Tournament: David Damus Hollywood Invitational | Round: 1 | Opponent: Head Royce BM | Judge: Max Lubell
1AC Inherency
Observation One: Inherency – The status quo system is broken.
a. The embargo on Cuba is an outdated relic of the Cold War. It hasn’t worked to force change on the Island and is inhibiting US interests. Specifically, the embargo prevents efforts to explore and access Cuban oil.
BMI 13 – (Business Model International, “Cuba,” Americas Oil and Gas, August 2013, Issue 87, Proquest)Bwang
Problems in acquiring rigs underscore the challenges facing nascent exploration in Cuba on the back
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US companies and use of equipment with more than 10 US content.
The US embargo prevents successful Cuban oil development
Benjamin-Alvadaro 6 (Jonathan, Report for the Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, PhD, Professor of Political Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Director of the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Program at UNO, Treasurer of the American Political Science Association, “The Current Status and Future Prospects for Oil Exploration in Cuba: A Special,” http://cri.fiu.edu/research/commissioned-reports/oil-cuba-alvarado.pdf)
But why has Sherritt succeeded when the perception on the part of many American observers
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a small relatively resource constrained state to pursue this course of energy investment.
1AC Significant Harms Options
Observation Two: Significant Harms –
1AC Advantage – Cuban Economy
Advantage 1: The Cuban Economy
a. Cuba’s economy is on the verge of collapse – Venezuela is going to cut Cuba off from their cheap oil.
Keppel 3/16 (Stephen, ABC News, “What Chávez's Death Means for Cuba, Venezuela and the U.S.” http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/chavezs-death-means-cuba-venezuela-us/story?id=18669003)
Upon hearing news of the death of Hugo Chávez, scores of Venezuelans gathered in
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Chávez and may not be able to maintain popularity if things get tougher.
b. The plan solves Cuba’s oil dependence problem and builds revenue for political reforms.
Pinon 11 – Jorge R. Piñón is a visiting research fellow at the Latin American and Caribbean Center’s Cuban Research Institute at FIU. Spring 2011, "Why the United States and Cuba Collaborate (and What Could Happen If They Don't)"casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/2157/1306356964_Hemisphere_Vol._20.pdf
If Cuba’s suspected but yet undiscovered hydrocarbon reserves are proven real, it will take
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from the guidance of a variety of partners, including the United States.
c. Cuban economic collapse causes nuclear war
Gorrell ‘5 (Tim, Lieutenant Colonel, “CUBA: THE NEXT UNANTICIPATED ANTICIPATED STRATEGIC CRISIS?” 3/18/5, http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA433074)
Regardless of the succession, under the current U.S. policy, Cuba’s
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in an effort to facilitate a manageable transition to post-Castro Cuba?
1AC Advantage – Relations
Advantage 2: Relations Run this
a. The US-Cuban relationship is at a crossroads – Chavez’ death means now is the key time to restore relations.
Gomez 13 – assistant professor in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers University (Eduardo J. Gomez, “Ahmadinejad's hug and the future of Chavez's alliance” CNN, March 13 2013, http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/13/opinion/gmez-chavez-ahmadinejad-america) MR
Chávez's death is certainly changing the political calculus in Venezuela, but will it also
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explore ways of strengthening its ties with Venezuela and other Latin American nations.
b. The plan allows for US-Cuban energy cooperation—spurs broader relations
Benjamin 10 – Jonathan Benjamin-Alvadaro, Report for the Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, PhD, Professor of Political Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Director of the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Program at UNO, Treasurer of the American Political Science Association, 2010, Brookings Institution book, “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation”
Conclusion and Recommendations
Oil exploration is an inherently risky enterprise; there are always trade-offs between
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tangible benefits for the people of Cuba, it neighbors, and beyond.
c. Strong US-Cuban relations solves US influence in Latin America and stops Chinese encroachment
Benjamin-Alvadaro 6 (Jonathan, Report for the Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, PhD, Professor of Political Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Director of the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Program at UNO, Treasurer of the American Political Science Association, “The Current Status and Future Prospects for Oil Exploration in Cuba: A Special,” http://cri.fiu.edu/research/commissioned-reports/oil-cuba-alvarado.pdf)
Given that there are no formal diplomatic of economic relations between the governments of the
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circumstances but have well-served the commercial interests of all parties involved.
d. Chinese influence in Latin America causes Taiwan war
Fergusson 12 Robbie, Researcher at Royal Society for the Arts, Featured Contributor at International Business Times, Former Conference and Research Assistant at Security Watch, Former Researcher at University College London, Master of Science, China in the International Arena, The University of Glasgow, “The Chinese Challenge to the Monroe Doctrine,” http://www.e-ir.info/2012/07/23/does-chinese-growth-in-latin-america-threaten-american-interests/
Taiwan – domestic, or foreign policy?¶ China’s goals in the region amount to
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allow the PRC to conclude a settlement on Taiwan, perhaps by force.
e. Taiwan escalates and goes nuclear-~--no defense
Lowther 3/16 William, Taipei Times, citing a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 3/16/13, “Taiwan could spark nuclear war: report,” http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/03/16/2003557211
Taiwan is the most likely potential crisis that could trigger a nuclear war between China
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arsenals, such a conflict would be tremendously dangerous and quite possibly devastating.”
1AC Plan Text
Thus we offer the following Plan:
The United States federal government should allow United States oil companies to contract with Cuba for deep-water oil drilling.
1AC Solvency
Observation Three: Solvency – Our plan is effective and the best policy option.
a. Licensing American companies to develop Cuban offshore resources leads to effective drilling and increased influence in the region
Pascual and Huddleston 9 Carlos, Vice president and Director of Foreign policy, the Brookings Institution and Vicki, Visiting Fellow, “CUBA: A New policy of Critical and Constructive Engagement”, April, http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2009/4/cuba/0413_cuba.pdf
Licensing U.S. companies to provide services for the development of Cuban offshore
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companies have the technology and expertise to develop Cuba’s offshore oil and gas.
b. The plan allows for effective US-Cuban oil cooperation
Benjamin 10 – Jonathan Benjamin-Alvadaro, Report for the Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, PhD, Professor of Political Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Director of the Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence Program at UNO, Treasurer of the American Political Science Association, 2010, Brookings Institution book, “Cuba’s Energy Future: Strategic Approaches to Cooperation”
Conclusion and Recommendations
Undoubtedly, after fifty years of enmity, there is a significant lack of trust
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important to those crafting future policy and making changes in the policymaking milieu.
c. Cuba wants US investment—officials and empirics
Stephens et al 11 (Sarah, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas, “As Cuba plans to drill in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. policy poses needless risks to our national interest,” http://democracyinamericas.org/pdfs/Cuba_Drilling_and_US_Policy.pdf)
6. Cuba would welcome U.S. investment.¶ At MINCEX, the
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interest, due to the embargo, and Cuba looked for partners elsewhere.