Ridiculous. This should have been over a long time ago. Or, frankly, never even started.

As an outsider it seems bizarre to treat Cuba like this while happily trading with China.

50 years of abject failure. Yay!

I'm lighting an ISOM special Rosado right now.
Lightation commenced!

Here's to another 50 years of an American-free tourist spot!

/drinks mojito

Is this the thread where americans insist that those Cuban grapes are sour and that the Dominican grapes are far sweeter?

Yep. Looks like it is.

Screw the cigars, gimme a cuban rum mojito.

And we still have it until all the old Cuban Americans in south FL die off.

Flint Ironstag: As an outsider it seems bizarre to treat Cuba like this while happily trading with China.

It doesn't make any sense to an insider like me either.

This computer manufactured in China gives me the chance to throw in my support for the continued embargo of a nation governed by an oppressive Communist regime.

Get rid of the stupid farking thing, already. For fark's sake.

Bill_Wick's_Friend: Is this the thread where americans insist that those Cuban grapes are sour and that the Dominican grapes are far sweeter?

Yep. Looks like it is.

Funny, I've always heard people speak in reverential tones when talking about the Cubans a friend brought back from wherever. I have heard people say that cigars from DR, Nicaragua, etc are quite good as well but I've never heard anyone say that Dominican ones are far better. Is it possible you just made this up? Smart money says yes. No one has said such a thing in this thread

Proof Communism doesn't work. They are broke. Only Michael Moore wishes to live there now. They like to blame us, but they can trade with the rest of the world. Their system of government is their downfall.

Fidel Castro has given the digitus impudicus to 11 count them eleven US presidents so far. And yet he lives. Still holding worldwide longevity 3rd place with Queen Elizabeth reigning since 1953 and the champ of all champs, the King of Thailand on the throne since before Bill Clinton was even born (seriously, since 1946).

Everything I know about pre-Castro Cuba, I learned from the movie Guys and Dolls. Sing it, Frankie!

Nemo's Brother: Proof Communism doesn't work. They are broke. Only Michael Moore wishes to live there now. They like to blame us, but they can trade with the rest of the world. Their system of government is their downfall.

If their system is such a failure, what harm would it do to trade with them?

All I know is that Varadero is perhaps the nicest beach I've ever sat upon and Cubans that I've met, on the whole, are very nice people. The food isn't great, but the drinks are.

Sucks to be you, US.

Walker: Asinine. Every other country in the world lets their citizens go there, so what's the point of a one country economic embargo?

Maintaining what little cigar quality remains?

Cuban cigars, like their health care system, is vastly overrated in the States.

shivashakti: Ridiculous. This should have been over a long time ago. Or, frankly, never even started.

I can understand you guys being a bit sore at them for agreeing to be a staging base for Russian nukes, but really, it didn't make any difference in the tactical situation of the day.

The embargo makes no sense, it should have been either ended decades ago OR upgraded to a blockade that wouldn't end until Castro's head on a spike was delivered to us.

So yeah, every congress, every president, have failed. That the embargo is still going on is stark proof that our democratic system is a sham sold out to a few special interests.

sendtodave: Cuban cigars, like their health care system, is vastly overrated in the States.

their sandwiches, however, are delicious

sendtodave: is

are

/ow

skullkrusher: sendtodave: Cuban cigars, like their health care system, is vastly overrated in the States.

their sandwiches, however, are delicious



NOM

I'm lighting up a Partagas Habana light now, so I'm getting a kick out of these replies.

MaxxLarge: Though Cuba has grown as a nation,
Their money is still in deflation.
So many cigars,
And still, they drive cars
From Kennedy's administration.

Actually, about half the cars in Cuba are modern Korean, Chinese, or European models. Most of the remainder are communist-era Russian and eastern European imports. Of the remaining small numbers of pre-revolution American iron, most have long ago had their running gear replaced by something out of an old Russian truck.

The oddest thing is the large number of 80s school buses imported from Quebec which ply their trade ferrying tourists while still carrying their original French "Ecoliers" markings.

/Also lots of motorcycle with sidecar combos

If we're trading with China we should trade with Cuba.

Hell we give billions to North Korea and those guys are evil as fark.

Nemo's Brother: Proof Communism doesn't work. They are broke. Only Michael Moore wishes to live there now. They like to blame us, but they can trade with the rest of the world. Their system of government is their downfall.

