President Obama to Lift Restrictions on Cuba

When the OAS meets in Trinidad, I hope President Obama initiate the dignity of lifting the BLOCKADE on Cuba without any concessions. As in the words of the late civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (LET FREEDOM REIGN)why punish 11 million people for so long, Cuba is in a state of deterioration,It appears as if a nuclear bomb has dropped on it.The world is watching.

Mike C said "ellsbells930, I'm sorry to break it to you. But the Soviet Union no longer exists. Welcome to like 20 years ago." No! Really?? But Russia does exist & has been rattling their sabres in Georgia & other former Soviet republics. They would like nothing more than to "reaquire" those areas. And if you think they don't, you are being naive.

Let us be clear and let us be historically accurate. The nearly-half-century-old trade embargo was begun as a reaction to Castro, and had nothing to do with human rights. The U.S. had assisted in the overthrow of Batista, and we expected to exercise leverage in the internal affairs of Cuba. That did not happen. Additionally, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and Raul Castro saw fit to assist the Black Africans in Cuito Carnavale, Angola stemming the tide of South Africa’s Apartheid regime. At that time, the U.S. was an ally of South Africa. If human rights had been a salient issue for us, without hesitation, we would have enacted a trade embargo against South Africa, which we did reluctantly, eventually, but not as a first course of action. To be historically transparent, it was the nation of Cuba that demonstrated the most visible action and attention to human rights in the eradication of Apartheid, sending troops, doctors, and medical supplies.

To be concerned with human rights is an unassailably correct consideration. Nevertheless, it was not our original priority with Cuba. We have grafted human rights to our current nuanced stance, but it is not a part of the initial charter. As we continue to renovate our posture regarding Cuba and human rights, we need to sunset the embargo, immediately and unequivocally. The trade embargo has not produced one iota of measurable benefit to the United States, Cuba, or the region. This is a change whose time has come.

30 years ago i was a student in Cuba, I myself was a victim of the communist regime.Time has moved on and so should we.However did the (revolution) achieved it's purpose ?.The (BLOSKADE) for almost 50 years has.(1) The Cubans are mentally scarred with rationing, ENGINERS, DOCTORS,TEACHERS etc. etc dont know what will be their next meal,(2)The Cubans are enslaved by an ideology that was born, bred, and burried by the Soviets more than a decade ago.(3)The Cubans are in need of medicines,and other basic materials to help them respect heir dignity.(4)The USA must end the hostility towards the Cuban people.(5)The USA should respect these words (LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF)I believe with all respect to PRESIDENT OBAMA that he should consider lifting the (BLOCKADE) ENTIRELY.

if you are going to complain about american dollars being diverted from the economy to cuba, what about all the money america gives to Israel? Exactly, how does that help the economy?

Furthermore, I think it is a tremendous move. Enough of the John Wayne type foreign policy. In a global economy the interests of one nation are intricately interwoven to that of others. The days of posturing and running rough shod over other countries are a thing of the past.

"It is pathetic. Can't trust the Cuban government. It is exactly what happened to the Clinton Admin. when they lift restrictions on Cuba. It is going to cause some more problems. It will get worse."

How so?

"Just great :)more $ sent out of country not doing anything for our economy."

Lol. Okay.

"Woo hoo, could use some Cuban cigars!!!"

Been smoking them for years. It's the rum and partying in Havana that I'm most looking forward to. This should be interesting.

Woo hoo, could use some Cuban cigars!!!

Just great :)more $ sent out of country not doing anything for our economy.

It is pathetic. Can't trust the Cuban government. It is exactly what happened to the Clinton Admin. when they lift restrictions on Cuba. It is going to cause some more problems. It will get worse.

osted by: Obama=socialist- I absolutely
agree with you that Obama is so naive socialist. I am Korean-American who came from Seoul, Korea. Two Stupid former presidents in South Korea from 1998 to 2008 had aided huge money $4,300,000,000.00 for resolving of hungry in North Korean for last 10 years. The aids never ever helped the innocents people in N.Korea, but paranoiac Kim, Jung Il has thrown all the money to produce missiles and nuclear arms. It's evidence the cockamamie Kim, Jung Il launched the missiles against S.Korea and USA on Apr. 5, 2009. HOW DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY, PRESIDENT OF USA CAN TRUST HALLUCINATORY AND SOCIALIST LEADERS ??? THE CASTRO HAS NOTHING CHANGED SO FAR.
_____________________________
"I'm a Cuban American and most of you that have not idea of what the Castro Regime has done to our Country including Obama. All this Embargo talk is just an excuse that Castro has to submit this country into the misery they live in. Castro has relations with other Countries like Canada, Mexico, France, Italy etc to name a few. He could buy food, medicine clothes etc for the country...give the people freedom through those countries,no, you people have no idea how controlled the government has the Cuban people and that has nothing to do with the Embargo.. What Obama is doing is helping the Cuban Government all this monies going to Cuba a big percentage is going to the kept by the government and as far a visiting is just more money for Cuba to update their military and enrich the Castro's more if not we will talk in five years and you will let me know how prosperous Cuba got.
Posted by: Obama=socialist | Apr 13, 2009 3:42:38 PM

I would imagine than an avalanche of Wall Street bankers and their buddies, are now on their way to Cuba as we speak, in an attempt to gain a foothold on property they can over develop with their ill gotten loot from the American taxpayers that has been stashed away in foreign off shore accounts that they failed to pay taxes on.

