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Because now their families back home will be able to buy their own soap and not wait for their relatives in the US to bring it to them on a chartered flight?
The only Cubans this upsets are the much older right-wing Cubans who still want revenge on Fidel (who may actually be dead--nobody has seen him for months.) Raul Castro is not a revolutionary and really doesn't have the stomach for the dictator thing. I think he wants out also.
This is definitely THE time--it is long overdue. These people have a beautiful Caribbean island--let them flourish and join the rest of the world.
Oh, and what US credibility would that be?
Anytime you draw a line in the sand and then back down your credibility suffers. It works that way if you are a government, a company, or a parent.
I wholeheartedly support Rubio's claim. Obama won't negotiate because the ideologue in him tells him not to. Barry will never distance from his delusional view of America, which most of us don't share.
Negotiate what?
Human rights? Lol...stop it. You've gotta have a leg to stand on to negotiate for that.
And with all of our nice handiwork in Latin America, our position is severely lacking.
Anytime you draw a line in the sand and then back down your credibility suffers. It works that way if you are a government, a company, or a parent.
This "line" is 54 years old and nobody can even see it any longer. All it has done is hurt the Cuban people--not Castro. I've never seen happier people than the Miami Cubans on the local news--some are ecstatic. Who is this line supposed to be for? Krushchev?
And as Michael Medved pointed out, his lifetime includes Jimmy Carter. If you recognize that 'politics is the art of compromise,' then skill in negotiation is paramount for any politician. One of the things that made Ronald Reagan great was his skill as a negotiator. He learned the craft of negotiation as a union president. The primary function of any union official is to negotiate contracts. His secretary of state George Shultz, was also an experienced labor negotiator albeit on the other side of the table.
Charles Krauthammer in a recent column shows how Pres. Obama's negotiation skills are lacking. You can also see this demonstrated in Bob Woodward's book, The Price of Politics. Pres Obama has two go-to moves in negotiations. One is to stonewall, to insist on all or nothing. The other is to give away the store, as Krauthammer details. Both are major mistakes as any experienced negotiator knows.
I gotta say this...Obama to this point has probably been the least competent president since Carter, and the most cynical since Nixon. But Rubio and Boehner and everybody else bitching about the Cuba rapprochement are full of crap. The best and brightest chance to improve the life of the Cuban people and bring greater freedom to their government is through the economic vitality that better relations will bring.
Obama has shamed every US president since Kennedy with this sensible and long-overdue action. He did something right. I know, I know, it is very difficult to believe, but there you have it. Our embargo never hurt Raoul or Fidel--but it sure screwed the average citizen of Cuba. And it did not help the US at all, either--it made us poorer.
think Castro died along time ago- he is just like Bernie- but id f they ever find out he is dead- maybe they put on the cojones and fight for their democracy. I know there are only x amount of miltia- and xxx amount of people. what ? talk is cheap and your life is it worth it for your families freedom?
Where is it our place to change Cuba? They are an independent country who has managed to continue even with our 50 yr. embargo. It would be better if we open relations and let the court of world opinion pressure their government into change.
Those that want to regain their lost possessions good luck, I have family that would like to recover their losses from the bank crash in the 1930's.
The policy now being revoked never changed Vietnam, North Korea or even China; world pressure has influenced these countries and caused some to change their ways. North Korea will eventually change but when who can say when.
Actually, the US is the only country in the world that has embargoed Cuba. This might suggest that opening trade with Cuba won't change the Cuban government, but then, compared to China, Vietnam, and a number of other countries the US trades with, Cuba is already no worse.
OTOH, a review of current Cuban life and economics points to a country that is positively hungry to be influenced by American culture. Heck, they only outlawed trade in American dollars ten years or so ago. Americans even now make up one of Cuba's largest trading partners, even under the table. More overt trade (and some Yankees season tickets to the Castro brothers) will probably have a great effect.
Last edited by Ralph_Kirk; 12-17-2014 at 06:42 PM..
With normal relations I would expect Cuba to dominate the Caribbean area. Check Miami. And watch those people run back if it opens up reasonably wide.
Good for Cuba, the USA and the Caribbean as a whole.
This is the finale on a sad affair that started with the Bay of Pigs. Should have invaded and set it up as a Puerto Rico or apologized and gone home sucking our thumb. What we did was basically stupid and left us with no good outcome and screwed the Cubans.
Not our finest hour.
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(That's what our ultra-cons are really upset about.)
