Quote Originally Posted by mauied1101
Just to clarify - it is NOT ILLEGAL for an American to purchase a Cuban cigar under any conditions. You just cannot bring it/import it to the US (AOARoss, I don't know if base counts as "US"). Check out the link http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/al...ban_cigars.xml and make your own determination.

So when you're in Thailand or Japan, buy 'em, enjoy 'em, just don't take 'em back to base. And above all, don't advertise what you're doing.
No, that's not true. From the Justice Dept's website.

! TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PROPERTY IN WHICH CUBA OR A
CUBAN NATIONAL HAS AN INTEREST - In addition to the prohibitions
on exports to and imports from Cuba, the Regulations prohibit any
person subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in any property in which
Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest. Under the Regulations,
“property” includes but is not limited to contracts and services. For
example, unless otherwise authorized, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
(including U.S. overseas subsidiaries) may not purchase Cuban
cigars in Mexico; may not sign a contract with a U.K. firm if the contract
terms include Cuba-related provisions(even if those provisions are
contingent upon the lifting of the embargo); and may not provide
accounting, marketing, sales, or insurance services to a Cuban company
or to a foreign company with respect to the foreign company’s Cuba



http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforce.../cuba/cuba.pdf