Will Cuban Oil Find Break U.S. Embargo?

[warpedskydiver 0]

Will Cuban Oil Find Break U.S. Embargo?
Saturday, July 29, 2006 12:27 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By TODD LEWAN

MIAMI (AP) — Some facts about America's trade embargo with Cuba:

— It's been U.S. policy since 1961.

— It has yet to loosen Fidel Castro's grip on power.

— It has cost America little strategically or economically.

Until now, that is.

From here on out, say a growing chorus of experts, America will pay a price for maintaining its 45-year trade ban with the communist nation — a strategic and economic price that will have negative repercussions for the United States in the decades to come.

What has changed the equation?

Oil.

To be more specific, recent, sizable discoveries of it in the North Cuba Basin — deep-water fields that have already drawn the interest of companies from China, India, Norway, Spain, Canada, Venezuela and Brazil.

This, in turn, has reheated debate in the U.S. Congress and the Cuban-American community on an old question:

Has the time finally come to shelve the embargo — given America's need for more sources of crude at a time of rising gas prices, soaring global demand and the outbreak of war in the Middle East?

Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado, an expert on Cuba energy matters and a political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, says America's thirst for oil will soon force a fundamental change in Washington's relations with Havana.

"I've always argued that we would keep the Cuban embargo in place until we got to the point where it started to cost us something." Today, he adds, "we're almost there."

Says Phil Peters, vice president of the Lexington Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Va., that defends limited government and free trade, and a Cuba expert: "If Cuba discovers a lot of oil and becomes an oil exporter, the embargo almost becomes an absurdity."

Kirby Jones, founder and president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association in Washington, D.C., which has long sought an end to the trade ban, says the reality of Cuba as an oil producer makes the embargo too costly a policy to keep.

"Our choice is: Are we going to let those other countries take that oil? Or are we going to look at our strategic interests and recognize that very close to our shores is a substantial quantity of oil that is going to be exploited?"

Cuba has been oil hunting, not always successfully, for decades.

With Soviet help, it discovered the Varadero Oil Field in 1971. This reservoir, within 5 miles of Cuba's northern coast, today yields about 40 percent of Cuba's total production — roughly 75,000 barrels a day of poor-quality, heavy, sour crude.

In July 2004, however, the Spanish oil company Repsol-YPF, in partnership with Cuba's state oil company, CUPET, identified five fields it classified as "high-quality" in the deep water of the Florida Straits, 20 miles northeast of Havana.

Seven months later, a report by the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed it: The North Cuba Basin held a substantial quantity of oil — 4.6 billion to 9.3 billion barrels of crude and 9.8 trillion to 21.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Cuba wasted no time, dividing the 74,000 square mile (120,000 square kilometer) area into 59 exploration blocks, and then welcoming foreign oil conglomerates with offers of production-sharing agreements.

Oil companies from China and Canada, already prospecting for oil along Cuba's coast, began talks with Cuban energy officials about investments in deep-water operations.

Then, in May, Spain's Repsol-YPF announced it was partnering with India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp., and Norsk Hydro ASA of Norway to explore for oil and gas in six of the 59 deep-water blocks along Cuba's maritime border with the United States. (Sherritt International Corp., the Canadian oil company, has acquired exploration rights in four of the deep-sea blocks.)

That raised the eyebrows of many an oil executive, says Jorge Pinon, a former senior executive with Amoco Oil and a research associate at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami.

Norsk and ONGC are among a select group of companies with deep-water know-how and technology, so when they signed on with the Spanish, "everyone else said, 'Maybe we better take a look at Cuba again.'"

The U.S. Congress certainly has.

In May, with much fanfare, Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, introduced twin bills to the House and Senate that would exempt Big Oil from the embargo.

Before introducing his legislation, Craig told a reporter that "prohibition on trade with Cuba has accomplished just about zero." Ominously, he added: "China, as we speak, has a drilling rig off the coast of Cuba." (The senator failed to mention that the Chinese are working in shallow water near Cuba's shore, and possess neither the technology nor the expertise to tap Cuba's promising deep-water reserves.)

