Hamjatta,
I am very sorry that I would not be able to get back to you right now,but I
will be able to do so very soon and thank you for your response.
For Freedom
Saiks
----- Original Message -----
From: Hamjatta Kanteh <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: World Bank President Praises Cuba
> In a message dated 04/07/2001 12:50:07 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
>
> > << Hammjatta,
> > I am not taking this one with any seriousness,how can you seriously
discuss
> > the Cuban economic and social problems without a single word about the
over
> > 30 years brutal and unjust US economic blockade of this tine little
country
> > with almost no resources ,perhaps except "Sugarcanes".This is not
serious.
> > For Freedom
> > Saiks >>
>
>
> Saiks,
>
> For your information, i do not approve of the unilaterally imposed US
> economic blockade against Cuba. As a free trade liberal, i only endorse
> restrictions on free trade or economic blockades under extreme
circumstances
> and where it is determined that it would undermine the free market. Cuba,
> despite all our objections to the repugnant dictatorship of Castro and our
> sympathies with the democratic forces, doesn't qualify for trade
restrictions
> and or economic blockades of the scale the US is unilaterally imposing on
the
> country. For this reason, i'm opposed to the unilaterally imposed US
economic
> blockades. However, if the US had engaged in what i call direct targeted
> sanctions against the political dictatorship of Cuba, i would have no
> troubles in supporting such a move. Similar principles apply to Iraq and
any
> other political dictatorship.
>
> My own conviction is that free trade is far better equipped to end
> dictatorships than economic blockades or trade restrictions. The reason
for
> this is simple. When you impose economic blockades on a country in the
name
> of freedom and democracy, you only end up with the reverse of your
ultimate
> aim: a closed society that eventually resents the 'outsiders' who imposed
the
> economic blockades and effectively strengthening the dictatorship. The
> experience of Iraq and Cuba are telling. On the other hand, if free trade
had
> its way, such societies will open and the taste of freedom will make it a
> demand that the dictatorship will be in short supply of. There are more
> reasons why Adam Smith glorified the 'invisible hand' associated with
> capitalism. This is one of such reasons.
>
> To be sure, the unilaterally imposed US economic blockades has negatively
> impacted on Cuba's overall economic performance. That is regrettable and
i'm
> all for a review of the economic blockade with the ultimate intention of
> coming with a policy position that merely targets directly the political
> dictatorship and let free trade have its way with ordinary people. I
> wouldn't, however, factor the US economic blockade too much given its
> unilateral nature and the fact that many countries have defied this US
action
> and freely trading with Cuba. US allies or satellite States like Canada,
an
> economic giant of her own, have notably defied the US on this blockade and
> freely trade with Cuba despite the island's repugnant political
dictatorship.
>
> Let me end this by posing a question: will you ever support any calls for
> sanctions to be imposed on the Gambia in the event that Jammeh steals the
> next elections? Lets face it: the Cuban exiles in the US who have strongly
> and successfully lobbied US gov'ts to maintain/strengthen the economic
> blockade against the Castro dictatorship appeal to similar to principles
and
> convictions as those of us seeking the end of the Jammeh dictatorship. If
you
> end up supporting some form of sanctions against the Gambia, are you
telling
> me that Castro should have a different treatment from the likes of Jammeh?
> Why? Because Castro claims to be socialist and the rest apparently are
not?
>
> All the best,
>
> Hamjatta Kanteh
>
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