CUBA | America's Collapsing Enemy?

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In March 2024, Cuba experienced significant unrest as citizens protested food shortages and surging energy costs. As it sought emergency aid from the United Nations, Havana accused the United States of inciting the protests, a charge Washington categorically denies. This tension has underscored the historic antagonism between the two nations. While the U.S. imposed strict sanctions on Cuba sixty years ago and still criticises its single-party system and human rights record, Cuba resists what it sees as American hegemony and maintains its communist ethos. But are things about to change?
Having been a Spanish colony, Cuba gained independence in 1902 after the Spanish-American War. Following decades of instability, it came under the control of a military dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in the early 1950s. This prompted the Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and his brother Raul. Following the seizure of American assets on the island, Washington imposed tough sanctions on Cuba. Taking place against the backdrop of the Cold War, this pushed Cuba towards closer ties to the Soviet Union, which in turn sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis. However, as the USSR collapsed in 1991, Cuba faced a profound economic crisis. Despite this, it remained under one-party community rule. However, while the embargo remained, relations started improving under President Obama before deteriorating again under Donald Trump. However, as the Biden Administration has introduced some new steps to ease relations, new tensions have emerged as Cuba faces a new economic crisis that has forced it to approach the United Nations World Food Programme. This has led to demonstrations on the island. But as Havana and Washington trade accusations over the recent unrest, the world watches to see whether this marks a tipping point for the communist regime or just another chapter in Cuba's long history of tensions with the United States.
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VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:47 The Complex Cuba-US Relationship
01:48 Cuba: Location and Population
02:37 A Short History of Cuba
03:46 Cuba after Independence, 1902-1959
05:20 Cuba-US Relations during the Cold War
06:32 Cuban-American Relations after the Cold War
08:02 US-Cuba Under Obama and Trump
09:22 Renewed Tensions in US-Cuba Relations
10:38 US-Cuban Relations and the March 2024 Protests
12:27 The Future of US-Cuban Relations
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Republic of Cuba
cubaminrex.cu/en
CUBA | US State Department
www.state.gov/countries-areas...
Platt Amendment | US National Archives
www.archives.gov/milestone-do...
President Obama Speech on Cuba | 17 December 2014 • President Obama Delive...
President Trump Speech on Cuba | 19 June 2017
• Trump: 'I Am Canceling...
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- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
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#Cuba #UnitedStates #USA

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14 май 2024

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Комментарии : 866

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

This is one of those videos I have wanted to make for ages and should have made sooner. (Especially as I have been to Cuba.) So, how should we see the protests in Cuba? Are they protests against the government, as Washington claims, or protests against the embargo, as Havana says? And what broader effect do you think they will have? Is this the beginning of the end of communist rule on the island? As always, I look forward to your thoughts and comments below.

@VladTevez Месяц назад

Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Tony Montana the Wise?

@SpecialMuppetOperation Месяц назад

Thanks for the in-depth analysis. 👍

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

@SpecialMuppetOperation Thanks so much. This really was a video I had wanted to do for ages.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Haha! It was everything I could do not to sneak in a Scarface reference. :-)

@mni892 Месяц назад

Ultimately, a perspective I often see is that it's the duty of the United States to ease the suffering of the Cuban people. However when I hear this, I often wonder why these same folks ignore Cuban military interventions in Latin America and Africa on behalf of Communist parties which sought to overthrow numerous national governments. Some major examples of this include... The Panama coup 1959 Invasion of the Dominican Republic 1959 War in Algeria, 1963 The Machurucuto raid 1967 The Congo Crisis 1964 Guinea-Bissau War of Independence Yemenite War of 1972 (provided air support to Yemeni rebels) Support to Syrian forces during the Yom Kippur War The history of armed rebel groups in Chile that caused 20 years of conflict against communist rebels backed by the Cubans. The Angolan War The Ogaden War Nicaraguan Revolution And in 1992 they attempted a coup against the then president of Venezuela. For sources I used Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_interventions_by_Cuba#:~:text=Cuba's%20largest%20foreign%20interventions%20were,during%20the%20October%201973%20War. I know it's not the best in terms of scholarly rigor, but still it gets the point across. The Cubans took part in military interventions globally and routinely. It was only with the defeat of the communist party in Russia that these conflicts finally started to calm. As an American I am not fond of American intervention in Latin America. I am also not fond of this revisionist line of thinking. Cuban intervention in Latin America was every bit as violent, bloody, and horrid as American intervention. We are still dealing with the consequences of that to this day. I am terrified that if we were to ease up on these folks it would just create another Iran, only this time it would be one targeting places closer to home. As an American I'm largely glad that they've been beaten, and I'm uncertain if the correct thing to do is to aid a wobbling and decrepit regime for the humanitarian aspects, knowing that it could lead to the reimplementation of their activities which allowed for massive regional destabilization as had taken place in past decades.

@EdMcF1 Месяц назад

In Spain today, there is a saying, to console someone and put a disaster into perspective, along the lines of "It was worse when we lost Cuba.".

@baneofbanes Месяц назад

That’s actually a pretty good one.

@dontcomply3976 Месяц назад

Worse for who?

@TheColombiano89 Месяц назад

Write it in Spanish

@alfaeco15 Месяц назад

Más se perdió en Cuba.

@TheAllMightyGodofCod Месяц назад

We have the same saying in Portugal "mais se perdeu em..." Nah! Just kidding! We don't. We just say "calm down! Portugal is still ours!" When someone is freaking out.

@mou6854 Месяц назад

4% of Cuba immigrated to America in the last couple of years. it’s never been this bad

@joandelur4407 Месяц назад

bad? better who do not agree leave, which is in part comprehensible, youngest generations do not live the sacrifice and problems of the past to save the country from US, and in top of that are fully well brain washed.

@EasilyCringed Месяц назад

How is it bad that folks choose to immigrate to the U.S.?

@ManyWaysMA Месяц назад

@@EasilyCringed it’s not the fact that people are coming to America that’s bad; it is the fact that people hate their own country enough to leave it. It has gotten so bad that people (including my parents) have went to extreme lengths to leave that hellhole of a country.

@gheorghe6620 Месяц назад

@@ManyWaysMA Totul se datorează politicii americane care a sufocat această țară. Cuba a trebuit să trăiască sub un embargou criminal al americanilor. Nu Cuba a agresat America.

@wrathofachilles Месяц назад

@@EasilyCringed 4% of the country leaving in a few years is a VERY bad sign, regardless of where they're going

@shakiMiki Месяц назад

Filling the huge gap left by media with lucid & informed analysis. Thank you.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much!