Regardless, the bills represent the best chance yet to "punch a big hole into the embargo," says Johannes Werner, editor of Cuba Trade & Investment News, published in Sarasota, Fla.

That scenario raises the hackles of the conservative, and highly influential, Cuban-American voting lobby of south Florida — not exactly what President Bush, or his brother, Jeb, who occupies the governor's mansion in Florida, would prefer three months before midterm elections.

Says Alfredo Mesa, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami: "Those who would advocate for ... allowing U.S. companies to drill off Cuba lose sight of how that would damage our ability to press the Cuban government on other issues, such as human rights."

Environmentalists are also squarely set against oil-industry access to Cuba, though for different reasons. Oil spills — even routine toxic pollution from drilling — could pollute the Everglades and Florida's most economically important beaches, they say, and wreck the state's tourism industry.

Thanks to Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Rep. Jim Davis, D-Fla., they, too, have measures in Congress for which to cheer: twin bills that would deny U.S. visas to executives of foreign companies that drill for oil in Cuban waters.

Nelson's bill would undo a 1977 maritime boundary agreement between the countries that bisects the Straits of Florida and allows Cuba to perform commercial activities (e.g., oil drilling) near the Florida Keys.

It's not clear how this could keep the Cubans from exploiting waters closer to their shores than America's. One semiofficial response from Cuba, an editorial by the state-run Prensa Latina newswire, called the measures "extraterritorial."

How likely is it that Congress will act?

"If the oil industry continues to sit on the fence as it has been — not too likely, especially with this administration and Congress," says Werner, editor of the Cuba trade newsletter. "But there are elections in November, which could change the whole equation."

Peters, of the Lexington Institute, agrees. "I think if you call (oil companies) up and ask them, 'What is your position on this?' they'd say yes, we're behind an exemption in the embargo. But I'm not sure if they would get behind it in a major way yet."

In response to queries from The Associated Press, the American Petroleum Institute in Washington, D.C., the industry's lobbying arm, issued this statement:

"We cannot speak to individual interest in Cuba, but we can say that API members are more focused on expanding access on the U.S. portion of the outer continental shelf, which is much closer to the existing pipeline network and where they have more information about oil and natural gas reserves."

All of this is still somewhat premature, says Pinon, the former oil executive and research associate. "We are still three to five years away from commercializing any of those Cuban reserves."

There is at least an 18-month backlog on the leasing of deep-water rigs, he says, and "crude oil is worth zero if you can't move it or process it. Even if they find the oil, what are they going to do with it?"

Benjamin-Alvarado, a regular visitor to Cuba who has been following that nation's energy development for 15 years, concurs. Cuba, he says, needs help "downstreaming" — upgrading its ports, refineries and maintenance equipment.

Already, though, Venezuela's state oil monopoly, PDVSA, has signed a $100 million deal to revamp Cuba's Cienfuegos refinery, a Russian relic from Cold-War days, and to increase oil storage capacity at the Port of Matanzas.

"Every day the United States puts off making the path into Cuba, that window of opportunity closes a little more," says Benjamin-Alvarado. Once Cuba gets to the platform stage of deep-water drilling, he says, "the Americans are going to be left out."

Quote

I do not think we should deal with Fidel, but I hope he won't live much longer, his successor may be much more favorable to US policy.

• Quote

[SpeedRacer 1]

Quote

I do not think we should deal with Fidel, but I hope he won't live much longer, his successor may be much more favorable to US policy.

Probably not though. Diplomatically, the USA has never been as bad off as it is now. Political leaders in foreign countries score a lot of points by being as anti-US as possible.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[shropshire 0]

Time for a regime change then

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[skydyvr 0]

Quote

— It has cost America little strategically or economically.

Obviously you aren't a cigar smoker. Screw the oil, let's lift the embargo so we don't have to order from Europe at rip-off prices.

. . =(_8^(1)

[miked10270 0]

Further to Speedy's response...

