Stephen Lendman

Trump intends getting tougher on Cuba than already. His Presidential Policy Directive lied, saying “I will seek to promote a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people.”

“To that end, we must ensure that US funds are not channeled to a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.”

In a statement to POLITICO, he lied again, saying “(t)he policy the Trump administration is announcing regarding Cuba based on President Trump’s core conviction that what the Cuban exile community is asking for is right and just.”

“The oppressors of the Cuban people are the Cuban government who have increased repression on the island against dissidents and Ladies in White since reestablishing diplomatic relations.”

“Prior to that, it was not clear to some if the Obama policy toward Cuba would work; today it is clear that the Obama policy toward Cuba does not.”

Fact: The world’s leading human rights abuser by far, waging endless wars on humanity at home and abroad, intends cracking down on a nation at peace with all other countries, never attacking any throughout its history, believing in peace, equity and justice.

Remaining free from US tyranny for almost six decades, it’s not about to surrender its sovereignty for any price.

The decades-old illegal embargo remains in place, imposed in 1962 under the 1917 Trading With the Enemy Act (TWEA), prohibiting trade with US enemies - defined as “any individual (or) government of any nation” at war with America.

Cuba isn’t a US enemy as defined under TWEA. Neither country declared war on the other. No legal authority exists for applying TWEA to US/Cuban relations.

Yet it remained in place illegally for decades. Trump perhaps wants it toughened. He wants trade and financial transactions prohibited, going along with an agenda promoted by bipartisan neocons infesting Washington - at the expense of improving bilateral relations and the wishes of US corporations wanting to do business in the country.

Trump saying his policy is “guided by key US national security interests and solidarity with the Cuban people” is pure rubbish.

Commercial ties to the island state won’t be established while he and/or other US hardliners are in power. Nor will the country become a destination for American tourists.

Obama’s dubious “new course on Cuba” concealed dirty business as usual, an effort to return the country to client state status.

US hostility toward Cuban sovereign independence remains in place unchanged. Trump earlier said he’d toughen US policy on the country, saying Obama made a “bad deal.”

Embassies in both countries will remain open. The “wet foot, dry foot” policy Obama ended won’t be reinstated. Travel to Cuba will require special administration permission, tourism to visit the nation prohibited like earlier.

Treasury rules will be drafted to enforce administration policy. US demands unacceptable to any country will have to be met before restrictions are eased - meaning no change in longstanding policy toward Havana.

Attempting to isolate Cuba never worked earlier nor will it now. Trump administration rules take effect 90 days from today.

Forcing its will on other nations politically or belligerently is the main reason why America is so reviled - Russia, China and other countries benefitting from worldwide mutual cooperation.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html