U.S. lawmakers seek reason for Beyonce, Jay-Z trip to Cuba

"We support the Cuban people by refusing to sustain their jailers."

Yeah, and how's that been working out for the Cuban people thus far?

The US needs to seriously revise it's policy towards Cuba. Most would agree that it's been an abject failure at producing the kind of local political pressure that theoretically should have led to the overthrow of Castro some five decades ago.

There are better, more constructive ways to get the job done. Politicians who continue to peddle this "Red Menace" nonsense are fools.

The embargo is an anachronism. If it were ended tomorrow and American tourism were encouraged, Cuba would change overnight.

Canadians might not like it; Cubans most likely would.

Un be lievable... Americans need permission to visit Cuba? I can't believe that a country which allows people to buy assault weapons, prides itself of the rights of the individual BAN pop stars from travelling to Cuba... a country where America actually has a prison. Does the US Government pay the Cuban Government rent for the land Guantanamo is built on?

Weird double standards.

Okay, so the US leased it in 1903... so unless that treaty is still in effect it would appear that the US are paying Cuba for that land? So isn't the American state also propping up the Cuban government? Or don't they pay ANYTHING for the land and are just squatting? Technically Cuba can rescind the lease and take back the land?

I still think it's idiotic for the US to ban tourists to Cuba... there are worse places than that. Are US tourists banned from North Korea? Iran? China? Saudi Arabia? All of those places have shocking human rights records... so why single out Cuba?

A full embargo worked to help change South Africa, so there is no reason to suppose it wont work with communist Cuba.

Sanctions against South Africa were more of an exception than a rule when it comes to effecting change in a country's domestic policy. They were targeted to one specific set of policies and had broad support among many other countries. But, like the fall of the USSR, the fall of apartheid in South Africa owed more to leaders coming to power who had a conscience than it did to external pressure.

There's plenty of reason to believe that sanctions against Cuba will not bring significant change - they haven't worked for the past >50 years, and have almost no support by the international community. Fidel ruled Cuba through 9 US presidents and his brother rules through a 10th. Even looking at this objectively, I'm not sure at what point you pack up and say this isn't working, let's try a different approach.

Unlike previous celebs who visited Cuba after obtaining permission(the travel prohibition dates back to Cuba's communist revolution), the couple have flaunted the prohibition. While some Americans visit without permission, most do so without fanfare or drawing attention to themselves. If caught, they risk ten years in prison and up to $250,000 fine if the visit is for tourism. Beyonce and JayZ may find themselves in a pickle.

" Does the US Government pay the Cuban Government rent for the land Guantanamo is built on?"

@T-bird, not that I agree with US policy nor GITMO, but a brief perusal of the wiki of Guantanamo would answer your question.

American citizens are not allowed to go where they like?

The govmint can tell them where they can and cannot spend their own hard-earned dollars?

Surely not.

Cuba and the USA?? We can not forget the CUBAN MISSILE crisis, 1963?? Maybe this is why the USA is still so strict against Cuba, for allowing Soviet missiles to point up at Washington DC from so close to the USA. But Cuba is no North Korea, even Fidel is sick and tired of the crap coming out of Pyongyang!

U.S. lawmakers seek reason for Beyonce, Jay-Z trip to Cuba

Celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, they visited historical landmarks in the heart of Old Havana, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. They snapped pictures and spoke with local residents.

There you have it.

Okay, so the US leased it in 1903... so unless that treaty is still in effect it would appear that the US are paying Cuba for that land? So isn't the American state also propping up the Cuban government? Or don't they pay ANYTHING for the land and are just squatting? Technically Cuba can rescind the lease and take back the land?

IIRC, the US isn't paying Cuba anything, at least currently. The Cuba-US deal was with the previous governments, that was then usurped by the current government which the US technically doesn't recognize. So the deal is kinda in legal limbo. If Cuba and US become friendly in the future, the US could pay back in form of aid. Cuba could try to take back the land militarily, but in practice they would lose that battle.

American citizens are not allowed to go where they like?

The govmint can tell them where they can and cannot spend their own hard-earned dollars?

Yes, they also cannot send money to North Korea and any organization on the terrorist list. If they can do it there, they can do it anywhere.

Will Bouncy mime the Cuban national anthem while she's there?

A full embargo worked to help change South Africa, so there is no reason to suppose it wont work with communist Cuba. Anyone who chooses to go there and give their money to the murdering ba$tards who control it is an idiot. Welcome to the double standard that blossoms when entertainment meets politics. "I ain't gonna play Sun City", but I don't mind dining in Havana...

If only Japan (and the world) would do the same to North Korea...