Benjamin Harris Poli-Sci 472 Professor Tanter Research paper December, 8 1996 The Effects of U.S. Policy towards Cuba in the Post Cold War Era The question this essay will answer is whether the United States should continue to maintain a policy of containment against Cuba in the post Cold War Era. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba has not been a direct threat against the United States yet the U.S. continues to follow a policy of containment against Castro and his regime. Before discussing the present day embargo and our current situation it is important to understand a brief history between the U.S. and Cuban relations. Due to the close proximity between the United States and the island of Cuba, Cuba was treated like one of the many other U.S. colonies in the Caribbean. In 1901 the United States created the Platt Amendment which was an actual amendment to the Cuban Constitution. This amendment gave the United States the right to intervene in the politics and government of Cuba. (Cuba Chptr., p.6) Although this policy was later revoked in 1934, the United States continued to assert its influence on Cuba by practicing the RGood Neighbor Policy.S Close relations with Cuba continued through the mid 1900Us. In 1959 the United States invested a billion dollars in Cuba, while Cuba received 65% of its imports, and sent 75% of its exports to the U.S. ( de Aguila, p.53) The United States relations with Cuba were both economically and politically successful until Castro came to power. Fidel Castro led a revolution which overthrew the Batista government. Cuba then went on to do the unthinkable under their new revolutionary leader. Fidel Castro extended an open invitation to the Soviet Union, and brought Communism into the Western hemisphere. In February 1960, Cuba completed its first major transaction with Soviet Foreign Minister Anastas Mikoyan for $100 million dollars, that provided the Soviet Union with various equipment and supplies. (de Aguila, p.56) This was the beginning of the Cuban-Soviet alliance, and the end of a friendly U.S.- Cuban relationship. As Professor Tanter would say, RCuba danced with the Devil.S After WWII, the United States was trying to contain the spread of communism throughout the rest of the world, and now communism had penetrated right into its own backyard. The Soviet Union replaced the United States as CubaUs major trading partner, which sent U.S. relations with Cuba down a downward spiral. The Cuban government seized U.S. owned oil refineries, after American companies refused to process the Soviet oil. (de Aguila, p.56) The United States retaliated against Castro by suspending their annual sugar quota from Cuba. This was Ran act of economic warfare aimed at a change of government in Cuba.S (Winn, p. 360) Cuba then confiscated all remaining U.S. property which had a net worth of $1.5 billion dollars. The United States fearing, Cuba was now an extension of the Soviet Union in the Western hemisphere reacted to this threat. There were failed attempts to remove Castro from power, like the Bay of Pigs incident, however the United States main tool against Cuba was the use of the trade embargo. On February 3, 1962 President Kennedy issued a full trade embargo against Cuba. The OAS (Organization of American States) tightened these original sanctions by making a continent- wide embargo, that suspended all trade with Cuba. This caused Castro to further strengthen his new partnership with the Soviet Union. American resolve was tested during the Cuban Missile crises, when the U.S.S.R. attempted to place nuclear missiles off the U.S. coast on Cuba. The United States held its ground by staging a naval blockade of the island, and continued its policy of economic sanctions. In the 1970Us United States relations with Cuba began to look like they were going to improve under new president Gerald Ford. The continental embargo against Cuba was terminated at the 16th meeting of the OAS. (De Varona, intr.) It appeared that Cuba was reforming its ways, however Cuba became involved in militarily actions throughout the Third World. In 1975 Cuba sent 40,000 troops into Angola , and in 1978 Cuba sent 15,000 troops into Ethiopia. Castro was responsible for promoting his revolution to other countries such as Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala as well. (Cuba Chptr., p. 7) This ended whatever possibility there was of improving relations with Cuba. The Reagan administration continued to maintain tight sanctions on Cuba. Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union and the iron curtain, the United States has continued to carry out its policy of economic sanctions against Cuba. In October of 1992, President Bush signed the Cuban Democracy Act into law. This was in response to Cuban violations of Human Rights by CastroUs government against his own people. This law cut off $700 million dollars worth of trade a year by foreign subsidies of U.S. companies. (De Varona, intr.) Amb. Alexander Watson, Assistant Secretary of State for American Affairs stated that the R...expressed objective of the CDA is to further isolate the Castro regime in order to weaken its repressive apparatus and to increase pressure for democratic change on the island. At the same time, it seeks to decrease the isolation of the Cuban people by opening up telephone, mail, and other means of communication with the island and by allowing the regulated shipment of medication and other humanitarian aid to the Cuban people from the United States.S (De Varona, intr.) The purpose of this act was to continue to strengthen the U.S. embargo on Cuba, until Castro and his repressive regime have been removed from power. Even more recently Cuban jets were responsible for shooting down, and murdering four Cuban-Americans flying over international waters. In retaliation for this act of international terrorism, President Clinton has just signed into law the latest and most severe of the Cuban sanctions. In a White House statement President Clinton called upon U.S. allies to Rjoin in taking concrete steps to promote democracy in Cuba.S (USIA gov.-web site) The purpose of the Cuban Liberty And Democratic Solidarity Act (a.k.a. Helms-Burton Act) is to discourage foreign investment in expropriated properties in Cuba, and to further intensify economic pressure on the Cuban government. With an understanding of past history, and the present situation it is easier explain the pros and cons of the U.S. policy towards Cuba. Today the former Soviet Union and communism are no longer a threat to the United States, so one might ask, why should the United States continue a policy of containment against Cuba today. The answer to this question is that the same totalitarian dictator that presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush had to deal with is still in power today. It is now President ClintonUs turn to lead the way in attempting to end CastroUs reign of terror. The United States policy over the last thirty years has been to focus on promoting a transition of Cuba into a democracy, and ending CastroUs totalitarian government. Has the United States been successful in its use of coercion through trade embargoes over the last thirty years? Are there other policies such as appeasement that might be a better tool for U.S. policy towards Cuba. The United States has practiced a policy of coercion against CastroUs Cuba, since 1962. Cuba represented a direct threat towards the United States as both an extension of the Soviet Union, and CastroUs will to Rcarry on a continental struggle against the Yankees.S(De Varona, intr.) The United States policy used containment to stop the spread of revolution and communism to other Central and South American countries. The United States policy of coercion is still designed to change CastroUs behavior by using economic sanctions to limit CastroUs power, and forcing him to give into democratic reform. The Pentagon believes that a Rpost-Castro Cuba cannot be truly capitalistic and democratic if the military is ingrained in the economy.U(Booth, p. 69) Many critique the U.S. embargo of Cuba over the last thirty five years, saying it hasnUt done what it was supposed to do, which was to overthrow the Cuban dictator. The United States embargo has only been successful over the last three years, and needs to be given a chance to succeed . The Soviet Union provided Cuba with one hundred billion dollars in aid since 1960. They were also responsible for 75% of CubaUs export capacity and overseas earnings.(CANF web site) Therefore the US embargo was little more than a nuisance for Cuba because they were trading and selling with the Soviet Union to sustain their economy and government regardless of the United States policy. It has only been until the recent fall of the Soviet Union that these economic sanctions have had any serious impact on Cuba. The United States is now acting in a window of opportunity. The embargo has already helped end CastroUs sending of arms to guerrilla groups in other countries. The Cuban Democratic Act and the Helms-Burton Act have wrapped around the Castro regime, and are beginning to squeeze under the pressure of the United States sanctions on Cuba. These sanctions have led to deterioration of living conditions, education system, and the public health system. A Health Ministry Report in Cuba stated that there is now an increase in infectious diseases, shortage of medicine and of ambulances.(Cuba net) Prostitution and alcoholism are also on the rise. The once $8 billion dollars of imports a year from the former Soviet Union have now been reduced to a meager $1.7 billion. (McGeary, p.45) Castro is now being forced to conserve and ration supplies. However, he is not reforming for the benefit of his country, rather he is trying to maintain his hold of power over the Cuban people. By limiting CubaUs resources and external control , CastroUs internal grasp should begin to decline. Even the Cuban military is affected by the U.S. embargoes. One observer said the Cuban military has become a Rstrangled force in which soldiers sell their boots to feed their families and officers earn less than hotel bellhops.S(De Varona, cont.4) Diplomats, athletes, and peasants on make-shift rafts have begun to defect because the government canUt maintain the basic needs of its citizens that it had in the past. As the economy and the health system weaken, and more people try to defect to the United States the Castro