Once again America opens it's mouth only to put it's foot in it as politicians state that the Cuban Embargo should be lifted because it'll hurt the US.

The cuban Embargo has hurt Cuba for some 40+ years. Now The US says it was fine to be gratuitously nasty, but not if it's actually going to cost something!

I very much doubt that Cuba will deal with America if it finds itself in a position of strength. There's just too much bad history.

Unless of course America plays the "regime-change" card ... But that may well provoke a Chinese reaction.

Mike.

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Steel 0]

Quote

Time for a regime change then

No it was time for regime change when that piece of shit Keneddy turned his back on 1500 Cuban-Americans that went back as ground troops (with an agreement of American air cover) to save Cuba by over-throwing Castro.
Right now, what we need is for the stupid ignorant people who know nothing about Cuba to shut up and wait just as we Cuban-Americans are waiting for that son of a bitch to die or even better for somebody to finally suceed in assinating that asshole. www.killcastro.com . See we even set up a special fund for it, 15 Million for whoever takes him out. Its been made quite clear that when he dies the power will be transferred to his brother Raul and we strongly believe he will take the money and run to some country that will take criminals in. However, just incase, you can see there is a fund for 1.5 million for whoever takes out his brother.
See your comparison with Iraq and Cuba shows your ignorance on the matter. Virtually no Cuba-American and very few Cubans (who never left) would be upset if the U.S. asassinated Castro or took him out of power any possible way.
Did you know that the son of a bitch has not slept in the same place for 2 nights in a row ever since Cubans fully understood his policies. Do you know that he has his underwear incinerated because of fear that if its washed that a CUBAN will put some sort of acid on it to kill him.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[warpedskydiver 0]

15 million?

Is this a guaranteed payment?

and if so what is the USDOJ stance on this?

I am serious does anyone know?

[Steel 0]

Quote

Further to Speedy's response...

Once again America opens it's mouth only to put it's foot in it as politicians state that the Cuban Embargo should be lifted because it'll hurt the US.

The cuban Embargo has hurt Cuba for some 40+ years. Now The US says it was fine to be gratuitously nasty, but not if it's actually going to cost something!
------------------------------------------------
Once again a clueless British person speaks about something he has no knowledge about.
==================================


I very much doubt that Cuba will deal with America if it finds itself in a position of strength. There's just too much bad history.
-----------------------------------------------------
Oh really,
Tell me oh wise one. How many Cubans do you know. How many people on that Island do you keep in touch with. To help you deal with you lack of knowledge on that matter. If Cubans are sucessful in killing that man, the would be more than happy to deal with the U.S. To say that Cubans are against the U.S. is and ignorant statement at best. Cubans could not possibly be happier any other prospect, other than a regime change in Cuba. I know that for a fact.
===========================


Unless of course America plays the "regime-change" card ... But that may well provoke a Chinese reaction.

Mike.
---------------------------------------------
Already answered that one.
,
Mike.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[Steel 0]

Quote

15 million?

Is this a guaranteed payment?

and if so what is the USDOJ stance on this?

I am serious does anyone know?

The U.S. has hated Castro from day one. Unfortunately though with a pussy like Keneddy in office nothing was done about it until it was too late. I think it was in 2000 that some Cuban-Americans from my home town were stopped in Panama on a mission to assinate Castro at a summit in Venezuela http://edition.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/11/17/panama.castro.02/ They were withheld by the Panamanian government for some three years if I recall correctly, and then freed to come to the U.S.
Venezuela, with that want to be Castro piece of shit, wanted them sent Venezuela (so he could kill them of course). Its been speculated that the U.S. was involved in pressuring Panama behind the seens to save these great men. Now you can say that is speculation. But if indeed that is the case you can use that to guage how the U.S. government feels about the Cuban hatred of Castro.
I will go a little further, in as much to ask you, why do you think the U.S. has that embargo on Cuba? Do you really believe that its solely because the U.S. cares about Cuba's human rights policies? or to fight communism? If so then what about all that trade with China. China is as bad if not worse. No that is not the reason. The reason is because, of Cuban-Americans like me who do actually care about what is happening in Cuba, lobbying to make sure the Embargo stays where it is. We may not succeed in bringing the Communist goverment down with the embargo, especially with all those Europeans and Canadians who couldn't give a rats ass about Cuba. But we certainly do not want to add to the fire by letting American dollars help that regime that we want to fall.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[miked10270 0]

Quote

Once again a clueless British person speaks about something he has no knowledge about.

