tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419558703918975245.post273125583420662781..comments2024-03-18T05:11:45.069-04:00Comments on Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter: An open letter to Carlos SaladrigasJohn Suarezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11333798474560217548noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419558703918975245.post-78299067874482415232014-06-11T15:58:46.456-04:002014-06-11T15:58:46.456-04:00Cuesta Morua's analysis is impressive. I have ...Cuesta Morua's analysis is impressive. I have some questions with Azel's placing the argument into an ideological contrast between Paine and Burke although agree with the conclusion that progress will follow a systematic change.John Suarezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11333798474560217548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419558703918975245.post-32993558576451054202014-06-11T10:43:33.494-04:002014-06-11T10:43:33.494-04:00This is a good addition to the ongoing debate abou...This is a good addition to the ongoing debate about the different strategies to accelerate regime change in Cuba. In a recent OpEd, Dr. Jose Azel argued that this debate is rooted in fundamental philosophical and ideological differences between the two sides of the argument. Critics of the embargo believe engagement will be able to nurture an economic civil society that will in turn, pressure the regime into change; that is, progress will precipitate regime change. Supporters of the embargo believe the nation as a whole will benefit and progress only after removing the political and legal straightjacket imposed by the Castro regime on Cuban society; that is, progress will follow regime change. I believe Azel is correct.<br />The best argument I have seen on this topic, however, is from Manuel Cuesta Morua, a Cuban dissident in the island. Cuesta Morua, who is a social democrat, argues convincingly that the economic civil society proposed by embargo critics simply cannot grow in the repressive environment created by the Castro regime, by design. Without this economic civil society to pressure the regime for change, the entire anti-embargo argument for engagement collapses. Furthermore, Cuesta Morua agrees with the pro-embargo argument that political change must precede economic growth. He believes that only a strong civil society and the rule of law can lead to economic growth. Cuesta Morua also points to other, equally important moral and practical arguments against the engagement strategy. Cuesta Morua’s argument can be found here: http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1402298442_8956.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05904696037242382007noreply@blogger.com