The unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose,"

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a draft report Monday saying it is time to reconsider longtime U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba.

"The unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose," Sen. Richard Lugar writes in a letter.

"After 47 years ... the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of 'bringing democracy to the Cuban people,' " Lugar, R-Indiana, wrote in a letter that accompanied the report.

"The current U.S. policy has many passionate defenders, and their criticism of the Castro regime is justified. Nevertheless, we must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests."

Lugar's letter preceded a 21-page draft report by the Republican members of the committee titled "Changing Cuba Policy -- In the United States National Interest."

U.S. officials long have defended the trade embargo on Cuba -- initiated in 1962 -- as a way of pressuring the communist nation and its leaders, Fidel Castro and his brother, Raul, the country's current president, to move toward democracy.

The United States also has imposed travel restrictions on Cuba, which lies 90 miles south of Florida.

At 50, Cuba's revolution showing signs of its age

In October, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution urging the United States to end its trade embargo on Cuba -- a vote that was praised by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque as "a clear and direct message to the next president of the United States about the necessity to change this obsolete and cruel policy."

During his candidacy, President Obama said that he would be willing to meet with Cuba's leaders as well as the leadership of other countries that do not have diplomatic ties with the United States.

A month after Obama's election, Fidel Castro penned an essay in which he said he would be open to the idea of meeting with the new U.S. leader.

But the communist leader warned that Obama "must be reminded that the carrot-and-stick theory cannot be applied in our country."

[Saddle Bronc 124]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a draft report Monday saying it is time to reconsider longtime U.S. economic sanctions on Cuba.

"The unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose," Sen. Richard Lugar writes in a letter.

"After 47 years ... the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of 'bringing democracy to the Cuban people,' " Lugar, R-Indiana, wrote in a letter that accompanied the report.

"The current U.S. policy has many passionate defenders, and their criticism of the Castro regime is justified. Nevertheless, we must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests."

Lugar's letter preceded a 21-page draft report by the Republican members of the committee titled "Changing Cuba Policy -- In the United States National Interest."

U.S. officials long have defended the trade embargo on Cuba -- initiated in 1962 -- as a way of pressuring the communist nation and its leaders, Fidel Castro and his brother, Raul, the country's current president, to move toward democracy.

The United States also has imposed travel restrictions on Cuba, which lies 90 miles south of Florida.

At 50, Cuba's revolution showing signs of its age

In October, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution urging the United States to end its trade embargo on Cuba -- a vote that was praised by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque as "a clear and direct message to the next president of the United States about the necessity to change this obsolete and cruel policy."

During his candidacy, President Obama said that he would be willing to meet with Cuba's leaders as well as the leadership of other countries that do not have diplomatic ties with the United States.

A month after Obama's election, Fidel Castro penned an essay in which he said he would be open to the idea of meeting with the new U.S. leader.

But the communist leader warned that Obama "must be reminded that the carrot-and-stick theory cannot be applied in our country."

My take on this; because Lugar supports lifting the embargo, 0bama will continue it.

Carrot-and-stick policy only works when there is an exclusive carrot-patch with a stick to dictate the rabbit's behaviour; when the rabbit has a choice of stickless ones, the approach basically defeats itself.

Edited February 23, 2009 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

lugar is a different type of senator..he thinks for himslef and not along part lines

[Saddle Bronc 124]

So, why have the Democruds (as well as the Republicans) not removed the embargo?

[almaty 19]

florida electoral votes