FREE ESSAY ON FORIEGN POLICY AND CUBA

FORIEGN POLICY AND CUBA

United States Foreign Policy with Cuba 
As president of the United States of America, Mr. William J. Clinton has five duties to
perform. The Constitution states that he must act as Commander in Chief, Chief Executive,
Chief of State, Chief Legislator, and Chief Diplomat. (Constitution) When he deals with
foreign policies, he is executing his job as Chief Diplomat. This very important task
consists of recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and making executive
agreements. When making the treaties, two-thirds of the senators there must agree with
the policy. 
Congress can also play a part in foreign policies. The framers did not clearly define
weather the president or congress had the power over the process, so there is often
turmoil when these issues arise. But congress can veto a decision regarding, military
action, made by the president if he actually hands it to congress before he carries it
out. Other than military, congress must approve any other potential laws proposed by the
president. 
Domestic policies are issues that concern only our nation and are discussed by and taken
care of by our nation. Foreign policy is the way in which our nation deals with other
countries; including planning and carrying out the plans. During the Clinton
administration, many foreign policies have been thought of and carried out; the main
focus to show our involvement with foreign policy is our relationship with Cuba.
Right now, the people of Cuba live in a socialist society. For the past few years we have
been trying to help out the Cuban people and start to get them ready for a free,
independent, democratic way of life. President Clinton has done many things to promote
foreign policy in Cuba. For example, he as made it easier for people to correspond
between America and Cuba; and small amounts of money are allowed to be sent to Cuban
families and independent organizations, even if you have no relation to anyone in Cuba.
(Clinton 1999) Clinton stated, "The United States will continue to urge the international
community to do more to promote respect for human rights and democratic transition in
Cuba." (Clinton 1999) He has also suspended a provision in the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity Act. (Clinton 1999) This Act allows people who left Cuba, during
the revolution, to file suit against Cuba, claiming the property that was confiscated by
the government. The reason for this six-month suspension would be to not create tension
between our governments when we are trying to create democracy in Cuba.
Also stated by the president, "an effort to establish direct mail service to Cuba, as
provided for in the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992." (Clinton 1999) He also authorized
selling food to independent entities, for instance private farmers and family
restaurants. (Clinton 1999) One of the most popular steps in helping the Cuban people is
that Clinton has allowed other cities besides Havana to accept planes that now can be
chartered from places other than Miami. These flights would only be for helping to
reunite families and would mostly benefit the people still living in Cuba. 
Congress also has also been involved with the decisions about Cuba. In 1992 the passed 
the Cuban Democracy Act, which "prohibits foreign-based subsidiaries of U.S. companies
from 
Trading with Cuba, travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, and family remittances to Cuba. The
law 
Allows private groups to deliver food and medicine to Cuba." (Congress 1992) As we speak,

there is a notion in the senate for the repeal of the trade embargo. 
Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, relations with Cuba have
improved. This, coupled with Cuba's economic problems because of the fall of the Soviet
Union, which supplied Cuba with economic support, is leading Cuba towards a more
democratic government. Foreign and domestic polices are something that we have been
concentrating on quite a bit since we first became the United States of America. Since
Clinton was elected president, we have been mainly focusing on domestic policies, and we
must not forget that the world is not only composed of our nation. We must remind
ourselves of our important objectives with other countries.