Claire Bernish

October 28, 2015

(ANTIMEDIA) The entire world slammed the United States for its 55-year-long economic strangulation of Cuba when 191 countries — every U.N. General Assembly member except the U.S. and its notorious ally Israel — voted to terminate the antiquated embargo.

Cuba introduced the largely symbolic annual resolution demanding relief from the crippling U.S.-imposed “blockade” that has contentiously left its citizens stranded in the 1950s. Though the yearly vote cannot be enforced, clearly America and Israel stand against virtually the entire planet by insisting such incapacitating constraints continue to have any merit.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez starkly explained the true results of the embargo: “The human damage it has caused is inestimable.”

Considering the recent opening of diplomatic relations, lifting of travel restrictions between the longstanding Cold War rivals — not to mention removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism — an extension of the economic throttle seems all but impossible to justify. For each of the past 23 years similar measures to lift the embargo have been proposed, however, they’ve consistently been blocked by the U.S. and Israel — despite international outcry.

In fact, opposition to el bloqueo (“the blockade,” as Cuba terms it) has now garnered historic levels of support: in last year’s vote, 188 nations condemned U.S. strictures while only three nations abstained, and — as to be expected — Israel stood alone in support of its ally. Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau abstained last year, but have since established diplomatic ties with Cuba.

Wriggling out of claims it would seriously consider the resolution, U.S. Ambassador Ronald Godard reckoned the “no” vote to the U.N., saying:

“We find it unfortunate that despite our bilateral progress, Cuba introduced a nearly identical resolution to those in years past” in that “the text [of the resolution] falls short of reflecting the significant steps that have been taken and the spirit of engagement President Obama has championed.” He added, “If Cuba thinks this exercise will help move things forward in the direction both governments have indicated they wish, it is mistaken.”

Rodríguez rebuffed these claims, saying “the facts make crystal clear” the embargo remains effectively resolute. Though the U.S.’ lifting of certain trade and travel restrictions indicate positive changes, Rodríguez said “they only modify in a very limited way some of the elements of the implementation of the blockade. Many of them can’t be implemented unless others are adopted that would finally permit Cuba to freely import and export goods and services to and from the United States.”

Cuba assesses the total cost of the embargo at a staggering $833.75 billion.

Every year a similar resolution is introduced by Cuba; and every year Israel acts as America’s solitary rubber-stamp, ignoring the embargo’s decisive violation of international law — and the condemnation of the rest of the planet.

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