"allow them to be our enemy"

I don't get this notion that the U.S. somehow decides whether or not other countries are allies or enemies? Those governments and populaces make that decision on their own. If someone only takes from you and never does anything for you, they aren't your friend.

These restrictions will not improve the lot of the Cuban people, but is a move to cozy up to the Castro brothers' regime and to introduce cash flow into their system thus increasing their power and legitimacy.

Tell you one thing, if these guys had the name "Batista" no such policies would be forthcoming from this administration.

I haven't read the other comments so I might be redundent - at least I hope so.
Again, I wish to push the idea that Cuba is far too close to us to allow them to be our enemy. Besides, friendship is usually better than enemies anyway.

Since several important changes are already being made between the USA and Cuba; why not go a step or two further. First - lift the embargo. Our might as a nation should be enough leverage by its self. Second - Close Gitmo and return the area to Cuba. We shurely can come up with some other place to house the terrorists. Please don't misunderstand me. I am a loyal natural born American. I fought in Vietnam and am 100% disabled. I have paid my price. I just feel it is to our great advantage to have Cuba as much on our side as possible. Heck - we don't seem to have any problem "normalizing" relations with China. And we seem, at least, to be tring to made advances where N. and S. Korea are concerned. Anyway - change is fundamental to progress. If the need ever should arise - we can always evaporate Cuba. (Just kidding). As an aside: I am of Irish descent. BK

Allowing limited visitation as an initial step toward instituting sensible relations with Cuba is significant. However, it needs to be the first of a series of steps toward establishing a "good neighbor" policy. The rigor mortis of our past protocols needs to give way to mutually beneficial exchanges of goods, ideas, intellect, services, etc. Moreover, segregation of the right to travel to an exclusive domain of Americans conflicts with our core principles. In truth, the current travel restrictions that have been placed on American citizens is categorically undemocratic. It is important to move our country in a direction of hemispheric partnership. Our nearly-fifty-year-old carrot / stick diplomacy with Cuba is futile, because as time has proven, we have no carrots that they need, and no stick that they heed. Full diplomatic relations with Cuba is a change in which we can believe.

Parallax View, do you know how devestating a shrinking population effects one's military and economy.

When you have a shrinking population, that means less babies are being born, less babies means less young adults. Less adults means a smaller army and a smaller consumer market. Not to mention an older population means more strain on social services. I'm sorry but your Russia-phobia is irrational - geo-politically, they're not a threat to us.

I'm sorry to inform all you right-wing guys, but the Cold war is over, we won - remember?

ellsbells930, I'm sorry to break it to you. But the Soviet Union no longer exists. Welcome to like 20 years ago.

Our military is light-years ahead of Russia. Like I said, I simply don't understand the constant need for the Right-wing to be terrified of someone all the time. If it's not Russia, it's China, if it's not China, it's "Muslims." I mean honestly, it's not healthy guys.

Mike C said " I don't understand this irrational fear about Russia. " I'm guessing you didn't grow up during the Cold War or you wouldn't be asking that question.

"RyanC Non-existent threat?? Guess that's why liberals attempt to re-write history to conform to their agenda; perhaps, it's easier than facing reality..."

Please tell me the military threat we face from Cuba.

"March 8, 2009...President Dmitry Medvedev vowed to press ahead with an ambitious overhaul of Russians armed forces..promising weapons upgrades..."

Now the whole truth

President Dmitry Medvedev vowed Tuesday to press ahead with an ambitious overhaul of Russia's armed forces despite the nation's economic problems and vocal opposition from within the military. Medvedev promised weapons upgrades but also endorsed organizational changes that will cut the officer corps by more than half, or as many as 200,000 positions.

By mentioning NATO, Medvedev seemed to be trying to answer critics who say the plan represents a downscaling of Russian military ambitions because it focuses on regional conflicts and gives up on trying to maintain an army capable of winning a war against the West.

But Alexander Golts, a Russian military analyst who has written a book about failed efforts to revamp the armed forces, said the facts of the plan undermine the Kremlin's rhetoric about the threat posed by NATO. "If you really believed in the possibility of military confrontation with NATO and the United States, you can't move to an armed forces of this kind," he said.

RyanC Non-existent threat?? Guess that's why liberals attempt to re-write history to conform to their agenda; perhaps, it's easier than facing reality...

March 8, 2009...President Dmitry Medvedev vowed to press ahead with an ambitious overhaul of Russians armed forces..promising weapons upgrades...

Well, this will be interesting. I think it might actually be a good idea. Why not give it a try. My prediction is that Cuba won't put up with it, and will look like the dictatorship that it is. Or, more US dollars to family members, makes the country wealthier, less beholden to the gov for support. Win win I hope.