Columbus first landed in Guantánamo Bay in 1494, naming it Puerto Grande. US Marines didn’t set foot on Guantánamo until 1898 during the Spanish-American war. The Marines were seeking refuge from a Hurricane. Guantánamo Naval Station was erected in 1903 (National Geographic). The site was originally a refugee camp but later would become a detention center known for its intelligence operations In 2002 under the bush administration Guantánamo began to use torture techniques claiming these people were neither civilians nor soldiers but unlawful combatants (National Geographic). Therefore inmates were not entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention, which states in Article 3 that soldiers captured in wartime must be treated humanely,
…show more content…
By closing Guantánamo the US would be ridding itself of this symbol. However, it is debated whether this great PR move could backfire. By first torturing a country 's citizens while in detention for over 7 years and then setting them free are we perhaps creating anti-American spokespeople for the Islamic extremist groups. According to National Geographic by 2012 18 of the 520 released prisoners went back to Al Qaeda or the Taliban, and what do you think they had to say of the US’s values and morals.
Cuba’s Importance in US and Other Countries
The United States is hesitant to fully end the embargo with Cuba due to trust issues between the countries. Obama states that he is willing to negotiate how to start diplomatic relations back up after decades. Cuba can be a great import/export country. With the location being so close to the United States, Cuba can potentially aid us in moving our products to them. For example, on February 15, Obama approved the first U.S. factory to be built in Cuba (The Globe and Mail). The factory is a two-man business that is hoping to officially start making tractors in early 2017. This will be the first significant business transaction, $5-$10 million, between Cuba and the United States since 1959. One owner stated, “It’s our belief that in the long run we both win if we do things that are beneficial to both countries.” Cuba and the United States are …show more content…
The two countries rely on the other more than is necessary. Cuban trades their teachers, trainers, doctors and military advisors for oil from Venezuela (Brookings). The true interdependence of these countries can become a downfall. The Venezuelan economy is unstable and is a risk for Cuba to take part in. If Cuba and Venezuela were to have a degree of separation between them, they may end up doing better than what they are now. For example, if Cuba pulls out of some trade between Venezuela, the Cuban economy will be based on their efforts to rebuild themselves. In the same way, Venezuela will have a more stable economy that would be based majorly on what their country is doing rather than the deals with Cuba. The countries are relying on the trades with each other in order to
By closing Guantánamo the US would be ridding itself of this symbol. However, it is debated whether this great PR move could backfire. By first torturing a country 's citizens while in detention for over 7 years and then setting them free are we perhaps creating anti-American spokespeople for the Islamic extremist groups. According to National Geographic by 2012 18 of the 520 released prisoners went back to Al Qaeda or the Taliban, and what do you think they had to say of the US’s values and morals.
Cuba’s Importance in US and Other Countries
The United States is hesitant to fully end the embargo with Cuba due to trust issues between the countries. Obama states that he is willing to negotiate how to start diplomatic relations back up after decades. Cuba can be a great import/export country. With the location being so close to the United States, Cuba can potentially aid us in moving our products to them. For example, on February 15, Obama approved the first U.S. factory to be built in Cuba (The Globe and Mail). The factory is a two-man business that is hoping to officially start making tractors in early 2017. This will be the first significant business transaction, $5-$10 million, between Cuba and the United States since 1959. One owner stated, “It’s our belief that in the long run we both win if we do things that are beneficial to both countries.” Cuba and the United States are …show more content…
The two countries rely on the other more than is necessary. Cuban trades their teachers, trainers, doctors and military advisors for oil from Venezuela (Brookings). The true interdependence of these countries can become a downfall. The Venezuelan economy is unstable and is a risk for Cuba to take part in. If Cuba and Venezuela were to have a degree of separation between them, they may end up doing better than what they are now. For example, if Cuba pulls out of some trade between Venezuela, the Cuban economy will be based on their efforts to rebuild themselves. In the same way, Venezuela will have a more stable economy that would be based majorly on what their country is doing rather than the deals with Cuba. The countries are relying on the trades with each other in order to