Here’s what you need to know about the US embargo on Cuba

Since the country witnessed the uprising of thousands of Cubans in the Caribbean island, one of the issues much talked about on social media and by politicians is the U.S. embargo on Cuba. So, what exactly is it, and does it in fact play a role in what is currently happening within the island?

[jacksonmstrong]

According to these experts, does the embargo have zero impact on Cubans? That's completely in contrary to all of the evidence that says otherwise. Their government may be responsible for the lion's share of the suffering, but the embargo absolutely exacerbates it. If these "experts" say otherwise, that requires some proof instead of just taking their word for it.

[davidjeanb]

The news is lying, so why is that if other countries do business with Cuba, those countries will be penalized as well. Please explain?

[KennyFutbolVideos]

Cuba is free to trade with the rest of the world, but if the company trades with cuba, it cannot trade with the U.S for 180 days, so companies much rather go for the US to trade with, which is why the Embargo affects cuba, still, these independent people have balls of steel and still prevailed with a self sufficient economy

[annabel]

“they can trade with russia”
blocking cuba from trade with the worlds largest economy which is only 90 miles away and telling them to trade with a failing economy 10, 770 miles away is so stupid not to mention expensive

[effix]

So... you're saying that communism requires a free market to function?

[iancawley]

even if the embargo is not to blame it still must be lifted

[Garapetsa]

It's not about trade....it's about Liberty.

[stevesloan]

Fidel is gone. The remnants of his junta must follow.

[PapiRaza]

Cubans in Florida don't want to admit that they're wrong about the embargo

[stevesloan]

Maybe I missed something. But decades ago when we put in the economic embargoe on Cuba, I thought it meant that we were denying help to and refusing to prop up the illegitimate junta that is brutalizing the Cuban people. Isn't that what it means or is supposed to be doing?

[borndead]

Us embargo doesn't affect cuba at all. They are free to deal with the rest of the world

[thegreypenguin]

The reason why the properties were taken without compensation is because they were acquired through colonialism/imperalism, and US companies refused to refine oil, leaving cuba no choice.

[theillstgoblinking]

China or North Korea might help Cuba like it does to Venezuela

[niku]

Visited cuba recently for the first time, their airports are in very bad condition. Some sinks in toilet were missing tap handles. Imagine if that's the condition of an airport how bad is the rest of the system. Cuban deserves better future and better leadership.

[mikehattias]

This is such blatant propaganda, you should be ashamed of your selves. Some news room

[robertpolanco]

Personally, I will just NOT take the words of Cuban exiles with their ongoing whining and complaining about the island nation's "problems" that they only think were associated with the Cuban government and not anything else, especially with the criminal economic embargo that has been in place since 1960 or 1962 anyway! After all, I just DON'T TRUST Cuban exiles and their supporters and benefactors as well on the oldest historical issue of our time in regards to what has been happening with Cuba itself going through a difficult time at all!

[It-b-Blair]

Can you do a follow up about what you think we *shouldn’t* know about the embargo?

[marla]

Those who have never lived in a country where Socialism OR Communism governs the citizens of the country, have absolutely NO IDEA what they are talking about when they claim that Socialism and Communism are the same. I have first-hand knowledge and experience of both. I also have a degree in world history and political science. Please stop espousing misinformation. CUBA IS A COMMUNIST COUNTRY. CUBA IS NOT A SOCIALIST COUNTRY. SOCIALISM DOES NOT LEAD TO COMMUNISM. The lack of knowledge and the righteous way that many speak without any first hand knowledge of things is why this world is in trouble. We are baiting for the next leader to come along who will scream the loudest and proclaim what they say is true, just like Hitler did when the Germans felt lost and demoralized after WWI, and latched on to the first loud-mouthed, witty, public speaker, who did nothing but lie at the top of his lungs and make a country without a strong leader at the time, believe the garbage he claimed as truth. We continue to ignore history and facts and because of that, we will inevitably tempt history to repeat itself. Please crack open a book. Don't go online. Find a local library with history books written 50 years ago or more, that will be a good start if you want to educate yourself on geopolitics and the like. SMH

[robinmarie]

Good thing the world is waking up and learning to recognize propaganda when they see it.

[nauticalnovice]

It's not an uprising, stop with this propaganda