Why, 45 years on, do we still embargo Cuba? We trade with China, and have established relations with Vietnam

Cuba is the worlds largest sugar producer. American sugar producers are protected from competition. It is a multi-billion dollar industry.

Tourism in Florida is also a multi-billion dollar industry--also protected from competitionfrom Cuba.

When confronted with an irrationality--follow the money.

The main issue of contention with the US seems to be free elections in Cuba and the replacement of Fidel Castro through the election process before the embargo can be lifted. What I do not understand is why we do not take a similar stand toward the People's Republic of China or to Saudi Arabia? China also has a communist system of government while Saudi Arabia has no elections; women's rights do not even include the right to vote, drive or walk side-by-side with a man on the street.

Every country has human rights abuses - even the United States. There is famous case of Rodney King. A few years ago, Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant, was beaten and sodomized with a toilet plunger by numerous members of the New York City police department.

Perhaps, if there were a country as much or more powerful than the US – than the US is more powerful than Cuba – then there might be an embargo against us as a consequence of our human rights violations. We are quite robust at reporting and rating other nations as to their human rights record. Who reports on ours? What would they say?

Out of the whole freaking stupid US foreign policy, this is something that really confuses me. I couldn't ever fathom the continuation of the embargo. It might have served some purpose then but now? This really shows the inconsistency of our application of ideology. Is America still sore from the Bay of Pigs? I thought the wound of Nam was worse.

Trade with China was started to drive a wedge between them and the Soviet Union...it worked.

That cowardly draft dodging Slick Willie was the one who "normalized" relations with the Communists in Viet Nam...an INSULT to ALL Viet Nam veterans !

Castro will be dead soon. Why should we "reward" that jerk by bailing his economy out ?

The other two countries AREN'T within 90 miles launching range from the USA. Or have you forgotten the Cuban Missle Crisis ?

I'm guessing that Cuba isn't as profitable to us as China is (to our government, that is.)

I was very surprised to see how different it is in Canada--we went there for one day and I saw posters advertising trips to Cuba along with goods made in Cuba for sale at the local mall.

It is a little known fact that Fidel Castro's penis is larger than all of the US presidents who have served during his 45 year reign.

They boycott Cuba out of spite.

because Castro isn't willing to sell his people out as sweatshop labor for US dime stores like walmart... Where he willing to do that the embargo would be lifted in a heartbeat.

Now would be the worst time to do that. Castro will depart soon...change can happen. To normalize relations would prompt another generation of tyranny for Cuba

Because United States foreign policy makes no sense.

Cuba got atomic missiles pointed down our throat's