Brother Saiks,

This is a Financial Times Leader Comment on American sanctions against Cuba.
I'm sending it to the List because it gives the many that were interested in
our debate, a liberal perspective on Cuba and the Castro dictatorship,
especially from the standpoint of international liberal opinion. It is not
meant to kick-start another debate; rather, to redress an imbalance in
opinion. I want to specifically draw your attention to this wiseacre from the
said FT Leader Comment which pretty much sums up all i kept repeating to you:
"In all other respects, such a decision would be deplorable. First, 40 years
of US sanctions have signally failed to restore democracy to Cuba and,
according to the US International Trade Commission, have had negligible
impact on its economy. Arguably, they have served only to keep the Castro
regime in power.    "


This was the point i was always making to you. I hope you now get my point
that the economic blockade whilst it was wrong in the first place, had almost
negligible effects in Cuba's overall economic performance. When i have more
time on my hand today, i shall be protesting against the anti- capitalist
protesters gathered in Genoa for the G8 Summit.

All the best,

Hamjatta Kanteh

*************
Editorial comment: Bush and Cuba
 - Jul 16 2001 00:00:00
President George W. Bush faces a choice this week between his determination
to display a hard line on Cuba and his allegiance to US allies. He is due to
decide by Tuesday whether to unleash sanctions legislation designed to
increase pressure on the Castro regime. Common sense, economics and America's
own best interests demand that he should not pull the trigger.
At issue is the Helms-Burton anti-Cuba act, approved by Congress shortly
before the 1996 mid-term elections and reluctantly signed into law by Bill
Clinton, the former president. Specifically, Mr Bush must decide whether to
waive for another year Title III of the act, which entitles former owners of
expropriated Cuban assets to seek triple damages in US courts against foreign
companies that "traffick" in them.
There is only one argument for not waiving Title III - as Mr Clinton did from
the moment Helms-Burton took effect - and it is based on the most
short-sighted domestic political calculation. It is that unblocking the
provision would win approval from the small but vocal Cuban-American
community, above all in the electorally pivotal state of Florida.
In all other respects, such a decision would be deplorable. First, 40 years
of US sanctions have signally failed to restore democracy to Cuba and,
according to the US International Trade Commission, have had negligible
impact on its economy. Arguably, they have served only to keep the Castro
regime in power.
Second, Helms-Burton is bad law. It seeks explicitly to impose federal law
beyond US frontiers. Title III is so vaguely worded that it could set off an
avalanche of legal actions that would clog up the US court system. It is also
far from clear why this category of plaintiffs should be accorded special
judicial privileges.
Third, punishing non-US companies would be perverse. It would further
undermine international support for the US stance on Cuba and invite
retaliation. The European Union already prohibits EU-based companies from
complying with Helms-Burton and has made clear it will challenge the law in
the World Trade Organisation if Title III is activated. The resulting dispute
could torpedo efforts to patch up transatlantic trade differences and could
poison future US-EU relations.
Only a month ago, Mr Bush joined EU leaders in pledging to strengthen
bilateral trade links. His decision on Helms-Burton is an important test of
that commitment. He should promise this week to continue waiving Title III
indefinitely and to press Congress to amend other objectionable provisions of
the act. It is time this pointless and troublesome law was buried for good.

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