[goldstategop]

The reason the embargo hasn't worked is because it wasn't leakproof. If the entire world had joined us in enforcing it, Fidel's totalitarian regime might have disappeared ages ago. There's only so much one country can do if the rest of the world props up our adversary.

[Cincinatus]

What makes you think that the embargo isn't working? An embargo can't bring down Castro by itself. But if it's so silly and irrelevant, why does Castro and his mouthpieces in the US continually harp on it and try to get it overthrown?

The amount of effort spent by the left against the "embargo" is far out of proportion for an "ineffective" policy that doesn't matter anyway. I conclude that it hurts -- and it hurts Castro. The people of Cuba will be miserable in any event -- why make it easy for their tormenter?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Many countries have had it with Castro's IOU's. That's why he started his "charm offensive" with the U.S. Now is not the time to give him a breather. Castro's $250 Million "Charm offensive" hasn't worked: It's same old cruel regime. *** In a desperate financial gamble, Castro recently raided the $250 million set aside to pay hard currency debt to European, Latin American, and Asian countries for essential imports. Instead, he used it to buy US farm products for cash. He was apparently calculating that he could persuade the US Congress to enact legislation freeing up additional exports to Cuba, and approving a flood of tourists to Cuba. The ploy hasn't worked. Nor, given the crackdown on dissenters, does the outlook look good for improving US-Cuban ties. President Bush is threatening new punitive measures. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

btw -

He was apparently calculating that he could persuade the US Congress to enact legislation freeing up additional exports to Cuba, and approving a flood of tourists to Cuba.

- that means, U.S. government backed LOANS (taxpayer money used to shore up an anti-American regime) to pay for goods shipped to Cuba.