if the USA is so keen on democracy can someone please justify this*.....?

Question

The votes of the U.N. General Assembly on the "necessity to lift the blockade against Cuba"...

Year . . . . For . . . . Against . . . . Countries Against

1992 . . . . 59 . . . . . . .. . 2 . . . . . .USA, Israel
1993 . . . . 88 . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Albania,Paraguay
1994 . . . .101 . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . .USA, Israel
1995 . . . .117 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Uzbekistan
1996 . . . .138 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Uzbekistan
1997 . . . .143 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Uzbekistan
1998 . . . .157 . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . .USA, Israel
1999 . . . .155 . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . .USA, Israel
2000 . . . .167 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Marshall Islands
2001 . . . .167 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Marshall Islands
2002 . . . .173 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . .USA, Israel, Marshall Islands

* - without using the words illegal imperialism or similar

Answer 1

America only cares about democracy when it suits its interests. Look at all the democratic governments overthrown by the CIA.

Odd that Israel voted with the US every time. I suppose they owe something back from all the aid they get.

Answer 2

Because the USA is equally keen on it's own sovereign right to make it's own foreign policy -- regardless of how stupid that policy may be.

And it is an embargo, not a blockade - they are two very different things. That so many countries voted to end a "blockade" that doesn't exist may make more of a statement on the stupidity -- or bias -- of their own foreign policies.

But, yes, the embargo should be lifted. It may have made sense in the 1960s, when Cuba hosted nuclear missiles, but the embargo has now long since become counterproductive. It's main effect today is to strengthen the Cuban leadership against reform, by giving them a convenient enemy against which to deflect internal pressures. The best way to promote reform in Cuba today, would be to end the embargo.

Answer 3

The US has supported economic sanctions on a country which is a dictatorship posing as communist country. Cuba is mostly a harmless insignificant country now but was a tool of the Soviets in the past.

Your point would better be made if you asked:

If the US promotes democracy then how can it also promote laws that allow such disparity in wealth and services among its citizens, when money = power and true equality can not occur when the rich control the government except on election day?

Answer 4

Can you help me on this? How do you equate dropping the Cuban blockade to being keen on Democracy? And I seem to remember that the blockade was dropped in 1962. The Embargo is still in effect. But I have been to the Florida straits, recently, and saw no warships surrounding Cuba.
Uask, what does this have to do with Cuba and Democracy. It is either a poor little black me story or a lie. I tend to believe the latter.

Answer 5

A complex issue. First, the rules of the UN allow the USA to have a blocking vote. Second, Cuba is not a democracy. The USA is.

I agree that the USA has a history of only accepting democracies it likes, and getting rid of those it does not. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax

As well as supporting dictatorships such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, as well as its support for right wing dictatorships of South America in the past. (Including, interestingly, pre-Castro Cuba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista#The_Second_Coup

But the justification for this act is with an aim to bring democracy to Cuba. Something that Cubans shoud be entitled to.

Answer 6

Cuba is within 90 miles of a highly populated area. Cuba is known for human right violations, unfair trials and extra-judicial executions.

Other countries are more than welcome to trade with Cuba, so the fact that the UN is voting on US policy is a moot point. The UN has no say on US Policies.

Remember, the USA is a democracy and the elected officials have chosen to keep the embargo in place. Unlike Cuba that has no elections and persacutes anyone with different thought of their military government.

The purpose of the embargo is to bring Democracy to Cuba. Until Castro is gone, and elections are held. It is highly unlikely the embargo will be lifted.

Answer 7

Its kindof hard to justify that. The cuban blockade has little to do with democracy (as some people seem to feel the question is pointing to). Its always pointed more to the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine declared that no challenge to U.S. dominance would be tolerated in the hemisphere." That has cost us alot of world opinion.

I agree. I find it interesting that so many people in the US complain about the UN but the US is one of the largest reasons that it has such a hard time. Their voting policies, the years and billions in unpaid dues, lack of military support for many of its programs.

Answer 8

Sorry, but I fail to see how an economic embargo against a country that perpetually calls for our downfall violates the tenets of democracy.
Am I to infer from your question that we, as a sovereign nation, must refrain from pursuing any international diplomatic action against another nation that poses a degree of danger to our system of governance?
If you are upset over the power of our minority vote, that has nothing to do with democracy. Read the UN Charter, the General Assembly is a forum for discussion and action that is heavily influenced by the votes of the Allied Powers of WWII (Britain, France, Russia, and the US) as well as the Asian superpower, China.
How can you expect democratic results from an institution whose majority of members are undemocratic? To put it simply, democracy only works when it is applied to a group of people who share the belief in its value and tradition. It cannot work within the framework of numerous international political systems. This is not a defense of the UN, for I oppose further US membership in this organization.

Answer 9

Cuba is run by a gangster whom has stashed almost $2 billion in hidden foreign accounts under dummy companies he owns. He fought for the poor but somewhere down the line, his ideals got corrupted and he became what he sought out to destroy. The Cuban people are the ones suffering and one day sooner than later god will free them with the death of this dictator and the embargo will be lifted.

Answer 10

Democracy is NOT other countries dictating policy to us....it the people deciding on whom shall lead them or are you that uneducated to be able to tell the difference...ps...the phrase you are looking for is majority rules.....to explain that...but if you allow that you eliminate all the PRO LIBBY decisions made against the majority by the Supreme Court...
As usual ...Libbies LOSE