@BobHooker Месяц назад

Media does not seem concerned about much today other than Gaza. How often does the almost finished full genocide in Darfur make major news? How much news attention does Azerbaijan's expanding new Armenian Genocide get media time. The world media is obsessed with the Gaza situation, seeking stories during quite times and ignoring the massive set of catastrophes killing 100,000s of people in real time going on all over the world. Cuba's situation, compared to Haiti or Sudan seems to not even get a minutes attention a year.

@autodidact537 Месяц назад

@@JamesKerLindsay Your video & analysis is obtuse. The reason Cuba has declined over the years comes down to one thing & that thing is communism & its utter failure everywhere its been tried. It's time to give your head a shake.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

@@autodidact537 strange comment. When did I say that it was solely down to the US? I’ve been there. I’ve seen the problems at first hand. I know full well how the political system stifles discussion and free speech. But, equally, the embargo has had a major effect. And let’s not forget that the entire world stands against the embargo, which many see as cruel and vindictive.

@sigsire9054 Месяц назад

Quite a hogmatic view with zero nuance @@autodidact537

@carlberg7503 Месяц назад

I know Cuba and Cuban history and politics well. Your introduction was excellent--well-informed and balanced. I have always found Cubans friendly, generous, and fun, and the level of education is high. Cuba has a great tradition of music and visual art. Havana used to be such a glamorous city.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the kind words of support. I agree. I had the good fortune to visit Cuba a few years ago. The people were incredibly friendly and kind. And education and healthcare was excellent. But you could also see the darker side of the system they lived under. Their interactions with foreigners were limited and news and information was clearly restricted, even though things had opened up a lot. It really is a case where one can see a balance between the arguments of the two competing sides. It is possible to see the damage done by the United States historically and because of the embargo. But equally one can also appreciate the argument that Cubans face a highly restrictive system that has stopped a lot of economic development.

@camaro89886 Месяц назад

Travelling in Cuba (between 1995 and 2000) I noticed people are writing, don't lose their teeth and are well informed of the european affairs.

@roberthannah7983 Месяц назад

" I have always found Cubans friendly, generous, and fun, and the level of education is high. " I can agree from my limited touristic contacts. So why is it that the leadership and their hangers on are dogmatic, repressive and backward?

@youknow6968 Месяц назад

Without the revolutionary father figures, it makes sense that the power structures will be tested, and found lacking.

@Niksg9424 Месяц назад

Ignores decades of deliberate and existential interference by the most powerful empire in global history

@youknow6968 Месяц назад

@@Niksg9424 those efforts didn't really have much effect, including direct assassination efforts. So it doesn't count. The analysis in this video, and my comments relate to the present, that's very much relevant.

@cthoadmin7458 Месяц назад

That's the essential weakness of the system then, isn't it? If you have to rely on the revolutionary zeal of a few charismatic individuals, and not a political and social culture, then it always was doomed to failure. That's the problem with all authoritarian, and totalitarian systems, they appear strong, but are weak because they lack depth, no strong institutions develop, it's just "whatever the big guy says".

@youknow6968 Месяц назад

@@cthoadmin7458 that's the nature of all such regimes. I was speaking about the merits or the demerits, I was merely commenting on the present situation. Since you've raised the point, the only truly natural system where long term stability is built-in is in a mature democracy, not just democracy, but a mature democracy. All other systems have strong weaknesses, in the long term.

@cthoadmin7458 Месяц назад

@@youknow6968 There's nothing natural about democracy, it's advantage in my view is that it provides an error correcting mechanism: no system can be right all the time, so there needs to be a way to hold those in power accountable, and scrutinise decisions made. It's a dialogue between the government and the governed. That's Cuba's problem now, there's no immediate, viable alternative. All opposing ideas have been purged. Mothers can scream in desperation all they like about malnourished children, but no one in the regime will pay the price, and even if they did what's the alternative?

@miranda50 Месяц назад

One must also take into account, the role played by Cubans in the USA in opposing the Cuban government, their economic success in the USA and deep political involvement, have played an important role in maintaining the cold relationship between the USA and Cuba.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. You are right. I briefly mentioned this, but didn’t go into a lot of detail about it. But the Cuban diaspora is indeed a very important factor.

@VMan29397 Месяц назад

Well the whole reason many American politicans has taken such a tough stance on the Cuba Is because Florida. In American elections Florida has historically been a key swing state There has a high electoral vote count. So if you win the State of Florida you have much higher odds of witting the general election. In an order to win Florida you have to win the Cubans of Miami Dade County. And the best way to win them over is having a tough stance on the Cuban government

@tekinfomedi Месяц назад

Good point that you have made. One of the ironies in a liberal democracy is that some pressure groups can have a disproportionate influence on the mainstream agenda. Sometimes, the elites made use of these groups to push the agenda of the ruling network. Therefore this resulted in some Western nations apparently being more interested in the situation of other countries than the situation at home. These pressure groups sometimes had the unfortunate effect of convincing Western governments that people in non-Western countries would gladly welcome some form of Western takeover when the reality could be quite different. While I can see there has been sympathy for 3 generations of Cuban exiles for the past 60 years, it seems the average US citizen and Florida local regular resident holds the view that so long Cuba does not pose a significant threat, there is no need for regime change. Not so for the exiles. Some of these youngsters still want to fulfil the wishes of their great-granduncles.

@angeline12345 Месяц назад

@@VMan29397 Well, maybe that, and how about the Cuban missile crisis look in history we have plenty of reasons to be a little hesitant on trust

@jean-claudelol563 Месяц назад

All this shows is that Cubans know how to prosper given personal, political, religious and economic freedom. We Cubans stagnate without personal, political, religious and economic freedom. We have produced nearly nothing in the 6 decades since the communist dictatorship toppled our government. We now do not even produce enough bread nor sugar for our own domestic consumption. Something that we use to export in the billions of dollars' worth of exports along with all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural and non-agricultural product. For 6 decades we have produced nothing. Only 2 countries enforce the embargo. Cuba's dictatorship has borrowed and bought billions from the rest of the world that does not adhere to the embargo. Our dictatorship does not pay its bills, it steals what little wealth that does get produced and the other 200 or so countries that do not adhere to the embargo are any longer willing to sell to a government that regularly defaults on its financial obligations. Even China will not sell to the Cuban dictatorship what it cannot pay for upfront because they know they will not get paid, ever.

@PM_Nunya_Bidness Месяц назад

Without an understanding of US domestic politics, it would seem mind boggling that the US has maintained the embargo for so long. However, once you factor in how powerful the Cuban voting block is in the crucial swing state of Florida...it makes sense. The first wave of exiles were the upper and middle classes and have become strident anti-communist, conservative capitalists, that have made their life's goal to maintain maximum pressure on Cuba. It reminds me of how the Russian Emigre used every lever in the West to combat the Bolsheviks.

@khairulhelmihashim2510 Месяц назад

US supportive on Saudi Arabia, but harsh on Cuba. Both countries have poor human rights record.

