US Embargo against Cuba goes further: Deal between Danish and German businesses stopped

[BSZ]

So far, I haven't been able to find an English source for this, so here are two Danish sources that can be translated through Google Translate (translated in spoilers):

http://www.b.dk/nationalt/dansk-poli...ansk-terrornet

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Danish police officer caught in American terrorist networks
The American arms, to stop terrorist financing, has frozen 137,000 kroner from a Danish police officer during a lawful purchase of cigars in Germany.

26th February 2012, 06:01

The Funen policeman Torben Nødskouv who operates a small hobby business Cognac house has been severely squeezed in the U.S. long-standing trade embargo against Cuba after his money has been caught in the worldwide financial terrorist networks, the U.S. has stretched across the world after 11 September 2001.

Actually should Torben Nødskouv just buy Cuban cigars for a German supplier in Hamburg. The payment was in dollars via a Danish bank. The problem was that the 26,000 dollar (£ 137,000) never reached Germany. Instead, U.S. authorities confiscated the money with a finding that Torben Nødskouv had broken the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, and in a recent decision, the U.S. Treasury Department declined to release the money.

Thus, the U.S. authorities intervened and stopped a lawful money transaction between two European companies, says the criticism from experts.

Hans Jorgen Bonnichsen, former head of operations in PET, invites the Danish EU Presidency to address the matter with the U.S..

"The case is a perfect opportunity for the Danish Presidency to step into character. It is a clear example that the U.S. abusing the rules have been set in the world to fight terror. That the U.S. authorities can stop and mingle in perfectly lawful money transaction between two European companies is a serious violation of EU citizens' legal security, "says Hans Jørgen Bonnichsen, pointing out that every law-abiding Dane hence can be affected by the far-reaching U.S. terror rules.

Something similar happened in 2008 for the dress handler Christa Møllgaard-Hansen from Maribo that got frozen $ 205 and was suspected of terrorism in connection with an order of six dresses in Pakistan.

Peter Thagesen, marketing, political chief in DI, indicate that the U.S. embargo against Cuba enforced globally by the U.S. authorities: "The enforcement of the U.S. embargo on European soil is highly controversial. This is a very special situation where a money transaction with our largest trading partner - Germany - will be frozen. "

Torben Nødskouv himself is appalled:

"I am committed to fighting terrorism, but we have to have faith in the authorities and our financial institutions. A significant portion of the trust is for me has been broken now. "

http://jp.dk/indland/article2706220.ece

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Cigar Glad Danish cop caught in terrorist networks

U.S. misusing terror laws to stop legitimate purchase, says former PET chief.

How to become a 40-year fynbo that next job as a police officer runs a tobacconist's in the small town Vissenbjerg, enmeshed in America's global financial terrorist networks?

The question facing the protagonist Torben Nødskouv back after he has been confiscated $ 26,000 (£ 137,000) by U.S. authorities because he wanted to buy Cuban cigars from a German supplier in Hamburg.

U.S. has since 11 September 2001 tightened its grip on the financial markets, involving countries like the United States contends that the trade embargo. This was particularly Cuba. Therefore, the Treasury Department in a recent decision refusing to release money, writes b.dk .

"I am committed to fighting terrorism, but we have to have faith in the authorities and our financial institutions. A significant portion of the trust has been broken for me now," says Torben Nødskouv to b.dk.

Abuse of the rules
Payment made through a Danish bank, and as it was a legitimate trade between two European countries, say several experts that the U.S. has gone over the line.

Among them is former operative chief of PET, Hans Jorgen Bonnichsen that the example Torben Nødskouv suggest that all Danes can be hit by U.S. terror rules.

"The case is a perfect opportunity for the Danish Presidency to step into character. It is a clear example that the U.S. abusing the rules have been set in the world to fight terror. That the U.S. authorities can stop and interfere in fully lawful money transaction between two European companies is a serious violation of EU citizens' legal security, "he b.dk.

All in all the story is about a Danish police officer, who runs a legitimate business on the side, where he sells cigars. He has ordered for 26,000$ cigars in Hamburg, Germany, but the money have never arrived. The payment was done in dollars, over a Danish bank, and for some reason, this prompted the US authorities to freeze the money, with the argument, that he has broken the US trade embargo against Cuba for the cigars.

How is this even legal? Neither Denmark, Germany, nor the EU has an embargo against Cuba, and neither any american companies, nor banks were even involved in this, and even then, the US authorities feel the need or right to freeze money.

While the articles get it wrong, that the US embargo against Cuba is a measure to fight terrorism, they do point out some interesting things, for example, how US authorities use common anti-terror agreements between countries, to further their own agenda.

[Dave Strider]

Sounds like us, alright...

[molonthegreat]

The US embargo on Cuba is ridiculous, the cold war has been over for over 20 years now, furthermore democracy and free trade in Cuba would only benefit from being able to trade with the US.

[Armenum]

The US embargo on Cuba is ridiculous, the cold war has been over for over 20 years now, furthermore democracy and free trade in Cuba would only benefit from being able to trade with the US.

