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Grassley favors embargo until Cubans have freedom

Senator Charles Grassley believes Cuba should be giving some concessions in return for the ObamaAdministration loosening travel and other restrictions to the island. The 47 year U.S. embargo of Cuba remains in place, as the Iowa GOP Senator says it should until there are signs of change from the Communist stronghold.

“The philosophy of the Castros is no friendof humanity,” Grassley told reporters Tuesday, “and political and economic freedom would very much enhance (Cuba’s) wellbeing.”

Grassley stresses that pressure should be kept on the island nation until there are signs of change. “We ought to use allthe political leverage we can,” he said.

Senator Grassley says he’d favor changing U.S. policy toward Cuba if he believed there was evidence that Cubans would gain their freedom as a result. Until then, he favors the U.S. maintaining its current stance.

“And don’t forget,” Grassley added, “that the economy of Cuba was a lot better even for low income people than it is under Castro.”

Grassley says political freedom brings about economic freedom, which, he says, results in people pullingthemselves up by their bootstraps.