@bruceli9094 Месяц назад

Communismis weak. Religion is strong.

@mattkennedy6115 Месяц назад

@@bruceli9094 oil is king

@wololocute Месяц назад

@@bruceli9094Vietnam and China are Communist. Saudi Arabia theocratic monarchy.

@rickyp6815 Месяц назад

KSA is just one.

@MikeyG1134 Месяц назад

We want to see Cuba doing well. Much love to the Cuban people from the USA. Unfortunate how our history hasn't always been so good and our governments absolutely hate each other but the people are what matter and the Cuban people have always been welcome here in the US but nothing is better than restoring your nation to greatness and I'd love to live to see the day the Cuban people secure a better future for themselves and their island independently.

@sagunsingh7415 Месяц назад

Cuba isn't the problem. Communism is.

@tenglim4406 Месяц назад

You good, I good, and everybody is good!?

@claude6543 Месяц назад

"Cuban people have always been welcome in the US" Of course, the US welcomed all those fleeing the Cuban totalitarian dictatorship! 😂

@sot11cat Месяц назад

We all want to see everyone doing well. The problem is THE SPECIFIC IDEOLOGY, in both social and economic terms. History cannot be undone. THEY DID FAIL, world wide.

@TheSocratease Месяц назад

The Cuban government is Communist, but the Cuban people aren't. That's been my observation on my visits there. Sometimes careful in how they disparage the government to an American, but it is there nonetheless. If you have any knowledge of Cuba's history, especially the wars of independence and the Platt amendment, they will open up and tell you how they really feel.

@jellyrcw12 Месяц назад

Your channel is so needed, especially when SO much misinformation and sensationalism is rampant.

@cadenambrose837 Месяц назад

Well north Korea didnt collapse so dont Get your hopes up

@aniballopez2719 Месяц назад

Cuba isnt North Korea. Once Cubans lose fear of the regime, it will collapse. Cuba isnt as isolated as North Korea.

@wyettmuth8411 Месяц назад

The DPRK has an elaborate system for making money outside of the nation to keep the Kim dynasty afloat. Cuba doesn’t have that

@syjiang Месяц назад

Eh, very different countries. For one North Korea has backers like the CCP that doesn't want to see a collapse and flood of refugee. North Korea's totalitarian control is far far stronger over its populace.

@karlpark8575 Месяц назад

North Korea didn't collapse thanks to South Korean aids in hopes of peaceful coexistence. Didn't happen and South Korea has stopped any further aids. North Korea is in their last leg. Cuba doesn't have such backers.

@theotherohlourdespadua1131 Месяц назад

North Korea also has help from PRChina and Russia who wants a buffer state against the US-allied countries. And North Korea is physically connected to their "allies". Cuba has none of those benefits...

@steve123261 Месяц назад

The people of Cuba are the most friendly talented people. Cuba could have been a the wealthiest country in the Caribbean. ❤

@shauncameron8390 Месяц назад

Cuba used to be one of the wealthiest countries in the Americas pre-Revolution.

@andrewsarantakes639 Месяц назад

A great topic on the podcast, yet another sub-set of the Cold War that lingers on long after the fall of the Soviet Union. Cuba & the US have so much history of being intertwined with significant acrimony over many decades. It is unknown if the roots of socialism are deeply embedded in the Cuban body politic, or like in some former Soviet bloc nations in Europe where communism was imposed upon a nation & remained unmoved due to single strongman leader.?🤔 I am not from Florida in the US, but the Cuban expatriate community there is so strongly focused on politcal change against the current socialist regime in Cuba that it is difficult to ascertain the pathway forward. The Cuban community in Florida would probably want Cuba to become the 51st state (LOL), but 60+ years of socialist influences have most likely had deep cultural impacts on the Cuban people. As people pontificated in the early 1990s that if the Soviet Union imploded, Cuba, north Korea & the PRC would soon follow. But Cuba & north Korea have remained as steadfast nations focused on communism most likely due to strongman political structures, but now the assessment can be that Cuba will remain a poor socialist nation that despite the world around it, will choose to adhere to the framework of communism. This is a great topic to analyze, so thanks for highlighting this on the podcast. Keep up the your great efforts to provide a solid platform for true intellectual dialog.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks as always, Andrew. It’s always great to hear your thoughts. The diaspora is certainly a very powerful factor in this story. But what I found really curious when I went to Cuba about six years ago was how Cuban Americans who were visiting seemed to have a thing for wearing US flag swimsuits. It was bizarre. There weren’t a lot of them where I was, but you knew where they came from. I think it probably irritated the local Cubans, not because of a hatred of America, but because they were also so brash. No other nationalists did this. Interestingly, there were lots of Italian holidaymakers where we were (and a few Brits). But the nationalist that really stood out were the Canadians. The Cubans really love the Canadians. (Who doesn’t, to be fair.) Celine Dion is a national star. Old videos - remember them! - of her singing were all over the place. :-)

@DruidHark Месяц назад

@@JamesKerLindsay I went to Cuba last year. The Cubans seemed very proud of their healthcare and other public services and didn’t really want remove socialism. Plus, most Cubans who travel don’t just go to Miami, but also travel back to Cuba often to work. Cuba in reality doesn’t feel or fit the description of a dictatorship at all, it has a president, prime minister, term limits, and democratic elections. The only police I saw were the traffic police randomly checking for drivers licenses.

@andrewsarantakes639 Месяц назад

As the internet joke goes on about in reference Cuba & Canada, "Justin Castro" as the Prime Minister in Canada will of course make put Candians in a positive light in the eyes of Cubans.. (LOL). But on a serious note it would make sense that Cuban-Americans would be brash in their display of being American because it could be seen as a chauvinistic display of their choice to display to Cubans in Cuba the economic success the expats have experienced by showing they have returned, they have enjoyed success in a capitalist nation, while the remaining people of Cuba focused on the doctire of socialism & the cult of personality surrounding Castro over the decades have left Cuba a poor nation. As a component of the Cold War Cuba could be seen to be like the DDR, when in the war of savagery brutality both sides inflicted upon each other in the 1940s, communism was imposed upon the people in eastern Germany. So in the American body politic people subconsciously see that communism was imposed upon the Cuban people by a charismatic revolutionary leader, not by choice of the Cubans. As a somewhat frozen component of the Cold War, the US has, as a matter of law, place economy sanctions on Cuba, and until that chages we can forcast that Cuba will be locked out of economic growth and the political realities of the political power Cuban-Americans hold in the state of Florida, as well as the critical political power the state of Florida has in national electorical politics, Cuban will be kept out of world economic activities. As your observations in Cuba there has been a deep cultural change and socialism is the political culture in Cuba, they will not throw off their form of government/economic system they have and will not like the former Soviet bloc nations in the Warsaw Pact have done since 1991, because the Soviets imposed communism upon eastern Europe, but Cuba did by a popular revolution embrased socialism. So Cuba, like north Korea will move forward as it chooses without the external influences of foreign nations. Thanks again for the topic.

