Obama vows change in U.S. policy on Cuba

[IndianaGreen]

Obama vows change in U.S. policy on Cuba

President-elect has indicated he's open to talks with Raul Castro

The U.S. government's Cuba policy has been frozen in time since 1962, when it imposed the embargo with the aim of bringing down Fidel Castro's government at a time when U.S.-backed exiles mounted the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and Soviet missiles in Cuba pushed the world close to nuclear war.

Sporadic congressional efforts to end the embargo since then have failed, largely due to the political influence of powerful Cuban exiles who insisted on isolating Cuba and trying to strangle its economy to force Castro out.

But Castro, now 82, remained in power until he ceded the presidency to his brother in February due to illness. And Raul Castro, 77, shows no sign of making any fundamental changes.

The embargo is "a policy that hasn't worked in nearly 50 years," said Wayne Smith, a former top U.S. diplomat to Havana and a Cuba fellow at John Hopkins' Center for International Policy. "It's stupid, it's counterproductive and there is no international support for it."

Obama has promised to lift limits that President George W. Bush tightened on Cuban-Americans wanting to visit and send money to relatives. He also says he's open to a dialogue with Raul Castro — something the Cuban president has indicated he would welcome.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27609745/

[Egnever]

1. Great move IMHO

Glad he didn't say this last week.

[FrenchieCat]

4. He didn't say this week either.

Read my post below.

[Enthusiast]

12. He should lift all sanctions against Cuba.

Why should we have trade relations with VietNam, China and Russia but shut Cuba out. What is the justification for this? Organized crime wants control, first and foremost. They want their cassinos reopened. Cuban refugees want their property back. It is a convoluted mess. I think we should just restore normal relations and see what happens.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Apparently, Obama has said nothing new on the subject of Cuba

that he hadn't said before. This article is one of speculation of "perhaps, it is possible".

In a way it is a disingenuous article as it suggests that Obama has spoken on the subject since being elected. What he said, he said in front of the CANF a few months back.

[IndianaGreen]

5. 35% of the Cuban Florida vote went for Obama

The younger Cuban-Americans want normalized relations between US and Cuba.

[FrenchieCat]

6. My point is that this article must have been in the can prior to Obama's victory.....

considering that he hasn't said a thing about his stance on Cuba since he spoke to the CANF. I guess the reality of the fact that he was elected is the reason why the subject is being revisited prior to him saying anything new.

I believe that there does need to be a new policy.....I'm just not quite sure where the news in this article is....besides the point of the new possibilities based on old news.

Guess the AP is "shocked" that Obama won Florida, and irked that Obama currently has 70% approval ratings, while the AP lost its reputation by attempting to trash Obama throughout the election; especially the last couple of weeks.

[SwampG8r]

8. that is what is known as a

trial balloon
someone somewhere is watching the reaction
myself i would move to cuba if they opened it up

[Egnever]

11. Wow you are nuts!

way too many huricanes squash that place for my tastes. Why wait real estate is cheap in galviston right now i hear :P

:silly:

[boppers]

3. They have doctors. We need them.

Simple math.

[CreekDog]

7. Breath of fresh air!

:applause:

[personanongrata]

9. Sounds like the same policy

A roll-back to pre-Bush and maybe a visit by the S.O.S.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. FINALLY!!!!

Hallelujah!!!

[AZSlacker]

13. OMG! We're talking to the commies?! Next thing you know we'll be trading with China!

Oh the huge manatee!

[IndianaGreen]

14. Next thing is to do what Clinton failed to do and shutdown School of the Americas

Closing SOA will have great symbolism throughout Latin America.