President Obama continues economic stranglehold on Cuba

““Therefore, consistent with the authority vested in me by section 101(b) of Public Law 95-223, I continue for 1 year, until September 14, 2010, the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba as implemented by the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515,” he added.

Obama is the 11th consecutive US administration to maintain an economic stranglehold on Cuba hoping to force political changes on the island by creating economic difficulties for the population.

Cuba calls the embargo a blockade and has documented over US $93 billion dollars in damage caused over the last half century.

The move to maintain the status quo is characteristic of the mixed signals from the administration, despite the president’s campaign promises to engage supposed “US enemies.”

In April, President Obama lifted caps on Cuban-American travel to the island and on the money that can be sent to relatives as part of a broader campaign to warm long-chilled relations between the two nations.

But the Raúl Castro administration in Cuba has described as “cosmetic” the United States position.

“This is a cosmetic coat of paint slapped over brutal US sanctions,” said the Cuban government in a statement.

In signing the extension of the embargo, analysts say Obama was taking a “symbolic step” because the existing law, the Helms-Burton Act, requires the US Congress to take action specifically ending the embargo.