@DruidHark Месяц назад

@@andrewsarantakes639 Communism has never been implemented, only socialism has. The Cuban Government is currently focused on getting foreign investment to grow the economy, but the Embargo and SSOT list is making that a nightmare. The Cuban government actually seem to care about their citizens, which is more than can be said about western governments. Yet they are called a dictatorship when they clearly don’t fit the definition of one. Cuba is a democracy by all accounts, more so than the US.

@purplespeckledappleeater8738 Месяц назад

The basis of the centuries old argument between socialism and free trade systems of economics is the free trade part. Communism and socialism cannot be untangled from each other no matter how much people try because the entire idea (ideology is a set of unproven ideas) is based on the core idea of controlling the economy. Everything else is what it takes to control the economy when most of the population is unhappy with the economy and government.

@cleokey Месяц назад

Cuba, Haiti, both in dire straights. I was in the Navy during missile crisis, scary times!

@the0ne809 Месяц назад

So many international conflicts lately, that is hard to keep track. The 2020s have come fast and furious.

@bilic8094 Месяц назад

The next year might be brutal things look like they're only getting worse.

@terranceaddison4599 Месяц назад

@@bilic8094 we haven't even finished this year.....

@robertshockley9380 Месяц назад

I love how people highlight Batista's human rights record. But say nothing about the atrocities committed under Castro.

@gnolan4281 Месяц назад

I was hoping for keen insights about the situation on the ground today and to what extent the dictatorship is in danger. Most of this well delivered video is dedicated to a broad historical overview and reprise of past events that set the stage for what's happening but I already knew nearly all of that. At least you fairly presented both sides of the issues.

@patriayvida6850 Месяц назад

Don't worry about the dictatorship, they have been preparing for this for decades & the island has been squeezed dry & all the money sent to Swiss ban accounts.

@dwaynemcallister7231 Месяц назад

I have been in Cuba many times in the last few years and people tend to speak quietly about the government. Some said to me they were content, but many felt they were imprisoned on the island wondering what life was like for people who live in Canada or USA or Europe. The government has signs blaming the conditions on USA they can be seen in many place's in Cuba.

@gnolan4281 Месяц назад

@@dwaynemcallister7231 There's a possibility that those who said they were content felt that you might be in strong sympathy and have contacts in the government. It's happened before and people are reluctant to say what they feel.

@Slimnbonez 21 день назад

@@dwaynemcallister7231it’s practically illegal to speak ill of the head of state in Cuba, which is the same blind allegiance of cubans that are on American soil.

@RailyardProductions 4 дня назад

@@dwaynemcallister7231 The Cuban people got the internet around 2017, that opened a pandoras box, they can't lie to the people now! Everyone in Cuba knows that life is better off the island!

@Alf9393 Месяц назад

That was a very well-done recap of Cuban history

@RS-uh7rz Месяц назад

Balanced, smart, and insightful. Thanks so much for this update on Cuba -

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much. This really was a topic I had wanted to explore for ages.

@richdobbs6595 Месяц назад

I like how you phrase it. "Even supporting" a military action to oppose a military action to take over the Cuban government.

@towTruck42 Месяц назад

As an American, I have come to view our interference in other states affairs generally has more to do with opening markets for our corporations then it does for supporting local populations right to self-determination, regardless of how our politicians choose to headline it

@thedailygreatness Месяц назад

Yeah, that's what EVERY country has ever done, including all countries in this hemisphere. And I have no problem with it. Our Interests are ours. Just because we WIN and flourish doesn't mean we're supposed to feel guilty about winning. Had Cuba not fallen for the Marxist Curse, they could've chartered a very different course vis a vis America and themselves. The USSR alliance sealed the deal. And we are historically more generous to defeated foes than any country has ever been. But Cuban leadership has the same attitude today as it did in 1950. Furthermore, no foreign country can really "support" local populations without actual intervention. That's a nice way of saying armed intervention. We've spent trillions and wasted so many lives doing that since Vietnam that I think we've learned a lot.

@tommcfadden5232 Месяц назад

And I would add when this is the case it seldom makes the lives of the people in those countries better.

@gvibration1 Месяц назад

2 billion people have come out of poverty since WW2 when their governments joined every capitalist institution America set up, and fought for, after WW2. The greatest poverty alleviation there will ever be.

@ru.kiddingme Месяц назад

@@thedailygreatness Opinion from a Canadian here. Nations are perfectly entitled to resist American (or any other nation) economic domination via corporations. Small nations need to protect themselves from exploitation through fair restrictions, like shared ownership and shared profits. BTW I trust you are supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom from authoritarian Putin, and you are opposing House Republicans' blockage of funding for Ukraine. The world does not need Ukraine to become a new Cuba, and USA should not waste more lives doing more Afghanistans.

@karlpark8575 Месяц назад

I visited Cuba in 2001 as a tourist. People were friendly and easy going. I stayed in a nice resort, foods were plenty but not very tasty. Loved Varadero beach, old cars, Cuban cigars and rums. Had Cuba Libre (rum & coke, substituted with fake cuban made coke ) where Hemingway used to drink. I wish them all the best.

@ianhomerpura8937 Месяц назад

Local soda brands must be encouraged more. Coca Cola having a near monopoly of the soda markets should end.

@evaristmilian7826 Месяц назад

@@ianhomerpura8937 Jajaja....A government official opened a juice factory & is now in jail!! WTF is going to invest in that dictatorship?!

@ianhomerpura8937 Месяц назад

@@evaristmilian7826 I don't get why Cuba still insists on that model when even other communist countries have changed and restructured their economies back in the 90s

@evaristmilian7826 Месяц назад

@@ianhomerpura8937 Is a family dynasty that controls all the resources of the country and don't want to let it go. Along with a privilege few that get some of the crumbs, a population that has been indoctrinated over 6 decades & a repression apparatus that people are extremely afraid of.

@user-ri1ti6go7s Месяц назад

Better to go back to ex president Obama's approach.

@ale2537 Месяц назад

Patria y Vida! Freedom for Cuba!

@popNdawg Месяц назад

When Cuba finally falls, beach resorts in Cuba are going to be booming!

@bilic8094 Месяц назад

And crime will most likely be rampant.

@michaelnewman1813 Месяц назад

Viva Cuba! Viva Libertad Carajo!

@az091969 Месяц назад

its decades in the making

@jamesmitch9792 Месяц назад

I hope your house is ready to house all the Cuban refugees.

@patriayvida6850 Месяц назад

Seven decades to be exact.

