July 13, 2001

2:56 PM

Bush to Waive Helms-Burton LawUnder pressure from key European allies, President Bush is poised to reverse a campaign position, and in the process, screw over the Cubans in Florida.
posted by Rastafari (8 comments total)

Sounds like a good deal to me. How does this screw over the Cubans in Florida? They are one of the most pandered to special interest groups around...
posted by owillis at 3:04 PM on July 13, 2001

As I read this... if someone stole your land, built a hotel, and is making money off it, wouldn't you want to sue them?

I don't think Cuban Americans are more pandered to than any other group, it's just that the Republicans are the ones who do it.
posted by dagnyscott at 3:11 PM on July 13, 2001

If Cuba's government has decided they want to take the land and do what they want with it, who is any American court to say otherwise?

And both Republicans and Democrats pander to Cuban Americans.
posted by owillis at 3:26 PM on July 13, 2001

Cubans left their homeland to come here. I can apreciate their reason for so doing. But now here, what right do they have to sue a land they left on purpose for what they left behind? A number of countries have taken over (state ownership) American holdings in countries. Sometimes they gave compensation; sometimes not.
Why not American Indians suing for all the land they gave up (had stolen) from Mr. Whiteguy?
posted by Postroad at 3:52 PM on July 13, 2001

Actually, the specific issue of property rights for Cuban "exiles" is less significant in this instance, I think, than the sanctions mandated in Titles III and IV of Helms-Burton against foreign firms that do business in Cuba.

Although the EU has allowed its proceedings under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism to lapse, the blocking act is still in place. In a diplomatic tour de force, the EU and US have agreed to try to agree how expropriated property should be treated. But the EU's threat to head straight to the WTO if Bush activates Title III is real, says the Washington delegation. It is seeking the permanent waiver of Titles III and IV.

Looks like a triumph for quiet diplomacy. In fact, I hope that the US State Department managed to get the EU delegation to agree on rules of best practice. There's a tangible difference between managing a hotel that was abandoned by the Mafia in 1959, and taking over property left empty because the residents jumped on a raft a month earlier.
posted by holgate at 4:13 PM on July 13, 2001

The Helms-Burton law is one of the most conceited, arrogant legislative acts in the last century. It's about time that the embargo be dropped, the borders be opened, and the ties strengthened. We are not commie-hunting any more.

The Cubans in Miami deserve nothing and should be ignored. Just you wait and see: Mas Canosa Jr. will have a piece of the current action. He's the son of the man who pictured himself as the leader of the post-Castro Cuba.
posted by Mo Nickels at 4:34 PM on July 13, 2001

There is no good reason I can see to maintain our stance with Cuba, the border should be opened.

I also don't see where allowing Cuban Americans to sue in American courts over land in Cuba they lost as Cubans is of any use at all, how do you enforce a ruling against people you already embargo? Not that I think it's a good idea anyway, the U.S. does enough policing of other countries as it is.

As to the real reason the EU wants the law waived again, I think I'll get tired real quickly of hearing "...or we'll go to the WTO." There is a point where internal policy needs to be just that, and not subject to change because someone else doesn't like it. (Note: This is not just in regards to other countries using the WTO to influence U.S. decisions, we use the WTO and brute force to force hands more than the rest of them.)
posted by Nothing at 4:49 PM on July 13, 2001

I think I might have just found my way to make a cool million.....

I'm gonna sue the Italian government because the Romans enslaved my great, great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great grandfather.

My central European heritage automatically qualifies me for great wealth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by ttrendel at 3:48 AM on July 14, 2001