regime grows weaker, and will eventually collapse. The spiral decline of Cuba will not allow Castro any room to maneuver, and his anti-United States propaganda will no longer be sold to his diminishing supporters. It is important t to examine the United States policy in order to insure success in the transition of Cuba to a democracy. There is one major flaw in the recent Helms-Burton act, which threatens the United States allies. Title III of this new act penalizes foreign companies who invest and participate in business with Cuba. Members of these companies are denied access into the United States, and will have to pay royalties to Americans whose companies were confiscated after the revolution. There are major flaws with this provision. First, it is illegal. The United States does not have the right evoke extra territoriality on foreign companies. The European Union wrote a letter to the U.S. Senator Dole which states that they RCannot accept that the U.S. unilaterally determines and restricts European Union economic and commercial relations with any foreign nation that has not been collectively determined by the U.N. Security Council as a threat to peace.S -(Greenhouse) This section of the act has been suspended for six months by President Clinton for further consideration. U.S. allies have taken offense to this saying that the United States does not have the right by law or will to impose these sanctions. These sentiments can be felt throughout Canada, Mexico, and S. America as well as the European community. In order for the present progress of the embargoes to continue to be successful, the United States can not isolate themselves from their allies. They must join together with the rest of the international community in a cooperative effort to end the totalitarian regime in Cuba. Bureaucratic politics have also led to some confusion over the intent of the Helms- Burton act. secretary of state Warren Christopher attempting to explain the United States new policy told Mexican officials that the RlawUs aim is to deter future investment in Cuba, not to punish those with already- existing investments.S However, the co-author of the law, Jesse Helms, said the secretary of state was misrepresenting the law . RWe would recommend anyone who currently is trading with Cuba to get out now or see us in court later.S(Workers World Net Service) It is important for the United States to work together as a government. By showing these mixed signals other world actors including Cuba will question their resolve and intent on this issue. Another policy the United States could choose to follow other than the economic embargo is that of appeasement. This policy, supported by critics of the status quo, entails the lifting of economic sanctions against Cuba. They believe sanctions are no longer neccesary. This would in turn bring about democratic and peaceful reforms in Cuba. This is not necessarily the case. First, the Cuban government still aids revolutionaries throughout the world in the form of education, and harbors international terrorists. Second, Cuba does not renounce the activities of international terrorist activities.(Gopher- state dept.) Castro still preaches Rsocialism or deathS in Cuba today. There are no signs that Castro is willing to democratize Cuba by lifting economic sanctions. He is currently to focus on how to retain his own power in Cuba rather than help improve his country by aiding the economy. According to the Da Varona essay, RLifting the embargo would do nothing to change the excessive centralization that lies at the root of CubaUs present dilemma....(it would be)...providing Castro with the resources he so urgently needs to preserve his faltering regime, and subsequently prolonging the suffering of the Cuban people.S (Da Varona, cont. 2) Castro has given no indication of his intent to concede to democratic reforms. The policy of appeasement in this situation would be a bad use of search, and persuasion, and would erase the progress that has been made with economic sanctions over the past three years. Another reason to continue the embargo against Cuba, is that CastroUs government is still violently repressive, potentially aggressive, and fundamentally anti-democratic today as it was in 1962 when President Kennedy began taking actions against CastroUs regime. The United States is correct by continuing its actions, because Cuba still commits tremendous human rights violations today. There have been 12,500 executions, and hundreds of thousands of political prisoners who have been tortured.