Once again, because Someone diesn't wholly agree with an extreme viewpoint, they must be "Clueless".

Quote

Oh really, Tell me oh wise one. How many Cubans do you know.

Obviously more than you have assumed. How many time have YOU been to Cuba?

Quote

To help you deal with you lack of knowledge on that matter....

You seem to assume a lack of knowledge on my part.


If Cubans are sucessful in killing that man... Cubans could not possibly be happier any other prospect, other than a regime change in Cuba. I know that for a fact.

[miked10270 0]

Quote

The U.S. has hated Castro from day one.

The US ARMED Castro's revolutionaries!

America welcomed Castro as far better than rule by Organised-Crime Batista. It was only when he introduced land reforms which impacted on American companies that America protested. Incidentally, by todays standards, Castro's land reforms were actually pretty conservative and effectively form modern company policy today.

Quote

Unfortunately though with a pussy like Keneddy in office nothing was done about it until it was too late.

You can accuse Kennedy of quite a few things, but surely "Pussy" isn't one of them.

Quote

I think it was in 2000 that some Cuban-Americans from my home town were stopped in Panama on a mission to assinate Castro... Castro piece of shit, ... save these great men... Etc...

So... You don't send Comrade Fidel birthday & solidarity cards then?

Mike.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Steel 0]

Quote

Quote

Once again a clueless British person speaks about something he has no knowledge about.

Once again, because Someone diesn't wholly agree with an extreme viewpoint, they must be "Clueless".
No your responses are what prove how clueless you are.
===============================

Quote

Oh really, Tell me oh wise one. How many Cubans do you know.

Obviously more than you have assumed. How many time have YOU been to Cuba?
--------------------------------------------------
I have not been to Cuba by choice. My parents parents, grandparents and most Cuban-Americans born in Cuba, never returned for the same reason as the Embargo. We don't want to bring American dollars there. Is this such a difficult concept to understand. This does not mean that we have not kept in touch with the unfortunate ones who were not able to flee from the island by other means or even by the ones who have been coming across for the last 47 YEARS.
===================================

Quote

To help you deal with you lack of knowledge on that matter....

You seem to assume a lack of knowledge on my part.
-------------------------------------------------
I think reading your post its not an assumption but a clear understanding.
================================

If Cubans are sucessful in killing that man... Cubans could not possibly be happier any other prospect, other than a regime change in Cuba. I know that for a fact.

Which pretty clearly gives YOUR opinion of Cuba - committed anti-Castro.
--------------------------------------------------
Yes I am anti-Castro as are the overwelming majority of Cubans both in and out of the Island.
===============================

If all CUbans are SO against Castro, then why hasn't there been a popular uprising, rather than a bunch of increasingly marginalised expatriates dreaming of Der-Tag? The good old days of a stable Mafia Capitalist government.