Most Cubans I've had private conversations with while in Havana would agree with you regarding the fact that the US embargo is not to blame for all their trouble, but they don't blame communism either. It's not like their non-communist Caribbean neighbours are better-off.

If nothing else, under the communist regime all Cubans are educated, they are all housed, and they all have access to decent health care.

50 years of celebrating that Americans still fail to grasp the key concepts of:

'We defeat our enemies through the export of our cultural. Simply kicking their ass does not work. Hollywood and consumerism are slower acting but many times more effective than a MEF."

"We had medium range ICBMs in Turkey. The Warsaw Pact sticking some in Cuba was just fair play. We parked the launchers in the Soviet's back yard and then got butt hurt when they returned the favor."

/seriously go to Vietnam and look at their love of Western cultural
//Agent Orange and Strategic Hamlet Resettlement doesn't have shiat on consumerism

sendtodave: skullkrusher: sendtodave: Cuban cigars, like their health care system, is vastly overrated in the States.

their sandwiches, however, are delicious

[t1.gstatic.com image 282x178]

NOM

HOT DAMN!
GIBBS MAH DAT SAMICH!

Aarontology: The Stealth Hippopotamus: I really don't think that is it. Most the Cubans in Florida have family on the islands. Cuba's number one cash maker is people send money home to support the family.

Yeah, but a lot of them really, really, really hate Castro. Especially the ones who benefitted from Batista, or are related to people who did. There really isn't any other reason for the embargo. Cuba would make a ton more money if the embargo was lifted because then they would have the entire American market open to exports, as well as American tourist dollars.

Also, remember what happened when the USSR started letting American products in. Does Havana have a McDonald's?

So, what would happen if I dropped a package in the mail to a random person in the US of A and declare the contents to be a "Cuban cigar"?

I'm sure Castro will stop torturing his people once the embargo is lifted.

/grandma grew up next door to Castro
//have a picture of them both as kids standing next to a donkey
///not in Tijuana
////refugees from Cuba hold quite the grudge and pass it on to their families
//so many slashies this comment should be wearing a tophat

Walker: Asinine. Every other country in the world lets their citizens go there, so what's the point of a one country economic embargo?

If you are an American and want to go there Friendly Planet Travel has received permission from the US government to take tourists there. It's pricy though, $2099 for five days (includes airfare, hotel, guided tours, meals, entrance Visa, etc.). When I was in the Cayman Islands my tour guide there said they also offer Americans a chance to go to Cuba and that they US Government wouldn't find out because your passports aren't stamped. Just don't buy any Cuban souvenirs while there.

For that kind of money, if you are an American with any shred of Irish heritage you can basically buy an Irish passport. It will take awhile and you have to submit a bunch of documents, but Ireland really doesn't give that much of a fark as long as the check clears. I have some Irish grandparents and snagged one.

I got mine back when I was with the defense branch of an auto company and visiting various third world hellholes to convince them to buy up armored pickups. If I ever got abducted my master plan was to flash the Irish passport and be like "Hey I'm Irish, don't waste your time holding me hostage".

It's main advantage is that customs officials would shake down my coworkers travelling on the American passport for a bribe, but just let me in. I guess they figured the Irish were poor and not worth spending the time to shake down.

Walker: Every other country in the world lets their citizens go there, so what's the point of a one country economic embargo?


Every other country don't have it.

rf134a: So, what would happen if I dropped a package in the mail to a random person in the US of A and declare the contents to be a "Cuban cigar"?

It would be confiscated by US customs. They would either smoke it themselves, or destroy it, but one thing is sure. It would not reach intended recipient...

Nemo's Brother: Proof Communism doesn't work. They are broke.

We're so broke we've lapped ourselves.

Walker: It's pricy though, $2099 for five days (includes airfare, hotel, guided tours, meals, entrance Visa, etc.).

Um... That seems like a pretty sweet price actually.

Though I guess that's per person.

I'd do it.

One of Castro's 'Big Lies'?

That the Us embargo kept Cuba from having any kind of economic growth.

The fact is that the U.S. is the ONLY country that had an embargo and Cuba was free to trade with the rest of the world.

But that CS Castro needed a scapegoat for the shiatty living conditions and decided to blame the U.S.

The sooner this murdering POS dictator dies the better off the world will be.