Cuban embargo behind times

    Remnants of Cold War ideology, for the most part, have worn out their welcome, fading into fuzzy memories.

    Although it is vital to maintain a strong, prepared military, economic vistas present themselves in opportunities of doing business with countries that were old enemies.

    Trade agreements with Russia, China and Vietnam seem to be proceeding at full speed, and dialogue between North Korea and the United States is opening up.

    It seems this country has moved into a new age of cooperation with most of our old foes, except Cuba.

    Fidel Castro’s dictatorship is no longer a threat to the United States, and the time is long overdue to normalize diplomatic relationships with Cuba.

    The economic embargo against Cuba is proving a failure with 360 countries currently operating joint business ventures with Cuba and 160 more awaiting approval.

    Every U.S. ally is participating in major economic business with Cuba (trade as well as tourism). Plus, Americans are not prohibited from investing in Cuban business.

    In 1999, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury (OFAC) in Washington, D.C., reconfirmed a 1994 opinion that a U.S. company or individual may enter into a “secondary market investment in a third-country company that has commercial dealings with the Republic of Cuba as long as this investment in the third-country company is not a controlling interest.”

    Cuban tourism generated over $1.5 billion, and 40 foreign airlines now transport visitors. Direct flights to Cuba from Los Angeles, Miami and New York are offered.

    Many people do not realize America has maintained a naval base, Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba’s eastern tip since 1903. Hundreds of Cuban citizens are employed by the military to fill many positions. The base provides much needed income to the economy.

    After the visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul II, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated a change in Washington policy would be forthcoming, allowing humanitarian aid to that country. The U.S. Senate voted to end the embargo of food and medicine to Cuba.

    But the rest of the “U.S. embargo on the island nation would remain in place, despite Vatican calls for lifting that embargo,” Albright said.

    In 1961, Castro’s aggressive association with the Soviet Union warranted a harsh embargo to lessen the threat of nuclear missiles aimed at the United States. The threat has long since passed. With so many loopholes in the embargo, it is time to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

    Cuba may not be classified a free nation, but America has business dealings with countries with worse human-rights policies: China, Chile, Guatemala and Indonesia.

    A travel ban on American tourism to Cuba is unacceptable. No government should restrict a person’s right to travel anywhere the citizen wishes. This restriction probably would not stand up in the Supreme Court.

    This embargo simply means a shortage of food, medicine and other vital supplies for Cuba’s 11 million people.

    Much more can be lost than gained if the Cuban embargo remains in place.