A lot of folks believe there is really an effective embargo against Cuba. Some even follow fidel’s assertion and call it a blockade. Look, then, at this from the International Herald Tribune.
Wearing a Santa suit and a wide grin, a wealthy Florida rancher doled out sneakers and sweets to Cuban children on Sunday, bringing holiday cheer to this communist-run island where the Christmas season goes largely unobserved.
About 150 kids ages 5 to 15 shrieked with pleasure, applauded and shouted “Viva Santa Claus!” as John Parke Wright tottered into an auditorium at a Roman Catholic convent on Havana’s eastern outskirts.
“Feliz Navidad!” he bellowed, Spanish for “Merry Christmas!”
My emotions were mixed as I read this. I was glad a group of Cuban kids learned the joys of Santa, but I suspected something else was up. And, of course it was.
Washington’s embargo prohibits most U.S.-Cuba trade but allows some sales of U.S. agricultural products, and Wright travels to the island several times a year to represent his cattle business.
An outspoken critic of the embargo, Wright paid for the goodies he gave away and also donated baseball gloves, balls and caps to players for two little league teams he organized. His visit was not officially sanctioned by Havana, but ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s nephew Angel Ramon Castro was on hand for the giveaway.
So an embargo critic is visiting Cuba – I’m sure with the idea that he can drive up demand for his products. Well, he won’t in the way we would think. Cuba is a communist dictatorship that pays no attention to market forces and the demands of consumers. Wright’s mission was obviously to gain favor with the regime, as it is the regime that determines what products are imported.
In fact, Robert has written extensively on the antics of Mr. Wright over at Babalublog. Take a look.
On the old site, I made numerous posts on the embargo and how it is full of holes that actually help prop up the dictatorship. On this new site, I can make the embargo a category, so here is a list of the old posts for your review.
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo, XXXII
Political parties don’t matter – it’s all about buying your constituents’ votes Tuesday, March 27, 2007 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXXI
Some folks in Washington think there is Friday, December 22, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo, XXX
Calls for its end from a fidel apologist Monday, November 20, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXIX
raul offers the embargo busters hope Wednesday, August 23, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo, XXVIII
Nebraska goes back for more – this time selling pork Thursday, April 20, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo Of Cuba – XXVIII
US-Cuba Trade Association wants regional chapters across Florida Monday, April 10, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXVII
US-Cuba Trade Association still trying harder Tuesday, April 04, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, you still think there’s an embargo of Cuba – XXVI
Southern Illinios University makes a trip Monday, March 13, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
Kirby Jones – Portrait Of An Appeaser
The president of Alamar and the US-Cuba Trade Association has a long history Friday, February 03, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXIV
Now the oil companies stake their claim Thursday, February 02, 2006 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXIII
Maine’s Governor visits the island paradise Monday, December 12, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXII
Now it’s Maine – plus a couple of New York women think there’s a blockade Tuesday, December 06, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XXI
Cuba holds a trade fair Monday, November 21, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XX
Transportation bill stalls over Cuba Friday, November 11, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XIX
Now it’s North Dakota joining in Monday, November 07, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo, XVIII
The return of Heineman Tuesday, October 25, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XVII
$17-million for Nebraska Wednesday, August 17, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XVI
More on those Vermont cows Tuesday, August 09, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XV
More on Nebraska’s upcoming trade trip Monday, August 08, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XIV
Vermont cows to Cuba Wednesday, August 03, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo, XIII
Now its Nebraska’s turn Tuesday, July 26, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embarbo, XII
Another Louisiana trip Tuesday, July 19, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo – XI
Now it’s Texas Wednesday, July 06, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, X
More corporate welfare on the horizon Thursday, June 23, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, IX
Congressional Committee Acts Wednesday, June 22, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo,VIII
Farm Aid for fidel Monday, June 06, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embargo – VII
Canoer on rafters Friday, May 27, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, VI
Now there’s Vermont Thursday, May 05, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, V
The U.S.- Cuba Trade Association Wednesday, April 27, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So, You Still Think There’s An Embarbo, IV
Now California joins the herd Thursday, March 03, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, III
Complaints from Indiana Monday, February 28, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo, II
Friday, February 18, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
So You Still Think There’s An Embargo
Cuba is now 25th Wednesday, February 16, 2005 By: Juan Paxety
Meanwhile, all the old posts on Cuba are archived here.