Cuban embargo under assault

The US House of Representatives, that GOP-led bastion of conservative activism, is once again pushing legislation that would ease the US embargo on Cuba.

While a bunch of measures will be debated, the one given the greatest likelihood of success is the elimination of the travel ban. It passed easily last year, and should do so again this year.

Bush has threatened to veto any bill easing sanctions on Cuba. He and his brother Jeb need the Cuban-American exile vote in Florida. Why else would Bush allow trade with communist nations like China and Vietnam and not Cuba?

Interestingly enough, not a single administration official would defend the embargo on the record. Why is that? Probably because the Bush Administration is on the wrong of the issue. As the majority of congressional Republicans now know, the embargo is intellectually bankrupt. It has failed, and it is time to admit defeat and pursue more enlightened policies.

Posted July 16, 2002 08:24 AM | Comments (0)