US/Cuba to Begin Talks

[Communist Volkstrad]

I believe that, until Cuba transitions into a free-market democracy, there should be no let up of sanctions.

Obama is making a really bad mistake.

Yes how dare the Cubans hold onto their national sovereignty and not sell their country out and do the bidding of the glorious imperium americanum?

Yes, very much this ^.

While I do think we should try to nudge them towards being less authoritarian, we shouldn't outright force them to become a "free-market democracy".

[Occupied Deutschland]

I believe that, until Cuba transitions into a free-market democracy, there should be no let up of sanctions.

Obama is making a really bad mistake.

Yes how dare the Cubans hold onto their national sovereignty and not sell their country out and do the bidding of the glorious imperium americanum?

Well, provided by 'the Cubans' you mean 'Castro'n'kin and their merry band of murderers'.

[Teemant]

How are they going to find more western movies if they are not being sold?

The same way people in North Korea and China get access: the black market.

Cuba is an island. It's much harder to smuggle something there because it isn't easy to hide a cargo ship.

[The Nuclear Fist]

The same way people in North Korea and China get access: the black market.

Cuba is an island. It's much harder to smuggle something there because it isn't easy to hide a cargo ship.

An island next to a massive, wealthy nation it has a history of boating people to and from with.

I somehow doubt the Cuban government will manage to block out all western media.

But let's assume that's correct.

What's so wrong with trading with the Cubans? We trade with much worse regimes all around the world. Fuck, we sell worse regimes weapons. Why should we avoid trying to mend fences with Cuba? Who loses here? The US gains a new market for its goods, Cuba gets a chance to improve its economy, everyone wins.

Fuck, you could probably make a case that the embargo is harming the Cuban people, and at worst an influx of trade may give them a chance to improve their infrastructure and the basic lives of the citizenry.

[Canaore]

Cuba is a fetish — an old one, but a fetish nonetheless — for right-wingers and left-wingers alike. What's its effective importance in the world? None. In what way can it interfere in the world's destiny and what political weight does it have in the Caribbean and Latin America? Not significantly. What's left of Cuba is the memory of a revolution that seduced the hopeful and the naïve and that ended in a brutal dictatorship capable of frighten at least those who don't live there.

Still, I'm glad that talks will be resumed, and hopefully, the embargo lifted. However, Cuba certainly won't become a democracy because of that.

[Fortschritte]

Cuba is a fetish — an old one, but a fetish nonetheless — for right-wingers and left-wingers alike. What's its effective importance in the world? None. In what way can it interfere in the world's destiny and what political weight does it have in the Caribbean and Latin America? Not significantly. What's left of Cuba is the memory of a revolution that seduced the hopeful and the naïve and that ended in a brutal dictatorship capable of frighten at least those who don't live there.

Still, I'm glad that talks will be resumed, and hopefully, the embargo lifted. However, Cuba certainly won't become a democracy because of that.

While I largely agree with your first points, I believe you're underestimating the role economic growth and greater access to information can play in regime changes. While I'm not suggesting that lifting the embargo will be the sole cause of a possible future regime change, I do think it could help.

[Anglo-California]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

[Fortschritte]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

While troublesome, but somehow classy gambling addicts may find that to be a dream come true, I'm sure the average Cuban doesn't share your sentiment.

[Canaore]

Cuba is a fetish — an old one, but a fetish nonetheless — for right-wingers and left-wingers alike. What's its effective importance in the world? None. In what way can it interfere in the world's destiny and what political weight does it have in the Caribbean and Latin America? Not significantly. What's left of Cuba is the memory of a revolution that seduced the hopeful and the naïve and that ended in a brutal dictatorship capable of frighten at least those who don't live there.

Still, I'm glad that talks will be resumed, and hopefully, the embargo lifted. However, Cuba certainly won't become a democracy because of that.

