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Michelle Arendt
"Of the proverbial thorns in the side of the United States, none has irritated as long or sometimes as much as Cuba." -L.D. Langley'
I. INTRODUCTION
THE UNITED STATES HAS Os ADOPTED an "isolationist" approach as a foreign policy mechanism to deal with nations engaging in undemocratic and repressive practices.2 This isolationist approach is characterized by a "hard-line" policy that uses economic sanctions in the form of trade embargoes and reduces loans and economic aid to the targeted nation.3 Additionally, isolationist policy may involve severing diplomatic relations with targeted nations.' The intention of this type of foreign policy is to alienate the targeted nation so that it will feel pressured enough to make changes in the policies, government structure, or practices to which the United States objects. Although the United States has often favored this approach, it has also often been criticized for it. The isolationist embargo approach is not always successful in effecting changes of policy or government within the targeted nations.5 Furthermore, these mechanisms can result in imposing additional hardships on the people of the targeted nation who may already have been suffering under a repressive government.
The U.S. relationship with Cuba provides an illustrative example of the isolationist policy.7 For over thirty years, the United States has estranged Cuba both economically and diplomatically with the intent of destabilizing the Castro-led government in order to establish a more democratic Cuban government. There has been much debate over whether such a policy should be continued.8 Despite criticism from within the United States and censure from the global community,9 the United States has continued to pursue its policy of isolating Cuba.10
In March of 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act (Helms-Burton Act)." President Clinton was originally opposed to the Helms-Burton Act; however, early in 1996, the Cuban government piqued anti-Castro sentiments by shooting down two unarmed U.S. aircraft.l2 That event precipitated a compromise between Congress and President Clinton which led to enactment of the Helms-Burton Act.13 This legislation is the most recent in a long line of actions the United States has taken to implement its isolation policy against Cuba.14 Proponents of the Helms-Burton Act hope that it will resolve the long-standing dispute...