LA TIMES: Obama is right on Cuba.

[AtomicKitten]

Obama is Right On Cuba

* snip *

Regardless of the political implications, Obama is clearly right -- the only problem is, his proposal doesn't go far enough. The travel ban should be lifted for everybody, not just Cuban immigrants. It is the height of irony that Americans can freely travel to countries such as Venezuela and Iran, which represent genuine threats to our security and economic interests, but not to Cuba, whose government is a threat only to its own people.The ban has done nothing to weaken Castro, but it does keep U.S. tourist dollars out of the hands of Cubans, who might be less inclined to heed their regime's anti-U.S. propaganda if Americans were helping to raise their standard of living.

The U.S. shouldn't lift all economic sanctions on Cuba until the island's regime makes progress on democracy and human rights, but policies such as the travel ban and limits on remittances are simply counterproductive. Score one for Obama.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-cuba25aug25,0,2951765.story?coll=la-news-comment

bonus reading:

PRO-CON: Is Obama's Cuba policy reasonable? YES

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wants to change the United States’ Cuba policy. That’s needed.

The U.S. boycott is the story of nearly 50 years of failed policy, so it would be wise to change it. Not to support the regime, but to gain influence when old leaders are on their way out.

Obama is not suggesting a total reversal of Cuba policy. But his move is important. Let exiled Cubans visit Cuba as often as they want to. Let them economically support relatives as much as they want to. That would contribute to grassroots democracy, believes Obama.

A few years ago, President Bush tightened limits for exiled Cubans. They could travel a little and give a little. That showed neither humanitarian concern nor steadfastness, just that the Bush administration was trapped by a hopeless policy.

In Cuban policy, Obama is both specific and sensible, while Bush there, as in Iraq, has demonstrated his ability not to learn from what does not work.

http://www.kansascity.com/273/story/245188.html

[jmp]

1. He's been right on Cuba ...

Several times just today. I wish the mods would/could merge all duplicate threads.

Though reading this board daily, there may not be enough mods in the world to handle that workload. :P

[AtomicKitten]

2. point taken --

It's tough keeping up with the poo-flingers.

[cosmik debris]

3. US policy on Cuba hasn't changed in almost 50 yrs.

It was a failure then, it is a failure now. The status quo sucks and it needs to change. If Obama is the only one who will change it, he gets credit from me.

[AtomicKitten]

4. the screeching of 'not enough' is overlooking

the wedge Obama just stuck in the door of our current lame, tired policy

[Cameron27]

5. All the screeching, and yet Edwards seems to be following

Obama's lead:

"The debate was stirred Tuesday by an op-ed essay Sen. Barack Obama wrote for the Miami Herald. In it, he called for the lifting of two Bush administration restrictions on Cuban-Americans. Obama wrote that he would grant Cuban-Americans "unrestricted rights to visit family and send remittances to the island."

snip: Among the other Democratic candidates, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson already was on record in favor of changes along the lines outlined by Obama.

Former Sen. John Edwards split the difference; he favors unlimited travel by family members but opposes "raising the limits on sending American dollars back to Cuba at this time."

Sen. Chris Dodd would do more; he favors allowing all Americans unrestricted travel to Cuba.

Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton favors no changes to U.S. policy and said through a spokesman "we cannot talk about changes to U.S. policy" unless and until Castro passes from the scene and a new government demonstrates its intentions.

On the other end of the spectrum, Rep. Dennis Kucinich favors lifting the embargo outright."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/21/obama.cuba/

[cosmik debris]

8. Again HRC sides with the Republicans

And I thought I heard someone say that she is a Democrat. How would we know?

[AtomicKitten]

10. great news !!

It just takes a leader to shove 'em in the correct direction, eh?

[Cameron27]

11. You got it.

[David Dunham]

6. Obama today endorsed the embargo on Cuba.

[AtomicKitten]

12. this just in: Obama will EASE Cuba embargo

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3477879

I realize this has been spun stupid here at DU, but is it impossible to grasp the fact that this is of value?

The nonstop attempts to marginalize Obama and everything he says or does is the epitome of dirty politics. And that's really pathetic because he's one our candidates.

[AZBlue]

7. This is what I've never gotten:

It is the height of irony that Americans can freely travel to countries such as Venezuela and Iran, which represent genuine threats to our security and economic interests, but not to Cuba, whose government is a threat only to its own people.

And couldn't the people most be helped by lifting sanctions against them (not their government)?

After all, isn't the U.S. all about humanitarianism. I mean, that's why we invaded Iraq, right?? (insert laugh here) Huh...Cuba would be a chance to actually do something good for others, instead of invading yet another Middle Eastern country!

[AtomicKitten]

13. Our policy toward Cuba is retarded.

[illinoisprogressive]

9. Having zbig praising him and DMC blowing a gasket over obama, I think he is on the right track

[AtomicKitten]

14. interesting way to gauge that --

and I think you are right-on!