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INSANITYThe Ineffectiveness of the USA Embargo against Cuba

Andrew Nicholas Estevez

INS 566Major Issues in U.S.-Latin American Relations

Dr. Ambler MossFALL 2013


Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

- Albert Einstein

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It has been over fifty years since the United States imposed an embargo against Cuba on

February 7, 1962. The intent of the embargo was to constrict development in order to eventually

eradicate communist leadership on the island. Decades later, there has been no improvement

in the quality of life of the Cuban people, and still, the same communist regime reigns. The

embargo has been extremely unsuccessful in fulfilling its purpose, and it would be insane to

allow it to continue another decade expecting different results. It is imperative that we wash

away old ineffective policies and begin considering alternative diplomatic methods of

dethroning the communist government in Cuba.

BACKGROUND

The Spanish-American war culminated in 1898 with the U.S. winning the rights to

Spain’s territories including Guam, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. The U.S. subsequently granted Cuba

its independence, while retaining a perpetual lease on its naval base at Guantánamo Bay. For

the next half-century the two countries were relatively cooperative as the U.S. helped to

suppress rebellions and heavily invested in the economy of its Caribbean neighbor. Cuba

became a hot-spot for Americans looking for a tranquil escape. One of the most famous

American icons of the era was Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Cuba for 22 years and wrote his

masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea, at his villa just outside of Havana.

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A NEW WAVE

The Cuban Revolution changed everything. After several years and many attempts, Fidel

Castro and his band of guerillas successfully overthrew the government of President General

Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959. The Eisenhower Administration had supported Castro’s

rebellion by imposing an arms embargo in 1958 against Batista's government. The U.S.

immediately recognized the new regime; in the meantime the CIA began its campaign aimed at

overthrowing the new government.1 In April of 1960, then - Prime Minister Castro, visited the

U.S. and met with Vice President Richard Nixon where they discussed democracy and

dictatorship2. During his tour of America he visited a few universities and spoke at a rally in New

York. In a memorandum published in his memoirs, Nixon said that “it was apparent that as far

as his [Castro’s] visit to the United States was concerned his primary interest was not to get a

change in the sugar quota or to get a government loan but to win support for his policies from

American public opinion.” This was the last moment of perceived alliance between the U.S. and

Cuba.

In 1960, relations were agitated as Castro's government seized private land and

nationalized hundreds of private companies, many of which were American-owned. Cuba

expropriated thousands of acres owned by U.S. sugar companies, and the U.S. responded by

burning tons of Cuban sugar cane fields and bombing sugar mills. Cuba then reached out to the

1 Franklin, Jane. The Cuban Revolution and the United States: A Chronological History. Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Ocean, 1992.

Print, 24.2 Safford, Jeffrey J. "The Nixon-Castro Meeting of 19 April 1959." Diplomatic History 4.4 (1980): 425-31. Print.

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Soviet Union and China and established trade agreements to secure their sugar industry.

President Eisenhower followed by canceling Cuba’s sugar quota, ceasing all imports of Cuban

sugar in his first economic sanction against Cuba. A few months later Eisenhower’s

administration declares a partial embargo on all exports to Cuba. Vice President Richard Nixon

described the policy as an “all-out quarantine – economically, politically, and diplomatically –

against the Castro regime.”3 In response, Cuba nationalized all remaining U.S. property in Cuba.

By 1961, the U.S. had severed all diplomatic relations with Cuba, and has arranged for

Switzerland to act as a mediator of communication ever since.

PIGS AND SEASHELLS

The early 1960’s are marked with numerous attempts to overthrow the Castro regime.

By far the most infamous attempt would be what is referred to as The Bay of Pigs. After nearly

decimating the Cuban air force in previous days’ bombings, early in the morning of April 17 th,

1961, approximately 1,400 brigadistas arrived at Playa Girón from Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of

Pigs) on the southern coast of Cuba. The group of Cuban exiles were trained in Guatemala by

the CIA and intended to establish a strong hold at the beach and hold off counter attack until

they linked up with anti-Castro rebels within Cuba. The U.S. had invested millions of dollars to

provide tons of supplies and arms to support what was supposed to seem like a Cuban-led

attack.4 Unfortunately their secret was far from clandestine, and Castro’s military forces

awaited the impending invasion at Playa Girón. Within 72 hours Castro’s army had sunk U.S.


