Posted on 12/17/2014 11:08:44 AM PST by Bettyprob
(Reuters) - The United States will restore diplomatic relations it severed with Cuba more than 50 years ago, a major policy shift ending decades of hostile ties with the communist-ruled island, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday.
Announcing the end of what he called a "rigid" policy of isolation of Cuba that had been ineffective, Obama said the United States would move toward normal ties and would open an embassy in Cuba.
Obama discussed the changes with Cuban President Raul Castro on Tuesday in a nearly hour-long telephone call. Castro spoke in Cuba as Obama made his announcement on a policy shift made possible by the release of American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years.
Cuba is also releasing an intelligence agent who spied for the United States and was held for nearly 20 years, and the United States in return freed three Cuban intelligence agents held in the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Obama said he’s going to send Sec. of Statism John Kerry to talk to them.
If I was a small Caribbean nation and a U.S. president threatened to send John Kerry to talk to me, I would consider it an act of war...
How soon will CUBA cough up the cash to pay back the US investors for all the property Castro confiscated back in 1960?
Yeah we have a congress, oh wait a minute.
I have mixed feelings. Cuba’s a hostile mess that has historically agitated against the US all over Latin America. On the other hand, it’s kind of silly for them to be on triple-secret-probation.
My evil Obama fantasy of the day is that this partial normalization isn’t the end game. Could he have cleared out Camp Gitmo as preparation for handing the Guantanamo base over to Castro, who hates it? There’s always another act with this guy.
The threat posed by Cuba is no laughing matter. Michele Bachmann has stated that Hezbollah, the militant Muslim group based in Lebanon, had established training sites in Cuba and might even set up missile sites 90 miles from U.S. soil. And thus communist Cuba does pose grave danger to America.
Obama will probably pay reparations to Cuba for the Embargo.
The United States did not do this. Obama, acting illegally, without any consultation or approval, did this.
There was no change in policy. This is the action of Obama alone. This is the action of a dictator.
The only question is will anyone reverse this illegal action.
I think reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba will greatly assist in our current federal government’s goals.
I mean, right now there are nowhere NEAR enough safe conduits by which terrorists can enter the United States. Establishing a capability of simply flying from Havana to Miami on a commercial airliner will be a BIG help.
Well, someone had to do it. Who better than a Democrat who just loves dictators.
Only problem I have is the fact that we now have another country to support with our dwindling tax dollars.
I think an aid pool is in order. Pick a number between 1 billion dollars and 100 billion dollars. Closest to the amount of foreign aid sent to the Castro brothers........ er........... Cuba yep Cuber in 2016 wins
There is an interesting possibility.
Could be the signal to the opponents of the regime to rise up knowing the Castro government would be on the spot, would they violently put down the demonstrations, knowing it could jeopardize normalizing relations with the US, or would they behave.
Time to find out.
It’s not what’s happening in Cuba that is a threat. It’s our unwillingness to do anything about it. We could have broken Cuba like a twig at any time.
Now that China has missiles which can reach us, NK is testing nukes and Iran is developing one, hard to get excited about our comrades in Cuba.
Obama makes an ally of another kindred spirit. I'll bet Castro could teach the US a thing or two about humane treatment of prisoners, a topic very important to Barack and the democrats.
Any word if Hyman Roth is part of negoiltaitons
You’re assuming Obama wants regime change in Cuba, which I highly doubt.
Then send a “way to go” letter to Obama, since you apparently think this is a brilliant move by the Kenyan.
Meanwhile, let me remind you that China and Russia and the Sauds are quite different from Cuba. All three are significant trading partners with us on manufactured goods and energy. Cuba has tobacco.
Cuba is repressive, just like the other places you mentioned; that does not make for an argument to bolster the Cuban dictatorship.
Cuba also has sugar
Right. Just like it changed things in China. Oh, wait.
Who needs sugar when there’s HFCS?
I’m diabetic so I only use chemicals.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.