@fosterslover Месяц назад

@@jamesmitch9792 They're already here. 500,000 Cuban refugees have entered the US in the past 2 years

@ThatGuy68580 Месяц назад

You can take them in James. I am sure they are ready for you @@jamesmitch9792

@ianhomerpura8937 Месяц назад

Including decades of lobbying by former hacienderos now living in Florida

@peterkops6431 18 дней назад

This was worth the re-watch. As are nearly all these videos. Thanks so much Prof👍🏻👍🏻🇦🇺

@JamesKerLindsay 18 дней назад

Thank you so much, Peter. As always, I really and truly appreciate your wonderful support. 👍🙏🏻🙂🇦🇺

@ru.kiddingme Месяц назад

I am still left wondering why there is a big gasoline shortage and prices have spiked, if Cuba has a close trading relationship with Venezuela, which has plenty of oil? I understood that Cuba has undertaken reform of their economic system, which was aimed at diversifying their economic base away from dependence on sugar production and tourism, and at enabling small businesses and entrepreneurs. Why hasn't that improved supply of food and milk and etc.? How is power generated in Cuba, and why is there a shortage of it? I doubt Cuban government claims that the cause of their economic problems is due to sanctions by the USA, b/c Cuba can trade freely with any other nation, thus can obtain equivalent products and services more cheaply than from USA.

@randacnam7321 Месяц назад

Venezuelan oil is very high in organometallics, especially vanadium compounds. These are poisons to refinery catalysts, and thus special refineries are needed to economically process it.

@ru.kiddingme Месяц назад

@@randacnam7321 Thanks.

@JM-gu3tx Месяц назад

Simple. Venezuela is socialist and socialism/communism do not work. Eventually you run out of other people's money as Thatcher said.

@RailyardProductions 4 дня назад

Power is mainly provided by a boat anchored in Havana bay. When the boat runs out of oil a replacement boat takes over. These boats come from Venezuela and prior to that from Russia. Cubans are lucky if the get 3hrs of electricity a day. The stuffs going to hit the fan when the AC isn't working this July!

@filippellifrank1669 Месяц назад

This report was so well done ,

@mariohenriquez8599 Месяц назад

It's always in crisis. When not?

@danielz2131 Месяц назад

One missing item: Florida's 27-electoral Votes in the USA's Presidential Voting system & the huge Florida Cuban Vote. So there is the problem put simple.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. Indeed. I did mention the Cuban American community, albeit only in passing. But it is of course another crucial underlying factor.

@evaristmilian7826 Месяц назад

So it's Florida's fault that the communist system has created an economic disaster in the island?...Or the fact that they don't pay ANY of their trading partners? You do know they have 12 multi-lateral trading agreements with other countries & the EU, right?

@rapier1954 Месяц назад

The end of the USSR and Chavez meant no more cheap oil and Cuba uses oil to generate electricity there are long periods of blackout every day and this makes it impossible for industry to function and discourages any foreign investments. There are a lot of other problems historically not least of which is that Castro prevented any relationship with the IMF making it impossible for the country to get any help from this source. You say there is the problem put simply - anyone with a mediocre understanding of this matter knows it is far from simple and does not boil down to 27 electoral votes in Florida. I did a Ph D on this topic and I can assure you many things appear simple when you don't know what you are talking about.

@evaristmilian7826 Месяц назад

@@rapier1954 Maduro still sends them oil, but not as much as before. What industry? The fact they have ripped off everyone that ever extended credit to them doesn't help either!

@Erik-ko6lh Месяц назад

Cuban Americans are not a problem. They are the only people out side of Cuba who care about the human rights on that island.

@jvaldez1896 Месяц назад

wow never learned so much about cuba in 1 video

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much. It is a really fascinating country. I really loved it when I went. But seeing it as a tourist is one thing. There are also so many elements that are deeply worrying, such as the way the government controls information and contacts with outsiders.

@azurejester1520 Месяц назад

I really appreciate these videos, prof. Even a knucklehead like me can at least sorta understand these really complex and important issues. Thanks!

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Haha! Thanks so much. But I have to say that I fiercely reject the idea that anyone who watches my channel on a regular basis could ever be a “knucklehead”! :-) Thanks again and have a really great weekend!

@stanton7847 Месяц назад

No one should be surprised that Cuba represents a major geopolitical issue for the United States. After Mexico and Canada, Cuba is the next closest major nation. Expecting the US to just "let things be" in Cuba would be tantamount to not even having a foreign policy.

@andrewprindiville119 Месяц назад

exactly. he was talking about cuba like the UK doesnt still own part of ireland

@stanton7847 Месяц назад

@@andrewprindiville119 And Ireland isn't even openly hostile to the UK anymore. No major nation is tolerant of bordering or littoral hostile nations. At best there is political and economic antagonism, at worst there is an ongoing or recurring war.

@andrewprindiville119 Месяц назад

well to be clear they took over ireland long before ireland was hostile to Britain, your first argument was better @@stanton7847

@maninredhelm Месяц назад

Not that it fundamentally changes your point, but depending on whether you include the US territories there are 4 to 10 nations closer to the US than Cuba. Everyone always forgets that Russia is the closest after Canada and Mexico. Also, your argument would justify Russia meddling with Ukraine, Georgia, Finland and the Baltics, which are closer to it than Cuba is to the US. The original beef the US had with Cuba was valid, but that was a long time ago. Continuing this now undermines American arguments for respecting sovereignty elsewhere.

@morewi Месяц назад

@@maninredhelmnot really. Cuba is in a position to threaten the most strategic part of the US, the Gulf Coast.

@jimjohnston7688 Месяц назад

Once again a well thought out and effective explanation of a political situation. Straight up information without bias.

@p.d.stanhope7088 Месяц назад

Excellent video but you were missing a part after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Castro initiated Dollarization of the Cuban economy in 1993. Where U.S. Dollars would be exchanged with their Peso. This process stabilized their economy and kept the Castro regime in power but ended his "beloved" Cuban Revolution. Lately, there has been discussions within the U.S. Federal Govt. about a post-Communist Cuba being admitted into NAFTA along with Canada and Mexico.

@omarvargas329 Месяц назад

Can you link me this source? I’m interested to study this more profoundly

@israelmejia5598 Месяц назад

Cuba will soon follow Venenzula and join BRICS. This will enable free trade with other BRICS nation and effectively nullify US sanctions/ embargo. Russia was sanctioned yet continues to trade within the BRICS block with its economy prospering and the Russian people able to live without suffering shortages as the Cuban do because of US embargo/sanctions..

