Murray, the cops do beat people here at times. In Canada too sometimes. That is why they carry clubs. If you ask someone why the cops hit them they never say it was because they had it coming. They claim racism oppression etc. That is the way crooks are they blame others. The beating may be something sinister but it may be cops dealing with Cuban scum.

There is an excellent article in the lates "economist" about the embargo. They condemn it. Not for moral reasons but because it is stupid and is counterproductive to the stated goals.

The best thing the USA could possibly do to end communism and opression in Cuba is to allow US citizens to spend money there.