U.S. officials long have defended the trade embargo on Cuba -- initiated in 1962 -- as a way of pressuring the communist nation and its leaders , Fidel Castro and his brother , Raul , the country 's current president , to move toward democracy . Sen. Richard Lugar : It 's time for U.S. to reconsider economic sanctions against Cuba . Indiana lawmaker is ranking Republican on Senate Foreign Relations Committee . Comment: `` We must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy , '' Lugar writes in letter .
Sen. Richard Lugar : It 's time for U.S. to reconsider economic sanctions against Cuba . Indiana lawmaker is ranking Republican on Senate Foreign Relations Committee . Comment: `` We must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy , '' Lugar writes in letter .