@p.d.stanhope7088 Месяц назад

@@israelmejia5598 You think so or do you know so? The B, I & S of BRICS has some of the most stringent currency controls. Which means the exchange rate for the Havana Govt. would be a nightmare because of enforced limitations. The C, has an entire bureaucracy called SAFE (State Administration on Foreign Exchange) Any trade deals with China, Havana would have to use their limited US Dollar Reserves in exchange for RMBs. Now China is an EXPORT base economy and that means Cuba would have to buy goods like electronics and EVs with those exchanged RMBs. Where Havana is having an ongoing and consistent problems keeping the LIGHTS on. Another problem with the PRC's SAFE policies, Cuba will not be getting US Dollars back for unused RMBs. Now the R, no one wants Rubles, especially Havana. They had the same problem during the end of the Cold War and that was when the Soviet Union was 1/3rd of the World Economy. Russia is now 1/18th of the World Economy. So there will not be any BRICS saving Cuba from the embargo, because Havana's political elite BENEFITS from the embargo and their ready access to US Dollars just like Maduro in Venezuela. 😆😆😆

@purplespeckledappleeater8738 Месяц назад

Russia had well thought-out strategies to weather NATO sanctions, which included assistance from China and selling Russian oil overseas. Like Russia, China is hardening itself against sanctions with lessons learned from Russia. China is hoarding large stockpiles of precious metals and oil and food, which is a strategy that Russia is using to weather sanctions. A lot of Russian technologies used in Russian weapons and aircraft used overseas parts and foreign microchips. This forced Russia to dump some weapons programs and focus on artillery and strategies that are very expensive in human life and put valuable assets closer to the front and in more danger from NATO weapon systems. Russia is currently conscripting ethnic minorities away from Moscow to limit popular discontent and quashing dissent in Moscow quickly. Moscow is where the majority of Russians live and the Soviet Union intentionally created many villages surrounding Moscow to control the population. Russia economically is weathering sanctions, but they can't replace high tech aircraft and weapons as easily. What Russia can do is mass produce many lower tech weapon systems and the ammunition for them. Russia is also importing weapons and drones and ammo from their allies.

@Stamboul Месяц назад

@@israelmejia5598BRICS is not a free-trade area and Cuba already trades with all BRICS members. It's hilarious how little you understand about the world.

@Cam-ye5qg Месяц назад

Honestly, all things considered, they would’ve been way better off being under US influence, maybe even could’ve become a state if they wanted that. Either way, they could’ve maintained their independence and not become mortal enemies with the behemoth directly to their north. It was a bad decision for countless reasons.

@joshuafrimpong244 Месяц назад

How? The US has treated them horribly in the past, which the US caused. And whilst yes, I do believe that Cuba should democratize, I feel that it would be a terrible idea fully aligning with a nation that has taken so much from them

@Cam-ye5qg Месяц назад

@@joshuafrimpong244 Im aware of the troubled past but ultimately don’t see how it could’ve possibly worked out worse for the Cuban people,than how the actual timeline played out for them

@gregorymalchuk272 Месяц назад

No statehood for Cuba. And Puerto Rico needs to be a sovereign country.

@Cam-ye5qg Месяц назад

@@gregorymalchuk272 The majority of Puerto Ricans want it to be a US state or maintain the status it currently has, compared to the minority that wants it completely independent from America. Keep on dreaming tho lmao

@gregorymalchuk272 Месяц назад

@@Cam-ye5qg Well I'm a US citizen of an actual state and we don't want to take on the immense problems of a dysfunctional, bankrupt, central American/Caribbean society.

@codeline9387 Месяц назад

impose sanctions on the state and declare how unsuccessful and shaky the regime is, so in the American way

@Joey-dj4cd Месяц назад

I'm Cuban, I left the Cuban dictatorship and came to the U.S in 2022 , I genuinely love the U.S

@mishkamo55 Месяц назад

Did "THE" dictator Batista give you a bag of the billions he stole from the treasury on his way to the other dictatorship in the Dominican Republic when you left? Haha!

@bilic8094 Месяц назад

Most Cubans in miami do.

@Joey-dj4cd Месяц назад

@@bilic8094I confirm, I live in Miami

@bilic8094 Месяц назад

@@Joey-dj4cd I never knew before that little Havana was right next to marlins baseball stadium it's a cool place I love it.

@TorukMakto7 Месяц назад

I hope you are honest and not one the brings ur dishonest and scammer ways to the usa

@datguy3581 Месяц назад

I support the Cuban people's right to self determination. That being said, I think it would be reasonable for the US to deescalate tensions in the event that Cuba commit to respecting human rights and back off their support of Russia.

@thomasjohnson2862 Месяц назад

Question on my mind: is it harder for revolutions to succeed these days? Because authoritarian governments have access to better quality of surveillance, security and weapons systems

@mishkamo55 Месяц назад

True look at Isra -Hell with Billions of US dollars....

@mat3714 Месяц назад

It was always difficult. No matter the era, revolution only works when the army joins mass mouvement.

@crypto2633 Месяц назад

In Cuba if you are against the regime you're called a counter revolutionary.

@thomasjohnson2862 Месяц назад

@@mat3714 But is it more difficult than it once was? Even if by just a bit, that’s significant

@mat3714 Месяц назад

@@thomasjohnson2862 I don't think it is. No matter the means of repression, if the army joins the people it's usually over for the "government". That's why autocracies favors loyalty over competency. And it's also valid the other way around just like recent events provided new exemples, if the population joined prighozin or the military coup in turkey.....neither Putin nor erdogan would be in power. I'm an history buff ( doesn't mean i have all the right answers ) and i could recommend a great podcast. It's called "revolutions" by Mike Duncan. Step by step narrative of 10 revolutions, from the English to the russian revolutions. I'm not mincing my words here, it's head and shoulders above the average podcast. He have a political formation and talks about history.

@Bella-yl9zm Месяц назад

We have a regimen in Cuba.. period

@theodorejay1046 Месяц назад

Regimen of what 🤔

@Jayjay-ji7ty Месяц назад

As a Canadian who has visited Cuba many times .. the need to get rid of socialism/communism and start relying on the rest of the world ... they need help... was ok 50-60 yrs ago not now ... I love the people there but they are struggling corrupt politicians and socialism ideologies don't help..our last vist found shortages of many items fuel even beer

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. I went about five years ago and thought the same. There are heavy restrictions on access to information and obvious shortages. It was an amazing country and the people are incredibly welcoming. But you could see the very real problems.

@michelgauthier1593 Месяц назад

you forgot to talk about the close collaboration of Cuba and Venezuela.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. I did actually mention it. But I didn’t go into detail about it. Unfortunately, in a short overview video like this it isn’t possible to focus on every element of the relationship. But I did certainly acknowledge this.

@brianhench3192 Месяц назад

Just imagine what could have been achieved if both countries had remained friendly and no sanctions were ever imposed.

@jop4846 Месяц назад

Well explain whole history. thank you

@davidprosser7278 Месяц назад

Well done, that was even handed. Explanation, not opinion.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks so much David.

@kplante7881 Месяц назад

Thanks for sharing…!

