Should the US lift the trade embargo against Cuba?

Now that Fidel Castro has retired, is it time for the US to lift its trade embargo against Cuba and resume diplomatic relations? After 40 years, the embargo has failed to topple the Communists as Latin America, the EU, and China all trade with Cuba. Cuban tourism is at an all-time high and Venezuela is providing Cuba with oil. The embargo, thus, provides the Cuban government with an excuse as to why their economy has so many shortages. Also, many Cuban exiles want to visit their families in Cuba and send money there. Since we trade with China, and now Viet Nam, it only seems fair that we resume relations with Cuba and call a halt to this senseless embargo.

Public Comments

1. who cares, they were doing fine without the US for 46 years.
2. I agree. The reason the embargo hasn't been lifted is because of pandering politicians currying favor with the exile community in South Florida . I believe lifting it would topple the Communist government even faster and bring democracy to Cuba a lot sooner. Especially now that there will likely be a power vacuum, the US needs to act quickly.
3. what cuba does next will be important to this. i reckon the current dictator's brother (who is the de facto leader anyway) might take over, the current dictator has had what, 600+ US assasination attempts vs him? and hes still alive to this day?
4. maybe the USA should bring democracy back to the USA first before they go interfering with other country's, as George bush did not at any time have more votes than al gore. if the USA hated dictators so much why have they backed so many.
5. I don't think the US should lift the embargo just because Fidel resigned, Raul (his brother) will continue the same dictatorship, The embargo should be lifted if the government of cuba, free the political prisoners, let cubans go the all facilities, including hotels, beaches etc, that now are only available for turists, call for democratic elections, with more than one political party, etc etc etc, is not so easy, Fidel resignation doesn't mean that cuba will change tomorrow, I agree that the embargo it's been helping fidel with an excuse against the US, just in case you don't know Cuba has been bying a lot of products from the US in the past years. I think they have to wait a little bit, see what raul has to offer, And for those that think that Cuba's been living great for all these years... Why didn't you move there?? to live the great cuban dream?? mmmm, and the ones that think that in the US they have a dictator now,,,, why don't you try living under the same regime for 49 years???