US, Cuba seek to normalize relations after Alan Gross released

[txradioguy]

President Obama announced Wednesday a sea-change policy shift in US relations with Cuba, issuing a series of orders -- including establishing normal diplomatic relations -- meant to end what he called America's “outdated approach” toward the Castro regime.

“In the most significant change in our policy in more than 50 years, we will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests and instead we will begin to normalize relations between the two countries,” Obama during an address from the White House.

Sources say Obama also plans to call on Congress to lift the long-standing embargo on Cuba. Together, the announcements would mark the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades and effectively end the half-century freeze in relations between the two countries.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell criticized the administration’s plan to change the current U.S. relationship with Cuba. McConnell said he defers to GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American from Florida, on the issue and says Rubio is an expert on U.S.-Cuban matters.

Rubio has said that the administration’s approach will help the Castro government while doing very little to further human rights and democracy in Cuba.

Senior administration officials said Obama spoke with Cuban leader Raul Castro for more than 45 minutes on Tuesday, the first substantive presidential-level discussion between the U.S. and Cuba since 1961.

Obama also plans to take several executive actions, including expanding travel and economic ties to the island. According to a White House document, the U.S. government would raise remittance levels and authorize certain travel to Cuba, as well as start of review of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Obama also has formally directed the State Department to launch talks with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, which were cut in 1961. The embassy in Havana would be opened "in the coming months," according to the White House.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/17/american-alan-gross-released-from-cuban-prison-official-says/

[JohnnyReb]

North Korea is next, huh?

[Chris_]

Barack Obama never met a dictator he didn't like.

[txradioguy]

And what's not being reported is the fact that we released three Cuban spies in return for one businessman no one had ever heard of.

[DumbAss Tanker]

And what's not being reported is the fact that we released three Cuban spies in return for one businessman no one had ever heard of.

Yeah, that part really bothers me. 

Still, for some time my opinion of Cuba is that the embargo has outlived its usefulness, the Cuban economy was driven as far down as the embargo could take it decades ago, and it stopped having any further positive policy effect.  From that point on, our best approach would have been some good old cultural imperialism.  Once they got to that bottom level and maintained it without breaking, the more commercial interaction we have with the Cuban population, the faster we'll unwind Communism and convert them to Capitalism (Or what passes for it in the US these days). 

[J P Sousa]

  Venezuela President Maduro hails Obama's 'courageous' Cuba gesture 

https://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-president-maduro-hails-obamas-courageous-cuba-gesture-174549486.html

These days, our enemies are now friends and our friends are now enemies.
.

[Chris_]

This is a picture of the guy Cuba freed.  Notice anything interesting?

[JohnnyReb]

This is a picture of the guy Cuba freed.  Notice anything interesting?

Who's the hippie on the wall, Bill Ayers brother?

[Chris_]

Who's the hippie on the wall, Bill Ayers brother?

A close friend, I'm sure.

[DLR Pyro]

This is a picture of the guy Cuba freed.  Notice anything interesting?

Is that a Star Trek phaser on the table in the foreground?

[J P Sousa]

A famous democrat, "Che" Guevara.   


Is that Stalin on the coffee cup ?

[JohnnyReb]

You know something, they all look like Jooooish HAA-vard law graduates.

[Chris_]

Sources say Obama also plans to call on Congress to lift the long-standing embargo on Cuba. Together, the announcements would mark the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades and effectively end the half-century freeze in relations between the two countries.

And if they don't?

[JohnnyReb]

And if they don't?

Will it be an EO or a memo?

[longview]

Holy $#@!  We can expect the arrival of a few hundred thousand of them, too, now.  Maybe the big O will grant them all dual citizenship via memo. 

[mrclose]

Obama thinks exactly like Castro!

Take a look at this video.

A speech by Ted Cruz's father who is from Cuba.

Ted Cruz's Father Gives Epic Speech

(The video's owner prevents external embedding)

[longview]

Obama thinks exactly like Castro!

Take a look at this video.

A speech by Ted Cruz's father who is from Cuba.

