Great news today: Alan Gross, a contracted aid worker who had been unjustly imprisoned in Cuba, is being released today. But early indications are that this is part of a broader initiative that could involve normalizing relations with Cuba, and even opening up a U.S. Embassy in Havana. Senator Marco Rubio is already complaining that “This is going to do absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba. But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come.”
I think Senator Rubio is wrong, wrong, wrong. Our policy toward Cuba has been a total failure for a half century, and it is time to do something different. And with Obama being effectively a lame duck and Congress too divided to decide whether it actually supports or opposes anything at all, I think it’s the perfect timing for opening to Cuba.
But is this policy going to survive as the presidential election starts to gear up and folks start pandering for votes in Florida?
Dealing directly with governments that suppress democracy and human rights in their own lands has never been a problem before, no, we’re waiting for the Castro Boys to bite it.
No. It looks like there is only a very limited amount which is within the control of the President. The vast bulk of actions would have to be approved by the Republican Congress–and they are going to kill any proposals:
Most of these trade restriction laws allow for some type of Presidential waiver or have some mechanism for Presidential certification to Congress. I’d be surprised if the Cuban embargo laws didn’t have similar mechanisms, but I’m too lazy to look it up.
As I see it, the only “reset” will be the death of enough members of the older members of the Cuban “refugee” community. Who as far as I can tell won’t be happy until the Castros are dead and America has moved in and forcibly installed them into a position of power and privilege in Cuba; the latter of which won’t happen.
It was probably both inevitable and overdue. There are so many American companies dying to do business with Cuba that I’m astonished this was doesn’t done ages ago.
Yes, yes, I know the embargo hasn’t been lifted, but that’s got to be coming.
As much as I dislike Obama and his policies this is a welcome move by him.
I have been reading that this change of policy on both sides is probably the result of the recent collapse in oil prices. Venezuela is running into difficulties, it can no longer afford to subsidize cheap oil to Cuba. This angle, if true, will be downplayed by Govt officials in both Havana and Washington.
This is long overdue. Kudos to Obama for finally standing up to the Cuban refugees in Florida who have held this hostage for years. For so long we’ve heard “you can’t end the embargo! That means you won’t carry Florida for your party!” We have to realize that everybody in the world aren’t boy scouts. We trade with Russia, who invaded a neighboring nation. We trade with China and turn a blind eye to their human rights abuses. We’re friendly with Vietnam a generation removed from the war. For over 50 years we’ve had the embargo and it hasn’t done shit politically and has been an albatross economically.
I say let’s press on for full relations, free travel between the nations, and let’s get the hell out of Gitmo. If we need a base in the region, build one in Puerto Rico and help their economy in the process.
The president can change some aspects of our relations with Cuba, but the embargo itself was passed by Congress and will need Congress to act to have it removed. Among the highlights:
US will soon reopen an embassy in Cuba to further high-level interactions
Travel bans for families, official government business, and education will be eased. Tourism bans still in effect
Licensed travelers will now be able to return to the US with up to $400 in Cuban goods, with under $100 in tobacco and alcohol combined, effectively ending the Cuban cigar ban but there’s some limits
Earlier in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1200 cap on remittances. Now he will increase the money Americans can send to Cubans from $500 to $2000 every 3 months
Kerry is also revisiting Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terror
