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White House to Cuba: Now Is the Time 'to Match Actions With Words'
April 18, 2009 3:30 PM
From Sunlen Miller:
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today that the administration remains anxious to see what the Cuban government will do next in responding to the United States’ actions this week.
“We will continue to evaluate and watch what happens,” Gibbs told reporters today, “We’re anxious to see what the Cuban government is willing to step up to do.”
Gibbs noted that now is the time for more than just speeches and rhetoric.
“Actions are always going to speak louder than words regardless of how long those speeches are -- and ... we’re anxious to see the actions of the Cubans,” Gibbs said, “The smiles and handshakes and the desire of one leader to say to the president that he wants to be his friend, again, is a wonderful opportunity to match actions with words. And the president and others in the administration will be anxiously awaiting those new actions."
As the administration has been pushing in its five day swing to Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, where Cuba policy dominated much of the discussion, Gibbs gave specific examples of what actions the United States would like to see Cuba move on: releasing political prisoners, stopping the taking of money from remittances and improving freedom of the press.
Gibbs said that the president has been “pleased with the reaction” thus far from the Cuban government, but added, once again, that the United States is anxious to see what the government does next.
-Sunlen Miller
April 18, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (8)
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It is pathetic! Don't lift the embargo with Cuba. The Cuban government can't be trusted.
Posted by: anonymous | Apr 19, 2009 5:59:46 AM
US shuold left the economic embargo without precondition
Posted by: Bonjing | Apr 19, 2009 3:56:04 AM
If is time time for action and not rhetoric, Mr. Gibbs should be first to take his own advise. The kind of rhetoric form the White House press podium is not helpful nor accurate.
Cuba, does not "take money from remittances" nor "skims" of them as he has said before.
The economic embargo which the US has in place against Cuba limits Cuba's use of US dollars in international markets and therefore it costs Cuba exessive fees to conduct international business.
The extra cost is passed on to the consumer. This is just another example of how the US embargo affects families in both sides of the Florida straits.
Posted by: Milton Sanchez-Parodi | Apr 18, 2009 8:49:20 PM
Yes Walter because Cuba has not CHANGED one little bit. A Castro is still in power. Party committees rule every decision in every street and every village. Gorbys and Chous and Dengs have practiced detente and reform but not Castro just like his kissing cousin Kim.
Cuba must be free.
Posted by: robert b | Apr 18, 2009 5:58:29 PM
$25,000 to the United Negro College Fund.
That is what Obama donated to in the year 2008.
If BUSH or even BIDEN donated to the CAUCASIAN COLLEGE FUND. The liberals would demand a public lynching.
Posted by: rat face | Apr 18, 2009 4:38:36 PM
Make CUBA a state.
Posted by: Thinking | Apr 18, 2009 4:31:02 PM
After nearly half a century of Washington trying to overthrow Cuba's government, one week after making one change in US policy, the US is STILL making demands on Cuba. Yet Cuba makes no demands of the United States beyond being treated with courtesy and respect, and releasing Cuba's five political prisoners being held in U.S. jails.
Posted by: Walter Lippmann | Apr 18, 2009 4:09:07 PM
...and now about your enhanced cell phone service... ' Can you Hear Me Now? '
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | Apr 18, 2009 4:07:30 PM
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