Ted Cruz's Father Gives Epic Speech

(The video's owner prevents external embedding)

Thank you for the link.  Chilling.

[txradioguy]

Yeah, that part really bothers me.

These were three thugs convicted in Federal court of the murder of U.S. citizens and IIRC espionage.  Their work led to the Cuban airforce shooting down two civilian aircraft  belonging to "Brothers to the Rescue" over the Florida Straits.

And for what?  A guy with a picture of Che in his office?

Still, for some time my opinion of Cuba is that the embargo has outlived its usefulness, the Cuban economy was driven as far down as the embargo could take it decades ago, and it stopped having any further positive policy effect.  From that point on, our best approach would have been some good old cultural imperialism.  Once they got to that bottom level and maintained it without breaking, the more commercial interaction we have with the Cuban population, the faster we'll unwind Communism and convert them to Capitalism (Or what passes for it in the US these days).

Sorry...gotta disagree with you here.

This won't unwind Communism or give us commercial interation with the Cuban people.

All this move does is give money to the regieme to continue their brutal ways.  This isn't going to promote or inspire a sudden growth of Capitalism on the island.  If anything it will inspire Raoul and Fidel to tighten their grip. 

We just legitimized and justified every communist dictator in the Caribbean and the Americas and wiped away any vestige of what was left of our commitment to the containment of Communism in our hemisphere.  I'm sure that FARC (sponsored by Cuba) is rejoicing today as well.

[Gina]

Is that a Star Trek phaser on the table in the foreground?

That's what I thought 

[J P Sousa]

Yeah, that part really bothers me. 

Still, for some time my opinion of Cuba is that the embargo has outlived its usefulness, the Cuban economy was driven as far down as the embargo could take it decades ago, and it stopped having any further positive policy effect.  From that point on, our best approach would have been some good old cultural imperialism.  Once they got to that bottom level and maintained it without breaking, the more commercial interaction we have with the Cuban population, the faster we'll unwind Communism and convert them to Capitalism (Or what passes for it in the US these days).

Unfortunately, Obama SAVED Cuba from a total collapse. Yes, Venezuela has been providing Cuba with financial assistance because of it's oil revenue. Now with Venezuela taking a bitter hit from the low price of oil, Obama rides to Cuba's rescue just in time. 
.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Unfortunately, Obama SAVED Cuba from a total collapse.

Yeah, that was going to happen any day now...and has been since I was in elementary school.  I hope you guys weren't holding your breaths, 'cause if you were, Obozo accidentally saved your lives.

If the fall of the Soviet Union didn't crush Cuba, dependent as they were on subsidies from it, no useful purpose (Beyond voting demographics in Florida and shielding the Louisiana sugar industry from competition) is being served by being the last holdout in the world to try and keep sanctions on them. 

It's reached the silly stage when you compare Cuba to Viet Nam, decades after we normalized relations with them, considering the Viet government did things to their own people and us that were about a thousand times worse than anything the Castro regime has on its rap sheet.  Cuba is Teh Satan, but the People's Republic of China are our BFF trading partners?  That just makes no damned sense.

[obumazombie]

Doesn't anyone remember when owebuma was asked during his 1st campaign if he would negotiate with our enemies without precondition ?
Since owebuma has been president our most stalwart allies have been treated like red headed stepchildren while our mortal enemies are given the red carpet treatment.

[J P Sousa]

Doesn't anyone remember when owebuma was asked during his 1st campaign if he would negotiate with our enemies without precondition ?
Since owebuma has been president our most stalwart allies have been treated like red headed stepchildren while our mortal enemies are given the red carpet treatment.

Romney;

  Yes, I think Barack Obama is confused as to who are our friends and who are our enemies. In his first year, he wants to meet with Castro & Chavez & Assad & Ahmadinejad. Those are our enemies. Those are the world’s worst tyrants. And then he says he wants to unilaterally go in and potentially bomb a nation which is our friend. We’re trying to strengthen Musharraf. 

It's as if Romney had Obama's play book.
.

[obumazombie]

^Good stuff JPS !