Valin Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 BBC: 17 December 2014 US President Barack Obama has hailed a "new chapter" in US relations with Cuba, announcing moves to normalise diplomatic and economic ties. Mr Obama said Washington's current approach was "outdated" and the changes were the "most significant" in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years. Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the shift in a TV address. The move includes the release of US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US. Wednesday's announcements follow more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving Pope Francis. (Snip) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 Cuban-American lawmakers lash out at the White House over Cuba normalizationNoah RothmanDecember 17, 2014If Barack Obama had hoped that his decision to unilaterally extend diplomatic relations to communist Cuba following a prisoner exchange would be warmly greeted by the Cuban-American population, he was disappointed by the reaction from Democratic and Republican members of Congress representing that constituency.“President Obama’s actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government,” said Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the outgoing chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement. Trading Mr. Gross for three convicted criminals sets an extremely dangerous precedent. It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms.This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba’s opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people. (Snip) “The way that his release was achieved is outrageous and proves that once again, Pres. Obama is the Appeaser-in-Chief,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL). “[Obama’s] decision to allow the Castro regime to blackmail the US and abandon our pro-democracy principles is an outrage.” Other Cuban-American legislators, including Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), whose father suffered brutal treatment at the hands of Cuban authorities under Fulgencio Batista, have yet to release statements on this development. This post will be updated when they do. (Snip) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearvision Posted December 17, 2014 Share Posted December 17, 2014 I did not realize the President had so much unilateral power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 http://youtu.be/tfkQjaxK32Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 17, 2014 Author Share Posted December 17, 2014 @WestVirginaRebel Search US, Cuba seek to normalize relations after Alan Gross released Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickydog Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I did not realize the President had so much unilateral power. Me neither! When he was elected in 2008 my only consolation was the (now I realize so-called) balance of power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Get ready for the next two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Generating Light in a Dark Place: The Cuban Ladies in WhiteThe Cuban government has been accused of multiple counts of human rights violations and abuses including unfair trials and executions, torture, and unjust imprisonments. There are many political prisoners currently being held by the Cuban government, many for unfair or unjust reasons. Over the past few decades, Cuba has continued to imprison individuals for their beliefs or actions, including nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. The Cuban Ladies in White In 2003, the Cuban government arrested, tried, and sentenced 75 individual human rights defenders, librarians, and independent journalists to prison sentences up to 28 years. After this happened, relatives and wives of the imprisoned people decided to form the Cuban Ladies in White organization. Their protest against the Cuban government is always peaceful. They have sent letters to foreign governments as well as Cuban officials, appealing on behalf of their loved ones unfairly sentenced to prison. The Cuban Ladies in White ask for the release of all political prisoners. Though threatened daily, these women have stood strong against the Cuban government and opposition. They remain committed to peaceful advocacy but refuse to back down or give in. (Snip) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Obama gives the Castro regime in Cuba an undeserved bailout Washington Post Editorial Board December 17 2014 IN RECENT months, the outlook for the Castro regime in Cuba was growing steadily darker. The modest reforms it adopted in recent years to improve abysmal economic conditions had stalled, due to the regime’s refusal to allow Cubans greater freedoms. Worse, the accelerating economic collapse of Venezuela meant that the huge subsidies that have kept the Castros afloat for the past decade were in peril. A growing number of Cubans were demanding basic human rights, such as freedom of speech and assembly. On Wednesday, the Castros suddenly obtained a comprehensive bailout — from the Obama administration. President Obama granted the regime everything on its wish list that was within his power to grant; a full lifting of the trade embargo requires congressional action. Full diplomatic relations will be established, Cuba’s place on the list of terrorism sponsors reviewed and restrictions lifted on U.S. investment and most travel to Cuba. That liberalization will provide Havana with a fresh source of desperately needed hard currency and eliminate U.S. leverage for political reforms. (Snip) The Vietnam outcome is what the Castros are counting on: a flood of U.S. tourists and business investment that will allow the regime to maintain its totalitarian system indefinitely. Mr. Obama may claim that he has dismantled a 50-year-old failed policy; what he has really done is give a 50-year-old failed regime a new lease on life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearvision Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 This article has some detail on what Obama can do without "violating" the embargo law. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/cuba-usa-nextsteps-idUSL1N0U124Z20141218 Basically almost anything as long as something remains embargoed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SrWoodchuck Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 All part of the Obama "Change for Change Sake, Hope it Bolsters My Image & Legacy, Apology Agenda." Via WeaselZippers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearvision Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 President Raul Castro demanded on Saturday that the United States respect Cuba’s communist rule as the two countries work to restore diplomatic ties, and warned that Cuban-American exiles might try to sabotage the rapprochement. Or what? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted December 21, 2014 Author Share Posted December 21, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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