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politics
Congress Begins Talk of Ending Cuba Embargo
Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, is trying to urge changes to the nearly 50-year-old economic embargo against Cuba.
Lugar, in a March 30 letter to President Obama, said the embargo against Cuba, which has been in place since 1962 to protest the government set up by Fidel Castro, "undermines our broader security and political interests in the Western Hemisphere."
Lugar asked Obama to appoint a special envoy to start direct talks with Cuba's communist government and end opposition to Cuba's membership in the Organization of American States, The Washington Post reported. Lugar pointed to the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago as a good place to make changes in U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba.
Lugar is also the co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that would end restrictions on travel to Cuba except for in cases of war or direct threats to health and safety. As it stands now, Cuban Americans with relatives on the island are allowed to visit once a year. Travel to Cuba by all U.S. citizens has been prohibited in varying degrees since 1963, the Post said. The State Department lists who exactly is allowed to travel there. It's a hard list to make, which is a shame, because the forecast for the next week is in the 80s.
The Post said neither Lugar nor the legislation he is co-sponsoring proposes lifting all the sanctions right away or resuming diplomatic relations immediately, but Lugar said the appointment of an envoy and the start of direct talks would "serve vital U.S. security interests ... and would ultimately create the conditions for meaningful discussion of more contentious subjects."
Last year, during the U.S. presidential campaign, Fidel Castro, who has handed control of the government over to his brother Raul, gave his opinion of the Democratic candidate after Obama gave a speech to the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami in which he pledged to maintain the trade sanctions against Cuba as a means to press for democratic change. But Obama also said he wanted to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba and sending money there for relatives.
At that time Castro called Obama "the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency," the New York Times reported, while also scolding him for saying he would continue the trade embargo.
Castro may need to look toward Lugar, rather than Obama, to start the momentum to change the embargo.
Obama can end the travel limits for Cuban Americans at any time by executive order, the Post reported, but lifting all restrictions, and the trade embargo, requires legislation. Vice President Joe Biden said recently that the United States is not planning to lift its trade embargo on Cuba.
Americans still seem pretty evenly split on the issue. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted in early 2007 showed that 48 percent of respondents believed the United States should continue the embargo, while 40 percent believed the United States should end it. Twelve percent were unsure.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus will travel to Cuba this weekend, to demonstrate to Cubans that Americans are looking to build a new relationship with them, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., told the Associated Press.
Lee, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she did not think improving economic relations with Cuba would bolster the government at the expense of the citizens.
"It's a country that we've had an embargo against for what, 40 years, but it hasn't worked," she told the Associated Press. "American citizens should have a right to travel to determine their own points of view."
Maybe Fidel will give Rep. Lee some Cuban cigars for her efforts.
Lugar, in a March 30 letter to President Obama, said the embargo against Cuba, which has been in place since 1962 to protest the government set up by Fidel Castro, "undermines our broader security and political interests in the Western Hemisphere."
Lugar asked Obama to appoint a special envoy to start direct talks with Cuba's communist government and end opposition to Cuba's membership in the Organization of American States, The Washington Post reported. Lugar pointed to the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago as a good place to make changes in U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba.
Lugar is also the co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that would end restrictions on travel to Cuba except for in cases of war or direct threats to health and safety. As it stands now, Cuban Americans with relatives on the island are allowed to visit once a year. Travel to Cuba by all U.S. citizens has been prohibited in varying degrees since 1963, the Post said. The State Department lists who exactly is allowed to travel there. It's a hard list to make, which is a shame, because the forecast for the next week is in the 80s.
The Post said neither Lugar nor the legislation he is co-sponsoring proposes lifting all the sanctions right away or resuming diplomatic relations immediately, but Lugar said the appointment of an envoy and the start of direct talks would "serve vital U.S. security interests ... and would ultimately create the conditions for meaningful discussion of more contentious subjects."
Last year, during the U.S. presidential campaign, Fidel Castro, who has handed control of the government over to his brother Raul, gave his opinion of the Democratic candidate after Obama gave a speech to the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami in which he pledged to maintain the trade sanctions against Cuba as a means to press for democratic change. But Obama also said he wanted to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba and sending money there for relatives.
At that time Castro called Obama "the most progressive candidate to the U.S. presidency," the New York Times reported, while also scolding him for saying he would continue the trade embargo.