Print, 35.4 Rodríguez, Cruz Juan Carlos. The Bay of Pigs and the CIA / by Juan Carlos Rodriguez ; Translated by Mary Todd. Melbourne,

Vic.: Ocean, 1999. 51.

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supply ships, and destroyed two B-26 bombers which were later used by Castro to prove that it

was an American attack.5 The CIA’s botched attempt was a horrific failure – from infiltration

teams who had that been captured before battle, to the unexpected lack of upheaval from

rebels within Cuba. Perhaps the biggest losses of the battle were that, for the exile community,

it symbolized their betrayal by the U.S. government from whom they mistakenly expected

military support, and for the Cuban government, it proved its ability to defend itself against the

United States.6

In the following years, Operation Mongoose was composed of a series of increasingly

far-fetched covert attempts on Castro's life. Throughout the 1960s there were at least five plots

to kill or humiliate the Cuban leader. The comical attempts included exploding seashells,

poisoned cigars, and even shoes dusted with chemicals to make his beard fall out.7 The plans

never worked, besides making Castro angry as ever toward the United States.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

The most heated period in the countries' relationship transpired throughout a 12 day

nuclear stand-off beginning on October 15, 1962 when U.S. spy planes discovered evidence that

the Soviet Union was building missile bases in Cuba. This would be forever referred to as the

Cuban Missile Crisis. President Kennedy immediately responded by ordering a naval blockade of

5 Blight, James G., and Peter Kornbluh. Politics of Illusion: The Bay of Pigs Invasion Reexamined. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner

Pub., 1998. 3.6 Blight, James G., and Peter Kornbluh. Politics of Illusion: The Bay of Pigs Invasion Reexamined. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner

Pub., 1998. 119.7 Rodríguez, Cruz Juan Carlos. The Bay of Pigs and the CIA / by Juan Carlos Rodriguez ; Translated by Mary Todd. Melbourne,

Vic.: Ocean, 1999. 146.

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the island, but carefully decided to call this action “quarantine” to avoid implementing an act of

war. In 1989, Soviet officials confirmed that there were 20 nuclear warheads in Cuba with 20

others on a ship that turned back because of the blockade.8 The stand-off ended only when

Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev and President Kennedy came to terms on an

agreement stipulating that the Soviets would remove their missiles from Cuba if the U.S. ended

the blockade, pledged not to invade Cuba, as well as remove its nuclear missiles stationed in

Turkey.

EL MARIEL

In April 1980, thousands of Cubans rushed to the Peruvian Embassy which began

offering asylum.9 Overwhelmed, they closed their doors and Castro then announced that

anyone who wanted to leave could do so through its northwestern port – Mariel Harbor. Over

the next six months, a mass exodus of over 125,000 Cubans squeezed onto boats and made

their way to the U.S. in a mass flotilla. Taking advantage of the mass exodus, Castro decided to

release over 20,000 criminals and chronically-ill people from hospitals and insane asylums

amidst the migratory wave.10

CUBAN ACTIVISM IN AFRICA


Print, 57.9 Franklin, Jane. The Cuban Revolution and the United States: A Chronological History. Melbourne, Vic., Australia: Ocean, 1992.

Print, 147.10 Montaner, Carlos Alberto., and Carlos Alberto. Montaner. Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution: Age, Position, Character,

Destiny, Personality, and Ambition. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Pub., 2007. Print, 118.

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In 1975, Castro sent thousands of Cuban armed forces to Angola to support the

communist MPLA movement fighting against South African invasion backed by the U.S.. Castro

stated that the Cuban forces’ successful intervention in Angola was a great crusade in the third

world to help free the people from the misery and oppression that tormented them.11 Their

efforts in Africa were not only a means to satiate the compulsive revolutionary’s devotion to his

cause, but it was also an opportunity to take on the Yankees, and fight against U.S. influence

abroad.