If I remember rightly, the last popular uprising in Cuba was...
-----------------------------------------------
And you wonder why I say you are clueless on this matter. For you information over 113K thousand Cubans have died due to fighting this regime. Its naive and best to assume that its an easy task to just step up and kill him.
===================================
Castro has remained in power for40+ years, do you really see some amazing massive change simply as a result of his death?
------------------------------------------------------
Yes I do. He is a madman who has many people who fear him. The next guy who steps up will probably not have the witts to keep the status quo, and Cuban-Americans have more than enough money to build the Island back up, to make it the happy place it was before. I am not saying that the mindset that has been created there after 40 plus years will dissapear over night, but it will improve imediately.
================================
Particularly in response to America saying: "Now you've got oil, we'd like to be your friend again."
---------------------------------------------------
That might happen with the Democrats in power. But the Republicans would not be stupid enough to loose their Cuban base. If Miami was not as Cuban as it is, Florida would have been lost without a doubt. Ending this embargo is certainly a way to piss Cubans off enough to abstain from voting if not worse. (Vote for the socialists)
===================================
My own read is that the Chinese, Venezuelan & European influence is too well established. Exploration, drilling & profit sharing agreements are already being put in place, so short of America invading and effectively doing a "smash & grab" on Cuban oil, robbing the existing partners, you've "missed-the-boat"(sic).
--------------------------------------------
The only thing I can assertain from this is that you think that oil money is going to keep the Communists afloat in Cuba. I think that it may however, I still believe that once Castro dies the next person will be quickly overthrown. Cubans hate that government and as soon as its possible will overthrow it. Again we, Cuban-Americans do NOT want to add to the fire by pouring more money into Castro's bank accounts.
=============================

With hindsight, the embargo is something that should have been quietly dropped years ago, if only on the basis that the best way to influence a country is to get close to it (and, if necessary, hug it to death).

Mike.

[Steel 0]

Quote

Quote

The U.S. has hated Castro from day one.

The US ARMED Castro's revolutionaries!

America welcomed Castro as far better than rule by Organised-Crime Batista. It was only when he introduced land reforms which impacted on American companies that America protested. Incidentally, by todays standards, Castro's land reforms were actually pretty conservative and effectively form modern company policy today.

Quote

reply]

This like most of what you have posted on the matter is a joke and displays a clear lack of knowledge. I find it pointless to debate with somebody who is this confused. So, I will give you a link to can educate your self on Cuban history. http://www.historyofcuba.com/cuba.htm . If you read the entire history you might understand the U.S. positions through the years more clearly. But since the current topic in which you have demonstrated lack of Knowledge is the effects and causes of the Cuban revolution, I would skipped up to 1959 and go from there.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

• Quote

[SkyDekker 1,465]

So, let me get this straight.....you have never been to Cuba...ever in your life...but you claim to be an expert on what Cubans in Cuba think and do?

On top of that you think that restricting trade and restricting the amount of money ordinary Cubans can make is good for those Cubans? That's a pretty communistic line of thinking.....

[miked10270 0]

So... Will the Cuban oil find cause the US to drop their embargo?

Or should we all just go & kill Castro? (that's just my little joke)

Mike.

Incidentally, Raul Castro is a given to follow Fidel as leader. He won't last long - he's only 5 years younger than Fidel. My money's then on Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Roque.

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Steel 0]

Quote

So, let me get this straight.....you have never been to Cuba...ever in your life...but you claim to be an expert on what Cubans in Cuba think and do?
--------------------------------------------------------
Everybody in my family over 45 years of age escaped from there. Many were unable to. I think that I have much more insight into Cuban life than some clueless Canadian or European who goes to Cuba and stays at a beutiful resort which is off-limits to Cuban citizens and was actually built by the SPANISH. Let me guess you didn't know that that beutiful resort you stayed at was off limits to Cubans.

=================================

On top of that you think that restricting trade and restricting the amount of money ordinary Cubans can make is good for those Cubans?
------------------------------------------------------
Again ignorance is displayed. Did you know that Castro is the 7th richest dictator in the world but yet Cubans are starving. Is it to difficult to understand that more more sent into Cuba will just equal more money going into Castro's bank account and more money added to building up his military to oppress the Cuban people.
=============================

That's a pretty communistic line of thinking.....

That a pretty stupid line of thought, but I guess that is not something new.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[Steel 0]

Quote

So... Will the Cuban oil find cause the US to drop their embargo?
-----------------------------------------------------
I certainly hope not and can assure you that Cuban-Americans will do everything in their power to avoid that.
===============================

Or should we all just go & kill Castro? (that's just my little joke)
---------------------------------------------------
That would be awesome, and btw. I am not kidding about that. But I won't hold my breath, 47 years of failed attempts on that don't make me think it will happen this week.
==============================

Mike.

