Quote:
Originally Posted by Shapka
How's that free trade thing working out for China, Vietnam, Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Laos?
They super-happy-fun democracies yet?
Since when did we start trading with cuba again?
I have read many reports that conditions for the chinese and vietnamese citizens have improved. They have definitely become more "westernized", some would argue that is improvement.
But your question is backwards. How many times have trade sanctions helped overthrow a dictator and improved the lives of citizens in those countries?
We had trade sanctions against Iraq for years (Saddam still managed to live it up).
We have had trade sanctions against Cuba for even longer (Castro does not go without whatever he wants)
We have had trade sanctions against N. Korea for a long time (Kim Jong-il seems to be getting by just fine.)
Whereas the trade sanctions have arguably kept the citizens of those countries impoverished.