Cuban players/Trump/stupidity

[jbm]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-cancels-mlb-deal-with-cuba/2019/04/08/99c7d9be-5a2f-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html?utm_term=.6d57f4071d45

Seems senseless, but I'm no expert on this stuff. 

A senior Trump administration official said that the payments amounted to “human trafficking” by the Cuban government.

Really?.  It's hard for me to think of Cuban ball players as equal to those being trafficked.

[Jacksonian]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-cancels-mlb-deal-with-cuba/2019/04/08/99c7d9be-5a2f-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html?utm_term=.6d57f4071d45

Seems senseless, but I'm no expert on this stuff. 

Really?.  It's hard for me to think of Cuban ball players as equal to those being trafficked.

"...Cuban government and trade with it was illegal under current law."

Is this part true?

[chuck]

"...Cuban government and trade with it was illegal under current law."

Is this part true?

I think so. I know that it's not illegal to travel to Cuba but it is illegal to spend money in Habaguanex properties which are owned by the government.

[JimR]

"...Cuban government and trade with it was illegal under current law."

Is this part true?

The embargo still is in effect. Obama lifted travel restrictions but not the embargo.

[Jacksonian]

The embargo still is in effect. Obama lifted travel restrictions but not the embargo.

I wish I understood the law better.  The Obama administration was negotiating for something illegal?  There has to be many more nuances to this than just what the article has.

[Mr. Happy]

I wish I understood the law better.  The Obama administration was negotiating for something illegal?  There has to be many more nuances to this than just what the article has.

Sure. See, payments to Iran.

[HudsonHawk]

Sure. See, payments to Iran.

You mean the payments of the money that legally belonged to Iran, were not only legal in the US, but required under the treaty the US signed and international law?  Those payments?

[JimR]

Sure. See, payments to Iran.

This is bullshit, Paul.

“However, the $400 million dollar transfer was actually an openly announced one, paid in settlement of a nearly 40-year dispute between Iran and the United States — a settlement that likely saved the United States several billion dollars.”

[JimR]

I wish I understood the law better.  The Obama administration was negotiating for something illegal?  There has to be many more nuances to this than just what the article has.

Only illegal until it changes. Any administration can resume normal relations with Cuba whenever it chooses. Travel once was illegal also, but now it is not.

[jbm]

Only illegal until it changes. Any administration can resume normal relations with Cuba whenever it chooses. Travel once was illegal also, but now it is not.

So, if an administration negotiated or signed off on this MLB deal, it would make it legit?

I assume so, since no one questioned the legality (that I know of) until today.

[JimR]

So, if an administration negotiated or signed off on this MLB deal, it would make it legit?

I assume so, since no one questioned the legality (that I know of) until today.

The Trump administration undid some but not all of Obama’s relaxation of restrictions. Travel is still ok, but individuals who travel must not patronize government-owned businesses. My view is the Obama negotiation was legal then but is not now. Obama could have lifted the entire embargo, but he did not. That failed policy still is in effect.

[TeeJoe]

Here's a little more detail into it...
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/trump-administration-moves-to-stop-ml-bs-historic-deal-with-cuba-202944052.html

[Bench]

Another article addressing the justifications for nixing the program:

In a statement the administration issued to the Washington Post on Monday, a new argument emerged: the fees paid by MLB teams to FCB ones “amounted to ‘human trafficking’ by the Cuban government.”

Of all the arguments to make against this agreement, that’s a curious one. “Literally the only reason we are doing this agreement is to try to end the trafficking of Cuban players,” MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem said back in 2018.

[HudsonHawk]

Another article addressing the justifications for nixing the program:

In a statement the administration issued to the Washington Post on Monday, a new argument emerged: the fees paid by MLB teams to FCB ones “amounted to ‘human trafficking’ by the Cuban government.”

Of all the arguments to make against this agreement, that’s a curious one. “Literally the only reason we are doing this agreement is to try to end the trafficking of Cuban players,” MLB deputy commissioner Dan Halem said back in 2018.

Are they going to ban the deal to the Japanese, Korean and Australian leagues too?  Because it's *exactly* the same deal.  Are we worried about the Japanese "trafficking players"?  If you want to ban payments to the Cuban government because that's our economic policy towards the country, then just say it. 

[MusicMan]

The difference is that Cuba’s a shithole country.


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[jbm]

Don't get Rubio's argument either.  So, in order to save those players from paying taxes on the millions they will make, he'll just deny them the millions.  I bet those guys feel a debt of gratitude to ole Marco.

[JimR]

Are they going to ban the deal to the Japanese, Korean and Australian leagues too?  Because it's *exactly* the same deal.  Are we worried about the Japanese "trafficking players"?  If you want to ban payments to the Cuban government because that's our economic policy towards the country, then just say it.

Total bullshit.

[austro]

Total bullshit.

I'm confused: are you saying that HH's argument is bullshit, or that our economic policy is bullshit?

[HudsonHawk]

I'm confused: are you saying that HH's argument is bullshit, or that our economic policy is bullshit?

I'm assuming the latter.  But I'm often told I'm full of shit.

[chuck]

I'm assuming the latter.  But I'm often told I'm full of shit.

Right. I'd just automatically assumed both.

[JimR]

I'm confused: are you saying that HH's argument is bullshit, or that our economic policy is bullshit?

The human trafficking excuse

[austro]

The human trafficking excuse

I agree that that's pretty flimsy. I don't understand why these guys can't just say "we feels that this provides financial benefit to the Cuban government, and therefore we won't permit it." I mean, that's a stupid opinion for a variety of reasons, but at least it's honest. But these guys seem pathologically averse to honesty, even when it's in their favor.