reasons: 1. They don't make a difference. Virtually every other country in the world participates in trade with Castro, despite our embargo. Unilaterally imposed economic measures just don't work. 2. The sanctions have provided Castro a scapegoat for Cuba's economic woes. He blames the U.S., when in reality the problems stem from the Communist government's economic policies. Excerpts from The
American Thinker:
By Pamela Meister
Late last week, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) officially
announced his intention to enter the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate. While he acknowledges his "dark horse" status, he knows "what has to be done" to "make my case."
Dodd may be a dark horse to the general American public, but he has been a very active player in Washington for over 30 years. First elected to the House in 1974 where he served three terms, he won his senate seat in 1980. A liberal's liberal on domestic issues, Dodd's National Journal Composite Liberal Score was 80% in 2005. (In comparison, Joe Lieberman's
score was 66%, while Ted Kennedy's was 97%.) He has strong union ties and has voted favorably many times on the pro-choice agenda.
Yet his ideas on foreign policy raise even more red flags than his domestic ones. One glaring example Americans might be interested to know about is that Dodd is in favor of lifting our embargo on Cuba.
In May of 2002, Dodd compared President Bush to Castro,
saying that both men
"refuse to listen to the voices of their citizens calling for change...That a small minority holds sway in Cuba isn't surprising - it is a dictatorship. However that it does in the United States is disturbing. We have a right to expect something different from our own government which is after all a democracy."
While a United States president might expect foreign enemies to compare him to a murderous despot who thinks nothing of imprisoning, torturing and even killing those who dare to disagree with the government, one would not expect a United States senator to make such an outrageous statement.
Senator Dodd's inability to grasp the simple realities in Cuba is alarming. And if he cannot understand those issues, can we expect him to lead us successfully in the GWOT as president?
Pamela Meister writes about politics and world events on her blog. She can be contacted here.