@stephen3632 Месяц назад

I love your videos James. But just a bit of constructive criticism (in my view), the historical explanations in videos can sometimes be a bit long - don't get me wrong I understand how essential it is to explain the background, but I would love to have longer hearing a more in depth analysis of the current event side of things. Just my view though. Have a great weekend.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks, Stephen. I can see your point. But I would really emphasise that I’m not an expert on each of the conflicts I cover. I couldn’t claim to be able to offer that sort of deep current affairs analysis. (I speak as someone who is an area studies specialist on SE Europe. Ask me about Cyprus or Kosovo and I can do a really detailed analysis of what is happening now. But I have been working on them for almost three decades.) What I try to do with the channel, is go deeper than the information one will find on news sites and provide a historical background to a news story and try to set it in a wider political or international relations context. I have always felt that this could provide viewers who are really interested in a topic with enough information to familiarise themselves with the issue to then go off and find out more.

@reefcake6629 Месяц назад

Thank you the video 🥰🥰

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you very much!

@albashir7140 Месяц назад

That was brilliant as usual sir 👏 ❤ from a Middle Eastern in New Zealand

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much! Very best regards from a Brit in the Mediterranean! :-)

@albashir7140 Месяц назад

@@JamesKerLindsay 🙏🙏💕

@hassanshayegannik155 Месяц назад

Very interesting and comprehensive presentation. Bravo! Thanks!

@richardsimms251 Месяц назад

Excellent. Thank you. RS. Canada

@belisarius2776 Месяц назад

Although you touch on it briefly. The role of the Cuban Exile community in this has ti be stressed. All they care about is tough sanctions on Cuba. They vote Republican so Democrats have nothing to lose politically by easing sanctions.The rest of the US could care less about this issue. Our communist enemies destroy themselves. They dont need our help.

@TheLocalLt 9 дней назад

Thanks for the video professor. I don’t think the time is quite ripe yet for a potential fall of the communist regime, but clearly things are starting to simmer. I would place a bookmark in this discussion and return to it upon the death of Raul Castro. Given the internal and external pressures that you’ve outlined in this video, there is a serious question as to whether the regime can outlive the death of its patriarchs.

@maxasaurus3008 Месяц назад

Professor I would recommend sitting farther away from your teleprompter, I can tell you’re reading. Terrific video though, very easy to watch. Loved it!

@michaelrtreat Месяц назад

Great history lesson

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thank you so much!

@peterkops6431 Месяц назад

Thanks as always Prof👍🏻👍🏻

@stanmoretti1676 Месяц назад

Please review this audio

@INeedJesus4sure Месяц назад

It seems to me that sanctions almost always backfires and cause needless suffering. If the Cuban economy collapse they can blames US sanctions, but if sanctions were removed, then they could only blame their own government.

@alfonsoportugal6754 Месяц назад

Excellent report, I loved it! It's not a small island though.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. You are right. It isn’t small. It was rather meant in relations to the size of the United States. But of course is absolute terms it is far from small. (I have in fact been.)

@user-ri1ti6go7s Месяц назад

We must not abandon human needs in Cuba as we do in so many other countries.. Yo our shame. Why we cannot have a world building on the good that we as humans have the potential for instead of so much aggression. Abuse. Control. Greed. Far. Hate. I don't know. That makes us humans sound so awful. But there are so many deeds of kindness. Words of love. Helping hands. Good neighbours. Simple Acts of charity. Understanding and valuing between peoples of different backgrounds. Family and friends care. Wonderful expressive arts. Science and technology... So here's hoping for humankind best future and the best for cuba.

@sirakbelaybeyene4293 Месяц назад

Very well balanced explanation. True educator.

@stunimbus1543 Месяц назад

I was hoping for an opinion on a possible split of Yeman back into 2 separate countries.

@user-fu8vn7xo6c 29 дней назад

I listened to your intro- Cuba was very much a part of the Cold War, set on importing Soviet nuclear ballistic missiles just about 100 miles south of Florida in the 60’s. Of course, the US was doing something similar in Turkey, but had a much greater distance there. Both sides pulled out, but it left hard feelings. I remember President Jimmy Carter welcoming Cuban immigrants to escape Communism there, but Fidel emptied his prisons & insane asylums in response, flooding Florida with criminals & the insane. In fact, the movie Scarface with Al Pacino was based on the life of one of those immigrants.

@_yk9ch9hw5q 22 дня назад

All of the people of Cuba in the recent protest marches in Cuba asked for food, electricity and FREEDOM from the Castro tyranny, no one in the protests mentioned external culprits, neither the USA nor the US embargo (sanctions).

@Artoliva Месяц назад

Evil doesn’t last forever

@DruidHark Месяц назад

Yeah, let’s hope the embargo goes ;)

@LongDefiant Месяц назад

The United States would be wise to remember that it's days are limited

@floraaficianado5050 Месяц назад

THIS is a very cogent, well paced, historically insightful narrative of Cuba’s now, as evolved from its rocky past. The people deserve better, and yet, that can only truly be achieved BY the people. I hope it is not the bloodbath it can be unless a leader rises from the many whose interest lies not in seizing power, but leads with respectful benevolence for his/her people’s sovereign right to self determination.

@Ahuntsicspotter Месяц назад

Here in Canada the travel agency Vacances Crystal has stopped selling Cuba at all.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. That’s interesting, when I visited Cuba, they absolutely loved the Canadians. Flags all over the place. Seriously, Celine Dion is still a star over there. If Canadians aren’t visiting it will hit the economy even harder.

@Ahuntsicspotter Месяц назад

@JamesKerLindsay Some other agencies are bumping their customers who would like to go 🚶‍♀️ to Cuba 🇨🇺 to Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 or Mexico 🇲🇽 and Mexico 🇲🇽 is now the 7th most visited country in the world 🌎. The reason why Vacances Crystal 🔮 has stopped ✋️ selling Cuba 🇨🇺 is due the big amount of complaints from their customers who had traveled there.

@yamaneko-ex8fy Месяц назад

The Cuban people deserve to be free and self-determined. So I wish them to get rid of their surpressing corrupt government which only cares for power but not for the people.

@mystmag7 Месяц назад

I don't consider Cuba to be an enemy

@jeebusk 28 дней назад

"Sighted by Christopher Columbus during the 16th and 17th century" I must be missing some punctuation here :p

@BojanPeric-kq9et Месяц назад

Have you noticed that human rights are not an issue in case of Saudi Arabia? Or that "one party rule" is acceptable in cases of Japan and Taiwan? Or that sanctions deprive people of their very basic human rights and needs?

@fomobull4187 Месяц назад

So F what? You want to impose ssnctions on Japan? What good would that do? Cuba is a dictatorship. That is what the cubans I know are telling me. The cost of overthrowing it is manageable. Thus it makes sense to do so. The US is not Father Christmas, they cannot be expected to solve all the worlds problems.