HELMS-BURTON

The United States’ relations with Cuba had begun to thaw somewhat until February

1996, during President Clinton’s administration, when the Cuban military shot down two U.S.

civilian airplanes killing four Cuban exile pilots. Although Cuba claimed that they were flying

over Cuban waters12, the U.S. maintained that they were over international waters, and the

commercial planes flying in the daytime posed no threat to Cuba. This resulted in perhaps the

most assertive move of the United States during the 1990s designed to further isolate Cuba, to

strengthen the trade embargo against it, and to extend U.S. legislation to punish foreign

companies investing simultaneously in the United States and Cuba. Despite vigorous opposition

from the main trading partners of the United States, including the European Union and Canada,

the Helms-Burton Act (also known as the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act) was

signed into law by Congress on March 12, 1996. The law extended sanctions to all non-U.S.

11 Gleijeses, Piero. The Cuban Drumbeat: Castro's Worldview : Cuban Foreign Policy in a Hostile World. London: Seagull, 2009.

Print, 24.12 Cuba says airplanes were in violation of the law (1996). . Washington, D.C., United States, Washington, D.C.: National Public

Radio. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/189883915?accountid=14585.

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companies that did any business with Cuba, and allowed U.S. citizens to sue foreign companies

for dealing in expropriated U.S. property in Cuba.13

CHANGING TIDES

In the last decade we have seen the U.S. give slack to restrictions on Cuba. In the 2001

aftermath of Hurricane Michelle, an agreement to sell food and medicine was put into effect.

Today, the United States is Cuba's main food supplier, with sales reaching $710 million in

2008.14 During President Obama's administration he has lifted remittances and travel

restrictions for those with family in Cuba. This has symbolized a significant change in the U.S.'s

position toward the island. Another significant change in policy was that Obama began allowing

telecommunications companies to expand business to Cuba, which still had roughly the same

number of telephone lines as it did in the 1950s.

Despite the relaxing of sanctions, the most recent case of hostility towards the U.S.

came in late 2009 when Cuban officials arrested Alan Gross, a subcontractor for the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID). He was arrested in Havana while helping

Cuba's Jewish community get better access to the Internet. A Cuban court last year found him

guilty of participating in a "subversive project of the U.S. government that aimed to destroy the

revolution through the use of communications systems out of the control of authorities," and

sentenced him to 15 years in prison. He has languished in a military hospital ever since.15 Cuba

13 "Helms-Burton Act." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. Ed. Thomas Carson and Mary Bonk. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Gale

U.S. History In Context. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.14 Frank, Marc. "U.S. Food Sales to Cuba Soar 61 Percent in 2008." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 02 Dec. 2012.

15 "Release Alan Gross." New York Times, Mar 21, 2012. http://search.proquest.com/docview/929160521?accountid=14585.

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has used Mr. Gross as a bargaining chip in exchange for the “Cuban Five” – a group of five

Cuban spies convicted in 2001 for espionage in Miami, Fl. This was an irrational offer such that

there is no comparison between the crimes of Mr. Gross (if any) and the “Cuban Five”.

Another prime example of Cuban oppression and disregard for human rights can be

examined through the situation faced by Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, aka – Antunez. In 2012,

Antunez was attacked, beaten, and jailed by Cuban security less than a week after testifying via

tele-conference during a Senate Foreign Relations' Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere

Affairs hearing. Following reports that Cuban authorities detained and viciously beat the

freedom advocate and former political prisoner, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio issued a statement

saying that “it is clear that he has been jailed and savagely beaten by criminals working for the

Castro regime because he testified before the Senate last week… all threats and acts of violence

against him and his family must stop, as they should with any Cubans who are simply

demanding their God-given rights.”16

Cuba’s actions throughout history have demonstrated that the Castro regime has no

consideration for the American perspective of their decisions. It seems like every time the U.S.

takes a step towards diplomacy, the Cuban government takes a step in the opposite direction.

