Obama may set new policy on Cuba's aging revolution

[ProSense]

Obama may set new policy on Cuba's aging revolution

By Anthony Boadle Anthony Boadle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Five decades after Fidel Castro toppled a U.S.-backed dictator to take power in Cuba, the Cold War rivalry with Washington could be thawing as President-elect Barack Obama looks to ease sanctions against the communist-run island.

Obama has made clear he favors relaxing restrictions on family travel and cash remittances by Cuban Americans to Cuba, which this week marks the 50th anniversary of Castro's revolution.

Obama could also reverse other steps taken by outgoing President George W. Bush to tighten sanctions on Cuba, such as the prepayment of food imports from the United States, and he is expected to restore migration talks broken off by Bush.

Experts on Cuba believe modest changes in policy will come quickly, but stop short of lifting the trade embargo first imposed in 1962 or allowing all Americans to travel to the island 90 miles off the coast of Florida.

Obama, who takes office on January 20, will be the 11th U.S. president to deal with the Cuban revolution in a dispute that has outlived the Cold War and took the world to the brink of nuclear war during the 1962 Soviet missile crisis.

On the campaign trail, Obama said the embargo should stay in place to press for democratic reforms in Cuba, but he said he was open to dialogue with the Cuban leadership.

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[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is the sort of attitude I expect from Obama...

A sensible, no-nonsense approach, one that deals with realities and is not based in some crazy way of seeing the world.

In other words, a complete 180 change from the current idiots.

[jmcauliff]

6. Obama's policy on Cuba

There is a short term and a long term challenge in what we know so far about Obama's policy on Cuba.

Short term the question is whether or not he uses his authority to end all restrictions on non-tourist travel.

Longer term the question is whether he can overcome a culture of big country chauvinism and regional hegemonism and negotiate with Cuba with the kind of mutual acceptance of political differences that was essential for normalization with Vietnam and China.

Will he honor his own commitment to domestic civil liberties, the views of two-thirds of Americans, and virtually unanimous Western Hemisphere opinion, or buckle to cold war ideology and a hard line special interest exile group with deep pockets for PAC contributions?

A positive step in the short term, opening up non-tourist travel, offers hope for the longer term as mutual understanding and respect depend on reestablishing and creating personal relationships that will come from two-way visits for educational, humanitarian, religious, cultural and sports purposes.

Obama is being pressed to not even follow through on the promises of his campaign and the Democratic platform, to immediately allow unlimited travel and remittances to Cuban Americans. http://thehavananote.com/2008/12/disturbing_report_from_the_tra.html

One way to offset that pressure and to urge he go further is through joining an on-line letter. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/obamacuba/

A more effective means is available to those who have personal contact with members of the transition team. http://obamacuba.blogspot.com/2008/12/obama-transition-structure-related-to.html

John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development
www.ffrd.org

[Starry Messenger]

8. Welcome to DU.

Thank you for the additional links.

[Sebass1271]

2. I am also expecting Obama to press the Cuban goverment

to release its political prisoners BEFORE lifting up the embargo or ceasing any relations with the Cuba government.

Let's not forget people are in jail because they tried to fight against Cuba's regime.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. So, in other words...

essentially our pre-W policy on Cuba. :shrug:

[ProSense]

4. Did you read the entire article?

:shrug:

[Sebass1271]

5. yes, pretty much. with the only difference that Obama is wiling

to talk to the Cuban govermnet/leaders.. I hope when he sits down to talk that he brings the list of poltical prisoners names with him and tell the government, "i will talk with you, BUT first release these guys"

[ProSense]

7. And that's a key difference. Without dialogue in the mix, no one would make these observations

"The potential for change is more real than ever," said Katrin Hansing, associate director at the Florida International University's Cuban Research Institute.

<...>

Saladrigas said the U.S. president has wide discretionary powers to engage Havana, even to restore the diplomatic ties severed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961, and allow Cuba back into the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Taken from the OP article.

[NashVegas]

9. This One Really Should Be a No-Brainer

How difficult is it for anyone to figure out that the more open our relations are with Cuba, the easier it will be to corrupt their government so US developers and business interests can get in there?

[harun]

10. Yah, one would think so. If we can't get consensus on even this foreign policy

f'up then we truly can't fix anything here.