Posted on 04/10/2015 10:03:17 AM PDT by Rusty0604
Twenty-four hours before coming face to face with Cuban President Raul Castro, President Obama on Thursday continued to extend an olive branch from Washington to Havana but analysts say there are real questions about whether Mr. Castro truly is interested in friendly relations with the U.S.
At a town hall in Kingston, Jamaica the president's last stop before heading to the Summit of the Americas in Panama Mr. Obama praised the "extraordinary" Cuban people and said it's time for the two nations to put the Cold War behind them.
Also Thursday, the State Department completed its review of whether Cuba should be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The Castro regime has made removal from the terrorism-sponsor list a prerequisite for the opening of a U.S. embassy in Havana and other steps forward in the diplomatic process.
Mr. Castro also has made other demands that the U.S. surely won't meet, such as reparations for economic damages caused by the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the immediate transfer of Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban government.
Those seemingly unrealistic requests have led many analysts to question whether Mr. Castro truly wants to mend fences with the U.S. or whether he has been forced to begin cooperating with Washington out of sheer economic necessity.
Still, Mr. Obama expressed nothing but optimism Thursday.
Mr. Obama announced the historic diplomatic reboot with Cuba in December, but formalizing relations has got off to a slow start.
Analysts say that's largely because of Mr. Castro, who in his heart likely wants to maintain the status quo.
"By engaging Cuba, I think the president is calling Castro's bluff.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
What a negotiator!
It’s like a beggar refusing a 20 dollar bill and insisting that he should be given a 50.
Obama will crumble.
Raul has been paying attention. He sees what a great negotiator President Ben Dover is.
Give.Obama.Power. party: "Our King is terrific.
Long live ObamaCARE, Cuba, Iran and our EXEMPTIONS."
Why is Cuba giving US demands? What do WE stand to gain from a relation with that refuge from progress? I guess beggars CAN be choosers ...
Obama believes there would be peace and prosperity around the world if it were not for the United States.
Well obammy is obviously in a position of weakness so cave ya mookabooker, give Castro and Cuba all they want ya P.O.S.
‘he should be on every day raging against this criminal administration.’
Too Drunk!
They are certainly morons!
They say that you are judged by the company you keep. I wonder what it says about America that her two newest BFFs are Iran and Cuba. Thanks Barry!
Reparations have to be funded by Congress. Disposing of federal property in the form of all the facilities at Gitmo also has to be approved by Congress.
Obama...the poor boy doormat for socialists! All the tin pot dictators are coming out of the woodwork to kick his ass!
If 0bama goes to Cuba there will be plenty of hookers available for the Secret Service agents.
” ... reparations for economic damages caused by the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the immediate transfer of Guantanamo Bay to the Cuban government.”
You know Barry wants to do this and more.
Wish I could laugh, but I can’t.
The castros were planning on bombing the New York subway in the early 1960’s. They have murdered more people as a percentage then most any other dictator including Stalin and Mao.
Useful Idiots
http://www.therealcuba.com/The%20Useful%20Idiots.htm
Yes he is, but when I first saw the headline, I immediately wondered how much money does Castro want?
With Obama and Kerry in charge I wouldn’t be surprised at anything. Look how they gave away the farm with Iran. Look at the “deal” they made with China over global warming.
They see Obama is weak.
Castro makes demands, Obama caves.
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