United Nations condemns U.S. embargo of Cuba, 186-2, for 20th consecutive year

Opinion -

The vote was no surprise to anyone. On a resolution presented by Cuba, 186 nations of the world community comprising the U.N. General Assembly voted to condemn the United States' 50 year old economic blockade - that's a better way to describe it - of the Caribbean island. Only the U.S. and Israel voted against the proposal, as they do every year. Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia abstained. The vote was an idle count, since the U.N. lacks a mechanism by which to implement its overwhelming decision. (The U.S. can also veto U.N. Security Council votes with which it disagrees.)

The U.S. embargo was put in place in February 1962. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez spoke at length before today's vote, and told the General Assembly that over the last half century, it's cost the island $975 billion USD. Almost $1 trillion later, and the United States has absolutely nothing to show for its effort. Ten American presidents have come and gone since then, and the 11th one is now in office. The Castro brothers - a couple of despotic octogenarians who at times still sport olive green military fatigues - are yet in Havana. So just what has the U.S. accomplished by this madness, which has punished no one except the Cuban people?

A U.S. State Dept. official told the U.N. General Assembly just before the vote that "U.S.-Cuba bilateral relations are a matter between them, and not properly a subject for United Nations debate." This, from the diplomatic representative of a country which has never been shy about lecturing other nations on human rights obligations.

The 50 year old U.S. economic embargo of Cuba has been a stunning example of a disastrously failed foreign policy.

Note: Mexico was with the 186 nations which voted to condemn the U.S. embargo.

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