During the Clinton years, when enforcement was lax, I went to Cuba with three friends…at least half a million Americans went on vacation to Cuba that year, and the country is full of Italian, Brit, etc tourists too.
I cannot even begin to tell you what a horrible life the Cuban people were living…somewhere on FR I posted when I returned. Sad, terribly deprived lives under threat of imprisonment for anything, including selling your neighbor a potato you dug up from your own yard. It’s THE STATE’s potato, you’re stealing from Castro……..
Cubans were delighted to see us, were very cordial, a couple even managed to tell us what they were up against, showed us their pathetic threadbare homes that hadn’t had a coat of paint for 40 years, and one even showed us the homes of Commie Party bigwigs, huge mansions in good repair. Fidel was HATED by the people, but they could never say so. They were spied upon 24/7, often in their own apartment buildings and on EVERY street corner.
My friends and I were very much in favor of ending the “embargo,” and letting Cubans have a life. I don’t think that’s going to happen, especial with Obola at the helm. He’ll give a bunch of speeches but the Cuban people will suffer on, as the Commie Bigwigs earn more brownie points and money.
They surrendered. We won.