Castro may need to look toward Lugar, rather than Obama, to start the momentum to change the embargo.
Obama can end the travel limits for Cuban Americans at any time by executive order, the Post reported, but lifting all restrictions, and the trade embargo, requires legislation. Vice President Joe Biden said recently that the United States is not planning to lift its trade embargo on Cuba.
Americans still seem pretty evenly split on the issue. An Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted in early 2007 showed that 48 percent of respondents believed the United States should continue the embargo, while 40 percent believed the United States should end it. Twelve percent were unsure.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus will travel to Cuba this weekend, to demonstrate to Cubans that Americans are looking to build a new relationship with them, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., told the Associated Press.
Lee, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she did not think improving economic relations with Cuba would bolster the government at the expense of the citizens.
"It's a country that we've had an embargo against for what, 40 years, but it hasn't worked," she told the Associated Press. "American citizens should have a right to travel to determine their own points of view."
Maybe Fidel will give Rep. Lee some Cuban cigars for her efforts.
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Ed
10:33PM 10:33PM Apr 3rd 2009
Nice to see that tough economic times aren't interfering with Congressional junkets. Bring your bathing suit Barbara and say hello to Joanne Chesimard for all of us. Rest assured, if the cigars are free, she'll take them.
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terri Smith
11:22AM 11:22AM Apr 4th 2009
The most stupid government blunder is to continue with the embargo of Cuba. We trade with several Dictators in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Stop having the Cubans in Florida dictate the government policy that has failed during the past 45+ years.
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ME
5:59PM 5:59PM Apr 3rd 2009
"OH YEAH! Real F***ing smart. Lugar is one of the FEW, left of center Republicans.And most Democratic politictions are to the left of communists. and now
these A-Holes want to be "BUDDIES" with Cuba, who let
communist Russia set up "Nuke" weapons 90 miles from
our borders.And the SAME communist piles of crap
Dictators are "STILL" running Cuba.So "NOW" the left
wingers and "Black Muslim" with his "Black Caucus"
would once again put "All" America at risk. They are
"Selling America Out" to our "Enemies". !!!A-Holes!!!
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Master Shake
5:04AM 5:04AM Apr 4th 2009
If Russia wanted to set up nuclear weapons in Cuba, they would have already done it. How about the missile bases that the US is setting up along the Russian border in a ridiculous pretense of being as a defense against the Middle East? Get a clue, fool.
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Matu Feliciano
5:33PM 5:33PM Apr 4th 2009
What do you mean when you say communist? What does that mean to you? Also, why are you so paraniod? America is not going anywhere, we will still be here after you get over your mind set. thank you for taking the time to answer.
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carlo leoni
4:16PM 4:16PM Apr 4th 2009
It's because of pin heads like yourself that this country currently finds itself isolated from the rest of the world. This is the kind of right wing thinking which breeds wars and continued anomosity. Cuba is not a threat to anyone. I say end all restrictions.
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Steve Wheaton
6:56PM 6:56PM Apr 5th 2009
I'm not sure our government has given up smoking weed. These guys are AINOs.
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George R. Horn
12:22PM 12:22PM Apr 4th 2009
I remember when the embargo went into effect, at that time maybe it did have a purpose. Sorry but the only ones that embargo hurts is the common people. Cubans don't hate us, they never have. The embargo serves no real purpose and should be ended as soon as possible.
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Matu Feliciano
5:35PM 5:35PM Apr 4th 2009
It's about time........
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sfo33
3:40PM 3:40PM Apr 4th 2009
I am looking forward to taking a cruise from Miami to Havana.
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terry70
6:33PM 6:33PM Apr 4th 2009
Open the country up to NORMAL americans,no person from our government allowed under penalty of death,,, they were the cause of communism in cuba,,,,money over people,,,we have met the enemy and he is us,,,,
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Matu Feliciano
5:34PM 5:34PM Apr 4th 2009
Its about time...Yes
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MEthatsWHO
7:15PM 7:15PM Apr 5th 2009
What's the problem? Countries with more destructive power to the US still trade with us. Even N. Korea enjoys the perks when they aren't being childish. Cuba is a small country. Russia wanted to build nukes in retaliation to GWB's actions in building one in Poland, they even gave Cuba billions of $$$ to help their economy, but, as of now, they haven't allowed Russia to build. BUT,.. if we aren't smart, and open some kind of communication / trade with them, they may be forced to accept Russia's proposal.