(De Varona, cont.3) A report by the Inter-American Peace Commission (part of OAS) stated that- Rthe grave and systematic violation of human rights by the Cuban government not only constitutes one of the principal causes of the international tensions affecting continental peace, but also is in open contradiction with inter-American system.S (De Varona, cont. 2) This section of the act has been suspended for six months by President Clinton for further consideration. U.S. allies have taken offense to this saying that the United States does not have the right by law or will to impose these sanctions. These sentiments can be felt throughout Canada, Mexico, and S. America as well as the European community. In order for the present progress of the embargoes to continue to be successful, the United States can not isolate themselves from their allies. They must join together with the rest of the international community in a cooperative effort to end the totalitarian regime in Cuba. Bureaucratic politics have also led to some confusion over the intent of the Helms- Burton act. secretary of state Warren Christopher attempting to explain the United States new policy told Mexican officials that the RlawUs aim is to deter future investment in Cuba, not to punish those with already- existing investments.S However, the co-author of the law, Jesse Helms, said the secretary of state was misrepresenting the law . RWe would recommend anyone who currently is trading with Cuba to get out now or see us in court later.S(Workers World Net Service) It is important for the United States to work together as a government. By showing these mixed signals other world actors including Cuba will question their resolve and intent on this issue. Another policy the United States could choose to follow other than the economic embargo is that of appeasement. This policy, supported by critics of the status quo, entails the lifting of economic sanctions against Cuba. They believe sanctions are no longer neccesary. This would in turn bring about democratic and peaceful reforms in Cuba. This is not necessarily the case. First, the Cuban government still aids revolutionaries throughout the world in the form of education, and harbors international terrorists. Second, Cuba does not renounce the activities of international terrorist activities.(Gopher- state dept.) Castro still preaches Rsocialism or deathS in Cuba today. There are no signs that Castro is willing to democratize Cuba by lifting economic sanctions. He is currently to focus on how to retain his own power in Cuba rather than help improve his country by aiding the economy. According to the Da Varona essay, RLifting the embargo would do nothing to change the excessive centralization that lies at the root of CubaUs present dilemma....(it would be)...providing Castro with the resources he so urgently needs to preserve his faltering regime, and subsequently prolonging the suffering of the Cuban people.S (Da Varona, cont. 2) Castro has given no indication of his intent to concede to democratic reforms. The policy of appeasement in this situation would be a bad use of search, and persuasion, and would erase the progress that has been made with economic sanctions over the past three years. Another reason to continue the embargo against Cuba, is that CastroUs government is still violently repressive, potentially aggressive, and fundamentally anti-democratic today as it was in 1962 when President Kennedy began taking actions against CastroUs regime. The United States is correct by continuing its actions, because Cuba still commits tremendous human rights violations today. There have been 12,500 executions, and hundreds of thousands of political prisoners who have been tortured.(De Varona, cont.3) A report by the Inter-American Peace Commission (part of OAS) stated that- Rthe grave and systematic violation of human rights by the Cuban government not only constitutes one of the principal causes of the international tensions affecting continental peace, but also is in open contradiction with inter-American system.S (De Varona, cont. 2) BIBILIOGRAPHY Books: Bender, Lynn Darrell The Politics of Hostility. Inter American Univ. Press, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 1975 Booth, Cathy RFidelUs Bother Sets Up ShopS, Time. P.68-9, Nov. 14, 1994 Del Varona, Adolfo Leyva Propaganda and Reality. The Cuban National Foundation, Sept. 1996 del Aguila, Juan M. CUBA Dilemmas of a Revolution. Westview Press, London 1984 Erisman, H. Michael Cuban Foreign Policy. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., Boulder, Colorado 1991 Greenhouse, Steven RAllies of U.S. Seek to Block Bill on Cuba,S NY Times. April 13, 1996 Jordan, David C. Revolutionary Cuba and the End of the Cold War. Univ. Press of America, New York 1993 McGeary, Johanna RCuba AloneS, Time. p.42-54, Dec. 6, 1993 Rabkin, Rhoda P. Cuban Politics. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA 1991. Robinson, Linda RCan the Revolution Survive?S US News and World Report. (p.41-43) Jun. 1, 1992 Tanter, Raymond Rogue Regimes . Roguecub.doc, Aug 13, 1996 Internet References: American Medical News. RBackground on the U.S. Blockade Against Cuba http://www.igc.apc.org/cubasoil/blockade.html CNews. REconomic crisis has hit CubaUs...S http://www.netpoint.net/~cubanet/CNews/may96 CNews. RIndex on CensorshipS same jul96 CNN Interactive. RClinton imposes anti-Cuba...S http://www.cnn.com/US/9607/16/cuba/index.html Cuban American National Foundation. RFAQs on U.S. Policy Toward CubaS http://www.cafnet.org/english/faquspol.htm Legal Info. Institute. RCuban DemocracyS http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/22/6001.html ROverview of State- Sponsored TerrorismS gopher:iidosfan USIS. RThe LIBERTAD ActS http://www.usia.gov/topical/ econ/libertad/libhome.htm Via Workers World News Service. RHelms- Burton ActS http://www.workers.org/cubahelmsburton.html