Unfortunately, U.S. economic and diplomatic sanctions have had no effect on the decision

making process of the Cuban government to this point. After 50 years of embargo they still

revel at any opportunity to oppose the United States in any way imaginable. Why is that so?

SALTY RELATIONS

16 "Senator Rubio Comments on the Beating of Cuban Freedom Advocate Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez." Targeted News

Service, Jun 11, 2012. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1019853658?accountid=14585.

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It has been said that poverty and rationing are arms used by totalitarian repression.

Through rationing, the government becomes a powerful entity whose kindness, the citizens’

hunger and happiness depend. Rebellious Cubans have lost their ration cards for many different

reasons. Enormous power emanates from controlling the key to the cupboard in a country

where no one can hoard more foodstuffs than are necessary for a 72-hour supply.17 The

strategy of Castro’s communist government has been to control the minds of the masses by

keeping the people hungry. It is nearly impossible to find any published statistics about the

number of Cubans who live in poverty, but there are millions of Cubans who live off less than 20

pesos per month, and 11 million who are subject to food rationing. In Figure 1, you can see how

food rations significantly diminished when Castro’s communist regime assumed power. Cubans

spend their days worrying about where their next meal will come from; they do not have time

nor energy to organize political movements.

The Castro regime has long blamed the U.S. and the embargo for the plight of the Cuban

people and the dilapidated condition of their country. Ironically, what began as an alternative

to war during Kennedy’s administration, has been interpreted a sign of belligerence against the

communist party. In turn it has fostered a significant outcry of dissent from Cuban leaders who

publicly condemn the Yankees, while obsessing about their ardent desires for relations with the

United States. Although mistaken, the Cuban leaders cling to the consolation that relations with

Washington will alleviate the economic situation and bring new prosperity.18 This is the

17 Montaner, Carlos Alberto., and Carlos Alberto. Montaner. Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution: Age, Position, Character,

Destiny, Personality, and Ambition. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Pub., 2007. Print. 77.18 Montaner, Carlos Alberto., and Carlos Alberto. Montaner. Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution: Age, Position, Character,

Destiny, Personality, and Ambition. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Pub., 2007. Print. 169.

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explanation provided to Cuban citizens regarding their plight – as if their conditions are the

direct consequence of the U.S. economic resistance which has forced them to live in such poor

circumstances. The fact is that Cuba trades with every other country in the western

hemisphere, and has every opportunity to provide the quality of life that the Cuban people

rightfully deserve. The Cuban government violates the human rights of their people every day

by not allowing them access to the abundance the modern world offers.

SAILING AHEAD

The fate of the embargo rests in the sensitive hands of politicians. For some time

American politicians have supported the embargo in an attempt to win voters. As usual, Florida

was a critical state during the 2000 elections, and no presidential candidate would dare anger

Cuban-American voters or antagonize funders by mentioning a policy revision concerning Cuba.

Although policy experts, academics, business people, humanitarians, and other Cuba experts

who advocate improved relations with Havana dominate intellectual debates, their point of

view was not boosted into the political arena until the immigration case of the boy Elian

Gonzalez.19

There is now a growing majority of people who agree with a change in policy. A 2011

Florida International University survey found that 65% of people surveyed in Miami-Dade

County would like the U.S. to re-establish relations with Cuba.20 That means there are still a

19 Erisman, H. Michael., and John M. Kirk. Redefining Cuban Foreign Policy: The Impact of the "Special Period" Gainesville, FL:

University of Florida, 2006. 317. Print.

20 "2008 Cuba/US Transition Poll." 2008 Cuba/US Transition Poll. Florida International University, 2008. Web. 02 Dec. 2012.

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large number of people out there unaware of the potential positive effects of lifting the

embargo.

