CubaCuba90 miles90 milesHavana to Havana to

Key West, FLKey West, FL

FidelFidelCastroCastro

U.S. History with CubaU.S. History with Cuba• “Free” country up to 1959• Fulgencio Batista: MAJOR U.S.

investment / influence (gambling, mafia, resorts: “Latin Las Vegas;” “Gambling Mecca of New World”)

• “America’s Paradise:” ~Cancun• Lucky Luciano arranged Frank

Sinatra act in Havana• Batista loved by U.S., became

corrupted by U.S. $$• Many Cubans wanted Cuba to

be “free” of U.S. “influence”• Cuban Revolution: 1959 (1/1/59)Cuban Revolution: 1959 (1/1/59)

BatistaBatista

Cuban RevolutionCuban Revolution

1962: Cuban Missile Crisis1962: Cuban Missile Crisis• Cuba allies with USSR (defense and

trade) and Cuba agrees to allow Soviet Union to put missiles in Cuba (again, only 90 miles away)

• “Cuban Missile Crisis:” U.S. reacts; blockades Cuba; orders removal of missiles

• USSR tells Cuba if U.S. fires or invades, launch missiles

• 2 weeks go by… “Khrushchev blinked”• Russia removes missiles• 1963: JFK says trading with Cuba is

ILLEGAL; tells other countries (i.e. Latin America) that U.S. will cut off aid to anyone who trades with Cuba:

the the EMBARGOEMBARGO beginsbegins

Since 1963Since 1963• After the USSR collapsed, Cuba After the USSR collapsed, Cuba

left without superpower, no $$$left without superpower, no $$$• Economic Embargo Economic Embargo still in effectstill in effect• Fidel: longest serving ruler in the world Fidel: longest serving ruler in the world

(48 years) until he “retired” in 2008(48 years) until he “retired” in 2008• What (or who) happens after Raul?What (or who) happens after Raul?

QUESTIONS:QUESTIONS:• Is the embargo working? Is the embargo working? • Fidel is gone: should we continue it?Fidel is gone: should we continue it?• Who is it hurting / helping?Who is it hurting / helping?• Who wants to be the president to be Who wants to be the president to be

viewed as the one who gave in to viewed as the one who gave in to Communism? Will Obama be the guy?Communism? Will Obama be the guy?

Cuba

Travel!Travel!U.S. ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS / TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The U.S. Treasury Dept requires that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel-related transactionstransactions concerning travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable.are not licensable.   This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada.  Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations will face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States and may face up to a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail.

This is aThis is a U.S.U.S. law!law!Not a Cuban law.Not a Cuban law.

The UN Vote on the Embargo:The UN Vote on the Embargo:(10/27/15)(10/27/15)

FORFOR AGAINSTAGAINST• United StatesUnited States 191191 countriescountries• IsraelIsrael around the around the

worldworld

2323 consecutive years that the UN has consecutive years that the UN has voted voted overwhelminglyoverwhelmingly to end the to end the

embargo (but it’s not their embargo)embargo (but it’s not their embargo)http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/politics/un-vote-cuba-embargo/