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Michael Moore in trouble?

Mycroft

High Priest of Ed
Mycroft
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
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http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21713092-954,00.html


Moore in strife for Cuba film

FILMMAKER Michael Moore, whose upcoming documentary features ailing Ground Zero workers he took to Cuba for health care, is being investigated for travelling to the communist country without permission.

A letter from the Treasury Department, arriving a week before Sicko is scheduled to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, warned Moore that Americans were banned from travelling to Cuba without US Government consent.

The letter also demanded that Moore hand over the names of his travel companions and those who arranged the March trip.

In response, Moore sent Sicko to a "safe house" in Canada, "given the concerns about efforts by the Bush administration to confiscate or censor the film", said a source close to Moore.
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So the guy knowingly breaks the law to make a film, then complains he's being persecuted?
 
Because Cuba is a BAD BAD PLACE! Don't go there! No no! *wags finger*
 
Bureaucratic incompetence in action

The Treasury Dept. acknowledged in a letter to Moore that his October 2006 application to travel to Cuba had been received but had not been approved when he made his February 2007 trip.
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4 months with no response to Moore's application

In a letter to Moore, initially obtained by the Associated Press and then posted on the internet, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) informed Moore that it was investigating him for possible violation of the embargo. "This office has no record that a specific licence was issued authorising you to engage in travel-related transactions involving Cuba," wrote Dale Thompson, the office's chief of general investigations. "Ofac enforcement is conducting a civil investigation for possible unlicensed transactions under the regulations surrounding your trip to Cuba."
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The letter to Moore said he had 20 business days to provide the Ofac with various information about his trip . . . .
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but wants answers in 4 weeks

Pretty much standard in many US government proceedings is 30 days for official response.
In government contracting, no response in 30 days means the same as approval.
 
Sounds a bit like China ;)

I'm quite surprised about this. I can understand countries wanting people to apply for visas before admitting them, but I'm surprised at a Western country requiring its own citizens to ask permission before they leave. It seems very cold war-ish (and I suppose it's a hangover from that)
 
Kerberos said:
Remind me again. What is the reason for that particular law?
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Because otherwise ground zero workers would be propping up the communist economy, as they rushed over there for medical treatment they are unable to afford in the US.
 
Does anyone else find it suspicious that this information is being released just a few days before this film premiers at Cannes?
 
This could start me again on the punitive nature of US trade sactions against Cuba, in particular a bizarre law which prevents (or attempts to prevent, because the EU ruled it illegal) companies from other countries operating in Cuba!

Anyway, it probably is just a bit of cynical marketing. And we'd take Moore over here if you guys exile him.....the man's a genius!
 
The U.S.'s stupid embargo aside, what is the current condition of the Cuban health care system?. Some say it's still the best in Latin America, as it was during The Cold War. Others say that foreigners like Moore are shown "show clinics" equipped with the best medicines and technologies available. Meanwhile the average Cuban lives with permanent malnutrition and long waits for even basic medical services.
 
jimtron said:
Did Moore complain of being persecuted, or is that a strawman (see OP)?
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It may be a strawman if the assumption is that Moore is really disapointed about it. He most certainly is not, but he will pretty much have to complain to be able to make good use of it.
 
scratchy said:
It may be a strawman if the assumption is that Moore is really disapointed about it. He most certainly is not, but he will pretty much have to complain to be able to make good use of it.
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Yes, but the fact that he's probably gloating about all the free publicity doesn't make it more reasonable.
 
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