ROCKING THE BOAT

Americans may be the last ones on the boat when it comes to seeing things from this

perspective; the international community has called for an end to the embargo for a long time

now – 22 straight years in fact! “On October 29th, 2013 – for the 22nd consecutive year – at the

United Nations, the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the economic,

commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. By a vote of 188

in favour to two against (Israel and the United States) with three abstentions (Marshall Islands,

the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau), the Assembly reiterated its call to the U.S. to

refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures not conforming with their obligations

to reaffirm freedom of trade and navigation.”21

The echos are finally being heard by both sides within the U.S. political arena as we can

now find congressmen such as Arizona Representative Jeff Flake (Republican) who

enthusiastically speaks out on the issue. As recently as November 2013, while giving a speech at

a fundraiser in Miami, President Obama (Democrat) said that when it comes to our relationship

with Cuba, we have to be creative, we have to be thoughtful, and we have to continue to

update our policies22. His words signal that the tides are finally beginning to change in U.S.

policy.

21 "UN General Assembly Renews Call for End to US Embargo against Cuba." UN News Center. UN, 29 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 "Obama Makes Tepid Call for Change in US Policy on Cuba - Havana Times.org."Havana Timesorg Obama Makes Tepid Call for Change in US Policy on Cuba Comments. Web.

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An end to the political strife will not be summoned by a simple stroke of a pen. Many

people still believe in the embargo’s symbolism as a consequence for the human rights

violations of the Castro Regime. Although American politicians are now beginning to call for an

effective policy shift, that does not mean there will be any political softening in the near future.

As Cuba annually vies for an invitation to the Summit of the Americas, a place at the table will

not be set without U.S. approval. At the 2012 summit in Cartagena, Colombian President Juan

Manuel Santos had to navigate the treacherous issue, and in the end he did not extend an

invitation to Cuba. Instead he offered to make it a “high-level” summit topic.23 President Santos

attempted to gain the U.S.’s approval of allowing Cuba to come to the table, but to no avail.

While Obama hopes a change will come soon, he stood firm beside the Inter-American

Democratic Charter adopted on September 11th, 2001. The charter, established by the

Organization of American States, aims to uphold and strengthen democratic institutions within

the Americas, and excludes Cuba from the OAS until they adhere to the explicit standards set

therein the charter. The event did not go without backlash from outspoken proponents of the

embargo: A press release on Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s website expressed her

disappointment with President Santos’ request for U.S. Concessions to the “Brutal” Castro

Regime. The congresswoman proposed that “Instead of the U.S. softening its policy toward

Cuba, it should be the Castro brothers who must end their oppression of the Cuban people.”24

FRIENDLY SEAS

23 Padgett, Tim. "Can Colombias Santos Solve the Cuba Conundrum Comments." TIME World. TIME, 09 Mar. 2012. Web.24 Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana. "Ros-Lehtinen Disappointed That Santos Is Calling for U.S. Concessions to the Brutal Castro Regime." Welcome to Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. 5 Dec. 2013. Web.

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In the minds of many Americans, the embargo is a symbolic middle finger in the face of

Castro and his regime, but maybe it is time to embrace a different idea, and topple the

communist regime with a big bear-hug. Exclusion of the Caribbean island has not prompted

political change, and the U.S. refuses accept Cuba until they live up the standards of democracy.

The half a century long stand-off requires, like President Obama said, a creative solution. Since

“blockade” has been ineffective, then maybe it’s time to try “bombard”. The U.S. has already

begun to bombard Cuba with democracy via the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have

visited Cuba every year since the relaxing of travel restrictions. In the words of United States

Secretary of State, John Kerry, in his remarks on U.S. Policy to the Organization of American

states: “Our people are actually our best ambassadors. They are ambassadors of our ideals, of

our values, of our beliefs.”25 Given a little time, the millions of dollars, and ideas, introduced by

the American travelers will smoothly sail Cuba towards a democratic future.

25 Kerry, John. "Remarks on U.S. Policy in the Western Hemisphere." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 18 Nov. 2013. Web.

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Figure 1

Map of Cuba

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