While I largely agree with your first points, I believe you're underestimating the role economic growth and greater access to information can play in regime changes. While I'm not suggesting that lifting the embargo will be the sole cause of a possible future regime change, I do think it could help.

Plenty of dictatorships have access to American goods, culture and media. Vietnam comes to mind. The CPV continues to hold on to power firmly and there are no prospects of democratization in the long term for that country.

If a regime change ever happens in Cuba, access to American goods won't have a big impact on that — if any at all.

[Herskerstad]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

Still two steps above what they got today.

[Anglo-California]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

While troublesome, but somehow classy gambling addicts may find that to be a dream come true, I'm sure the average Cuban doesn't share your sentiment.

My grandpa rode out the Depression by enlisting in the army and then gambling away his paycheck in Cuba each month.

[Luziyca]

Congratulations. Hopefully, Cuba and the USA could restore ties.

[Skinia]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

Dibs on being an omnipotent arms trader and drug lord.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Cuba is a fetish — an old one, but a fetish nonetheless — for right-wingers and left-wingers alike. What's its effective importance in the world? None. In what way can it interfere in the world's destiny and what political weight does it have in the Caribbean and Latin America? Not significantly. What's left of Cuba is the memory of a revolution that seduced the hopeful and the naïve and that ended in a brutal dictatorship capable of frighten at least those who don't live there.

Still, I'm glad that talks will be resumed, and hopefully, the embargo lifted. However, Cuba certainly won't become a democracy because of that.

It's more of a key security issue for us than a geopolitical one.

[Kubra]

Hopefully Cuba will return to being the Mafia-run, casino resort it was in the 1930s.

Dibs on being an omnipotent arms trader and drug lord.

cocaine won't make you omnipotent, bruh.
But you'll def feel like it, which is the next best thing

[Skinia]

Dibs on being an omnipotent arms trader and drug lord.

cocaine won't make you omnipotent, bruh.
But you'll def feel like it, which is the next best thing

With enough men, money and guns I'm omnipotent.

[Kubra]

cocaine won't make you omnipotent, bruh.
But you'll def feel like it, which is the next best thing

With enough men, money and guns I'm omnipotent.

trust me bruh I've seen enough movies to know you won't be omnipotent
you're still gonna get shot, albeit in a gunfight involving a lot of cocaine

[Skinia]

With enough men, money and guns I'm omnipotent.

trust me bruh I've seen enough movies to know you won't be omnipotent
you're still gonna get shot, albeit in a gunfight involving a lot of cocaine

I will have my pawns do the dirty work for me while I snort coke off a male stripper's manboobs.

[Degenerate Heart of HetRio]

Cocaine is bad for you mmmkay

[Kubra]

trust me bruh I've seen enough movies to know you won't be omnipotent
you're still gonna get shot, albeit in a gunfight involving a lot of cocaine

I will have my pawns do the dirty work for me while I snort coke off a male stripper's manboobs.

i'll leave you my card bby~

Cocaine is bad for you mmmkay

It's always been my dream to make fair-trade organic cocaine
Bad for you, good for the farmers!

[Nazi Flower Power]

This is great. Nice to see something positive in the news for once.

This is more controversial than positive...

I don't see any downside to it.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

This is more controversial than positive...

I don't see any downside to it.

I mean, I don't see it either, but you know, we gotta make a national argument over it.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I don't see any downside to it.

I mean, I don't see it either, but you know, we gotta make a national argument over it.

Oh, it's one of those controversies... Like gay marriage.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I mean, I don't see it either, but you know, we gotta make a national argument over it.

Oh, it's one of those controversies... Like gay marriage.

Yep.

[CTALNH]

Yes how dare the Cubans hold onto their national sovereignty and not sell their country out and do the bidding of the glorious imperium americanum?

Well, provided by 'the Cubans' you mean 'Castro'n'kin and their merry band of murderers'.

Yes because glorious freedom administered by 'Merica never killed anyone right!?