@frankcuritana8159 Месяц назад

Shouldn’t Cuban people revolt against their government now?hadn’t they suffered enough damage by the government to their lives?

@stuartwray6175 Месяц назад

...by US sanctions to their lives.

@shauncameron8390 Месяц назад

@@stuartwray6175 No. By Cuban government economic repression.

@jamesmitch9792 Месяц назад

Can you make a video on Mexico and the implications of being the US's biggest trading partners?

@ncheedxx0109 Месяц назад

Cuba's death is greatly exaggerated. Anyway, Herr Professor, the fact that Cuba has survived so long in such a tough neighborhood is in itself a victory of sorts, no matter the final outcome.

@pixie3869 16 дней назад

As an American/Floridian I do not consider Cubans the enemy. I pray they can finally have freedom.

@the_Kurgan Месяц назад

Small island? Seventeenth in the world.

@Homer-OJ-Simpson Месяц назад

2:25 “the countries GDP per capita is roughly inline with Latin America”. The world bank relies on the data provided by Cuba…and Cuba doesn’t allow NGO’s to verify their data. Just looking at all the videos of Cuba both in the city and the rural areas, no way is it the average of Latin America

@fevzikarsili7713 Месяц назад

Tks/

@martingrey2231 Месяц назад

Just ignore Cuba. They'll learn.

@AD-kv9kj Месяц назад

US has also been systematically damaging the Cuban cigar industry over the last decade and trying to do everything they can to replace it with their own cigar industry based out of Nicaragua, Honduras and Dom Rep.

@apolo_judo_club Месяц назад

Professor thanks, I had the opportunny to travel to the Havana, it is so so so poor, it was so sad😭

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. I went Cuba as well. I agree. It is desperately poor. But what stood out is that it is far tidier and better organised than many other countries in the region. People looked better taken care of. But you could also seen political restrictions placed on them.

@joandelur4407 Месяц назад

so so poor yes, but not prostituted as many countries in the west. Them still has Dignity, praise that many countries in west even can't imagine what it is.

@Diana-yn2ho Месяц назад

Terrible how the average Cuban is suffering in Cuba thanks to their oppressive government. I lived once in an American city where there were many Cubans and they told me about it.

@jellyrcw12 Месяц назад

Can you please cover the current situation in Haiti? I also imagine you're going to cover the recent terrorist attack in Moscow by ISIS

@zicada7661 Месяц назад

13:37 length coincidence?

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Haha! Yes. Completely. :-)

@opinionmatters7119 Месяц назад

Time for the US to stop the tension. The humanity side is what we are…Humans. Lets feed the world

@tirasjung3573 Месяц назад

#soscuba 😢

@euroschmau Месяц назад

A little note on US-Cuban relations during the George W Bush administration. Relations did not totally cease up, as I was fortunate to partake in a People-to-People exchange program in 2002. One could register into a program that sought approval from the State Department for travel. The experience was quite interesting to say the least. Havana is a beautiful and timeless city and the countryside equally enthralling to visit. I visited amazing historical sights, had unforgettable meetings with the people (and even some government officials), and gained some valuable insights into their society and culture. Something odd but interesting was we actually could import a small amount of Cuban goods (rum, cigars, handicrafts), but I had to declare them upon arrival back into the US. Showing the customs agent the two dozen cigars I brought back was rather hilarious when the agent asked if he could buy one, which of course he didn't, but I bet I could have made a pretty penny. Yes, it is illegal to sell them in the USA. Anyhow, I hope Cuba opens fully soon, the people need to be fully welcomed into the global community, and I really want to go back.

@ruvanefriebus-cv6td Месяц назад

I wonder why?

@_yk9ch9hw5q 22 дня назад

*IN THE RECENT PROTESTS IN THE STREETS OF CUBA WHERE THE PEOPLE ASK THE CASTRIST GOVERNMENT FOR FOOD, CURRENT AND FREEDOM, THEY NEVER BLAME THE LACK OF THOSE THINGS ON THE US OR THE EMBARGO*

@2639theboss Месяц назад

Really glad you covered this topic! I just spent about ten hours a week for about a month looking into the embargo and this issue. Its a shame relations werent normalized when we had a chance under previous administrations. Trump did so much damage. I do think the current government is out of touch with the population. They dont have the Castro legacy anymore and the legitimacy that came with the family, the Cuban government is becoming more authoritarian than before, supposedly theres greater economic issues than there were even five years ago, and much of the regulations on local economies (like small family restaurants) that were helping have been reimplemented. Id like to hear your take on a path forward for Cubans in general. Theyre generally distant to all of LATAM, except Venezuela, and i hope that can change. Forming a relationship with the Mercesor should be a priority, as should joining the free trade agreement that many caribbean islands share with the US. Gitmo needs to go as well. Theres rumours that Diaz-Canal has been buddying up with Putin, and that might make progress more difficult than it would have been even three or four years ago.

@JamesKerLindsay Месяц назад

Thanks. It really is a tough question. As I mentioned, there are obviously two very different views. Cuba sees this as a battle for self-determination against a history of US interference. But the US does appear to be taking an unnecessarily hard line that seems out of touch with the rest of the world. It is amazing that 187/193 UN members voted against the embargo, this includes practically every one of its major allies. Indeed, the only country voted against alongside the US was Israel. (Ukraine was the one abstention.) But you’re right. The president does seem to be getting rather close to Putin. Its own of these situations where one can see all sorts of points when things could have been done differently. Obama made the greatest leap. But Trump reversed it. But Biden doesn’t seem to have been in a mood to significantly swinging back. It really is a fascinating case study in US foreign policy.

@nromk Месяц назад

Let's be clear I think that the sanctions on Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela has hurt Cuba the most given that these are Cuba's largest trading partners.

@s.s.p.9680 Месяц назад

What did Batista do?

@gabrielrodriguez821 Месяц назад

Admittedly bias here but from what I heard he was Castro lite, essentially a similar police state with a semi functioning economy. The untold irony of it all was Batista was a mulatto, who came up from nothing. He generally held what the left calls "progressive ideas" which immediately made him alot of enemies in Cuba's elite circles, which is why so many "rich" people assisted Castro during the revolution. They got their's in the end though didn't they.

@s.s.p.9680 Месяц назад

@@gabrielrodriguez821 "progressive" means Socialist?

@gabrielrodriguez821 Месяц назад

@s.s.p.9680 He was part of a socialist party yea but it was more about supporting labor unions , worker rights and clearly he wasn't racist so more on the "progressive" side of the left as opposed to Castro who went full communist.

@s.s.p.9680 Месяц назад

@@gabrielrodriguez821 but this continued right until 1959, or was it just Batista's early stage?