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous that US is still treating Cuba as a hostile country. Treating Cuba as such will just make Cuba go closer to US's enemies, like Iran. Some sort of reconciliation is needed with Cuba.

[Kanaric]

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous that US is still treating Cuba as a hostile country. Treating Cuba as such will just make Cuba go closer to US's enemies, like Iran. Some sort of reconciliation is needed with Cuba.

Its been gradual they wont gravitate towards Iran when they have positive relations with Europeon and South American countries.

[Armenum]

Its been gradual they wont gravitate towards Iran when they have positive relations with Europeon and South American countries.

Maybe they could put pressure on US for normalisation by threatening closer cooperation with Iran. Just imagine how much their economy would be boosted by increased trade with next door US.

[Mangalore]

Its been gradual they wont gravitate towards Iran when they have positive relations with Europeon and South American countries.

The greatest threat to an authoritarian regime seems to me close contact with successful democracies. Once the comparison between the end result of the two societies can be made by every day citizens most regimes end up in trouble.

I would call that the "cuddle them to death" doctrine we should embrace after the enormous costs of the "shock and awe" times.

/partly kidding

[James the Red]

Its been gradual they wont gravitate towards Iran when they have positive relations with Europeon and South American countries.

Cuba has been getting rather cozy with China however. Expanding trade relations,oil drilling ventures, etc...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=JnQ5wE7ncF4

[Arbitrary Crusader]

Holy we're STILL embargoing the Cubans?

*get off rock*

[magpie]

Well the U.S. mafia are still pissed over the loss of their casino,s and lucrative prostitution business,s in Cuba.

[Treize]

Jurisdiction?

[Kanaric]

Blame the American cuban community for this. They are a powerful force especially in the key election state of Florida. Until they grow out of their ignorance and hatred this embargo and related behavior will only continue.

[molonthegreat]

Blame the American cuban community for this. They are a powerful force especially in the key election state of Florida. Until they grow out of their ignorance and hatred this embargo and related behavior will only continue.

What the is wrong with them? I can understand that they dislike Castro but why the hell do they want to keep their countrymen living in poverty under a dictatorship?

[JNS]

What the is wrong with them? I can understand that they dislike Castro but why the hell do they want to keep their countrymen living in poverty under a dictatorship?

Because it's not about their countrymen. A lot of the cubans (especially the first wave) that fled cuba where either wealthy or they were upper middle class professionals. They still hold a grudge over loosing their businesses, their money and their power. Until the old generation (basically the ones that were directlly affected byt the revolution) dies off, or they give up their power and influence within the community, this matter won't be resolved.

[Charrua]

Because it's not about their countrymen. A lot of the cubans (especially the first wave) that fled cuba where either wealthy or they were upper middle class professionals. They still hold a grudge over loosing their businesses, their money and their power. Until the old generation (basically the ones that were directlly affected byt the revolution) dies off, or they give up their power and influence within the community, this matter won't be resolved.

Let me see if I get it straight: aging mobsters in Florida somehow have a firm grip in deciding international sanctions of US?

Man, I though my country had a bad case of endemic corruption...

[DaVinci]

What the is wrong with them? I can understand that they dislike Castro but why the hell do they want to keep their countrymen living in poverty under a dictatorship?

I would say, most (not all of course) of the exile-cubans don't care for their countrymen nor the country in its whole, but for lost possessions and privileges.

[Imperial]

I can't read that .

[Nikitn]

Wow, so the US president thinks its more important to maintain good relations with a few thousand Cuban-American voters than help millions of Cubans out of poverty... sigh, why does the general US population not care? Stuff like this is what makes other civilized nations (as a population group) laugh at the USA.

[DaVinci]

Wow, so the US president thinks its more important to maintain good relations with a few thousand Cuban-American voters than help millions of Cubans out of poverty... sigh, why does the general US population not care? Stuff like this is what makes other civilized nations (as a population group) laugh at the USA.

I doubt it's a thing about Obama, after all his suggestion was to improve relations with Cuba. Simply put, i assume it's mere the influence of the american right wing with all its complexity, which prefers the priority to maintaining a clearcut power (or supression) vs. socialist states (especially) in this hemisphere.

[lordoftheT]

Wow, so the US president thinks its more important to maintain good relations with a few thousand Cuban-American voters than help millions of Cubans out of poverty... sigh, why does the general US population not care? Stuff like this is what makes other civilized nations (as a population group) laugh at the USA.

I doubt it's a thing about Obama, after all his suggestion was to improve relations with Cuba. Simply put, i assume it's mere the influence of the american right wing with all its complexity, which prefers the priority to maintaining a clearcut power (or supression) vs. socialist states (especially) in this hemisphere.

It's mostly due to the fact that the Cuban American lobby is very powerful in the Florida election which is itself very important to the national elections. Basically if you or your party aren't anti-Castro you don't get Florida and if you don't get Florida getting elected president. This whole mess is really due to the way our electoral college system is set up.