Incidentally, Raul Castro is a given to follow Fidel as leader. He won't last long - he's only 5 years younger than Fidel.
-------------------------------------------------------
He may be only 5 years younger but his health is not nearly as deteriorated. And all that is needed is for him to be overthrown before Felipe Roque was to take power. My bet is that Raul will be exiled pretty quickly.
===================================


My money's then on Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Roque.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[miked10270 0]

Just to indulge the "Kill-Castro-Faction"... This seems appropriate:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4899414.stm

There's an interesting bit by Osvaldo Paya. He is the head of a small opposition group in Cuba known as the Christian Liberation Movement.

"In order to prevent the risk of an explosion of violence on the president's death, Mr Paya supports engaging in dialogue now, in the hope of promoting a peaceful transition to a more democratic system."

Then again, I'm sure that a Cuban Dissident actually living in Cuba is simply another "Stupid-Know-Nothing".

Mike. (Hoping for another "Velvet-Revolution and hithertofore unaware that Central Havana was a tourist camp prohibited to Cubans!)

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

Everybody in my family over 45 years of age escaped from there. Many were unable to. I think that I have much more insight into Cuban life than some clueless Canadian or European who goes to Cuba and stays at a beutiful resort which is off-limits to Cuban citizens and was actually built by the SPANISH. Let me guess you didn't know that that beutiful resort you stayed at was off limits to Cubans.

I have never been to Cuba and certainly don't pretend to be an expert. Nice assumption though, reflects on the rest of your reasoning skills used....

My understanding is though, that Cubans definitely benefit from the tourism industry from countries other than the US. I have no doubt Castro is very rich, many leaders of countries are. I still don't see how the embargo is helping the average Cuban though. It certainly hasn't helped to bring Castro's regime to an end....

[Skyrad 0]

50/50 what do ya say?

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

OK, so not all of us speak spanish, so what has Castro done that is so bad? I mean Cuba is a popular holiday destination now. Surely hes not that bad is he?

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[miked10270 0]

A quick browse through this might also be informative:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm

Mike.

PS: Is the area around the Hotel Presidente REALLY devoid of Cubans?

Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable.

Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode.

[Steel 0]

Quote

Quote

I have never been to Cuba and certainly don't pretend to be an expert. Nice assumption though, reflects on the rest of your reasoning skills used....

My understanding is though, that Cubans definitely benefit from the tourism industry from countries other than the US. I have no doubt Castro is very rich, many leaders of countries are.
----------------------------------------------------
Its funny how you say you have no doubt and then you make this false statement.
This is NOT a matter of opinion, I know many Cubans who are there and can tell you first hand that they are living like shit because of Castro, and that if you give him more money he will NOT improve the standard of living for the Cubans because keeping them hungry and fearing for their lives is how he stays in power.
===============================



I still don't see how the embargo is helping the average Cuban though. It certainly hasn't helped to bring Castro's regime to an end....

---------------------------------------------------
Bringing down the embargo is adding fuel to the fire. Is it really so hard to understand that more money equals more advanced weaponry.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Since he is already the 7th richest dictator in the world (I'll just believe you on this stat) can't he already purchase those advanced weapons?

As I understand it, the money floating around the Cuban economy for a large part comes from the tourism industry, this does benefit the average Cuban. The US would be a huge source of tourists. Would that not also mean that there would be more money available for the average Cuban? (I understand Castro would make more money too, but surely as a proud Cuban you care about your fellow Cubans?)

[Steel 0]

Quote

A quick browse through this might also be informative:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm

Mike.

PS: Is the area around the Hotel Presidente REALLY devoid of Cubans?

It most certainly is. Maybe for a Cuban senator or somebody somehow involved in Castro's regime.
That reminds me of some special I saw where the were claiming that some Cuban families has 2 or even 3 cars. What a joke that is! Even though the Castro family owns more than 300 Mercedes Benz, the common folk are more typically reduced to riding on horseback, if that.
,

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.