I know my child dreams of one day being able to visit Cuba. She loves their passion for music and dance, and she would like to be able to experience it in person. She bugs me about it, I seriously didn't even know she knew much about Cuba at all, but when asked where in the world she would like to travel when she gets older, one of her first choices is Cuba. I just hope that she gets her wish, and can visit in peace, experience the people and culture, without fear, and return safely home again.
But, it all comes down to money and power that control the majority, and the innocents have to pay for the choices of the greedy. It's sad really.
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alberto giacoma
8:46PM 8:46PM Apr 5th 2009
In my opinion the so called "embargo" is a mistake, we have to go back and learn from history. Example : The "Soviet Union" and most of the comunist countries had been defeated not with rockets, lase guided bombs, nuclear submarines ,etc., BUT FOR THE FORMIDABLE WEAPONS LIKE : Marlboro, MacDonald, Pepsi-Cola, LEE, NIKE,
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lagerente
10:41PM 10:41PM Apr 5th 2009
Well, it's about time, in my opinion, that the Embargo against Cuba be lifted. Why restrict the free travel between the two countries, exactly? We talk about democracy and democratic values, and yet we keep this ridiculous embargo in place.
My maternal grandparents are buried there. There is a whole family history in Cuba that I have not been able to explore because I cannot travel there freely. I have no living relatives there as far as I know, they all left, at different times during the last 45 years. Who exactly is benefiting from the Cuban embargo? How does the embargo help Cuba achieve democracy? Isn't the natural exchange between cultures something worthwhile?
Most Europeans, Canadians, Latin Americans and Asians are able to visit Cuba legally, so why not American citizens?
I no longer see the need to continue with an embargo that seems to serve absolutely no real purpose.
Whom does the Embargo against Cuba serve?
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margarita
12:10AM 12:10AM Apr 6th 2009
Leave Cuba be it's about time open that country up... I would love to go see cuba ...dance all night and take a nice cruise there that would be so lovey ..bless Cuba viva
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Ang
8:19AM 8:19AM Apr 7th 2009
I love the Cubans I met when I lived in south Florida. Their culture is lively, and they are a passionate, generally happy people, even when circumstances are dire. Cubans have an indomitable will that I see in few others anymore. I would love to see more freedom for them.
That being said, I know people who once lived in Cuba and emigrated here. In their mother country, they had to be very careful about how they spoke of their government. They do not have the freedom to criticize Fidel the way we have freedom to criticize W. or Obama today. Take any pro-political comments you hear from the natives with a grain of salt. My friends told me that many of them are afraid of Castro, and he has a history of taking political prisoners as well as controlling the press and the education system. Cubans don't raft here and then despise their old dictator for no reason. I would not brave the Florida Straits in a flimsy inner tube if my political situation was tolerable. My friends told me that the government restricted them from eating oranges off the tree right in their front yard, because it was owned by the government. I don't know that the embargo is the answer. I have the feeling that no matter what action is taken, the common people are still going to suffer, because in this case, they have no say in their own government's decisions. They are told "you do this, or suffer the consequences."
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Connie
10:59AM 10:59AM Apr 7th 2009
Open the border, let cubans flood into the US! Let them come and go as they please! Even set up shop in the US if they want! Hell if they wait long enough we'll make them a citizen!! The US no longer has enemies! The world LOVES us.
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Brady
10:56AM 10:56AM Apr 7th 2009
I have a Cuban friend who is forced to fly to Canada so he can fly back to Cuba! What a waste of time and money.
Also, we do business with other communist countries (China) and if it benefits the US financially then we are more than willing to do business with communist countries.
The policy towards Cuba needs to be changed, we are so short sighted, does our embargo hurt the Cuban government or just hurt the Cuban people. In case you haven't noticed the cold war is OVER!!
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Brady
10:57AM 10:57AM Apr 7th 2009
I have a Cuban friend who is forced to fly to Canada so he can fly back to Cuba! What a waste of time and money.
Also, we do business with other communist countries (China) and if it benefits the US financially then we are more than willing to do business with communist countries.
The policy towards Cuba needs to be changed, we are so short sighted, does our embargo hurt the Cuban government or just hurt the Cuban people. In case you haven't noticed the cold war is OVER!!
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