Obama allowing travel, money transfers to Cuba

[JEDIYoda]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_cuba

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama is allowing Americans to make unlimited transfers of money and visits to relatives in Cuba and easing other restrictions Monday, ushering in a new era of openness toward the island nation ruled by communists for 50 years.

The formal announcement was made by presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs and, in Spanish, by Dan Restrepo, the president's top aide on Latin American policy.

"The president would like to see greater freedom for the Cuban people. There are actions that he can and has taken today to open up the flow of information to provide some important steps to help that," Gibbs said.

With the changes, Obama aims to lessen Cubans' dependence on the regime of Fidel Castro, hoping that will lead them to demand progress on political freedoms, the spokesman said. About 1.5 million Americans have relatives on the island nation that turned to communist rule in 1959 when Castro seized control.

Some U.S. lawmakers protested the changes, saying they could funnel money or goods to the Castro regime. Others, backed by business and farm groups seeing new opportunities in Cuba, wanted Obama to go farther and lift restrictions on travel by all Americans to Cuba.

Officials said Obama is keeping the decades-old U.S. trade embargo ? for now, at least ? arguing that that policy pressures the regime to free all political prisoners as one step toward normalized relations with the U.S.

Restrepo said U.S. policy toward Cuba "is not frozen in time." He had no timetable for when future decisions might be made.

Obama had promised to take these steps as a presidential candidate. It has been known for over a week that Obama would announce them ahead of his attendance this weekend at a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

"There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans," Obama said in a campaign speech last May in Miami, the heart of the Cuban-American community. "It's time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. It's time to let Cuban-American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime."


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Good for Obama!!
We have a president who I believe in this case understands what is going on and is following through on a campaign promise!!

 

[nageov3t]

:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

 

[OCGuy]

We've been financing the virgin-seekers vacation to Cuba for a long time. Its about time I get to sit in a hammock in Havana with some good rum and a cigar.


Let us all go there Obama!!!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Obama allowing travel

:thumbsup:

Officials said Obama is keeping the decades-old U.S. trade embargo

:thumbsdown:

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: loki8481
:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

Cuban-Americans only.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481
:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

Cuban-Americans only.

wait, what? that's retarded.

 

[sapiens74]

Crap, still no legal Cuban cigars

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: loki8481


wait, what? that's retarded.

He is probably going to do it in steps so it doesnt seem so crazy. It will be a nice present to South Florida before the 2012 polls open im sure.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481
:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

Cuban-Americans only.

wait, what? that's retarded.

Dang it, I retract my thumps up. That will teach me not to only read titles.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481


wait, what? that's retarded.

He is probably going to do it in steps so it doesnt seem so crazy. It will be a nice present to South Florida before the 2012 polls open im sure.

South Florida and the Cuban exile community are probably the single largest reason the embargo is still in place. Ending it will hurt Obama there, not help him.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481
:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

Cuban-Americans only.

Is that even Constitutional? I hope someone sues under equal protection clause to open this up to everyone.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481


wait, what? that's retarded.

He is probably going to do it in steps so it doesnt seem so crazy. It will be a nice present to South Florida before the 2012 polls open im sure.

South Florida and the Cuban exile community are probably the single largest reason the embargo is still in place. Ending it will hurt Obama there, not help him.

There is your hardcore anti-Castro community that was forced out by Fidel and got the one foot wet. But the younger generation is growing. They want to go see grandma someday.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

 

[JSFLY]

My parents live in Canada and they took a trip to Cuba last year. Everything was great they said, very safe place to vacation and great people.

 

[yllus]

Very nice. I guess Cuba will be a bit more crowded by the time I visit next, but hopefully this will mean a better standard of life for the Cubans.

President Obama sure is living up to his promises to enact change quickly. I'm sure not all of it is good change, but it's impressive stuff nonetheless.

 

[frostedflakes]

Congress introduced a bill earlier this month that I think would allow all Americans to travel to Cuba. Looks like it's been sent back to committee, though.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

Is this really a serious response? I mean we do a lot of business with China, which is an actual threat to us and is a communist dictatorship, with actual nuclear weapons pointed at us, not ones it tried to obtain 40 years ago. This fear mongering about Cuba is simply pathetic. Nor has it worked.

 

[JSFLY]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

Is this really a serious response? I mean we do a lot of business with China, which is an actual threat to us and is a communist dictatorship, with actual nuclear weapons pointed at us, not ones it tried to obtain 40 years ago. This fear mongering about Cuba is simply pathetic. Nor has it worked.

FNE is a conservative republican. Fear monger is his middle name.

 

[RightIsWrong]

The only thing that would have made this news better is if it would have applied to everyone.

This stupid, cold war mentality has gotten us very little with the exception of a huge military deficit. If we were truly caring about the Cuban population, we would have done this decades ago. The fastest path to ensuring that people are no longer slaves to their government is by giving the access to information/education and to allow them some form of economic incentive to better their lives.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

Is this really a serious response? I mean we do a lot of business with China, which is an actual threat to us and is a communist dictatorship, with actual nuclear weapons pointed at us, not ones it tried to obtain 40 years ago. This fear mongering about Cuba is simply pathetic. Nor has it worked.

Did you TRY reading what I said? I said I don't have a problem with it, but that people should remember that Castro is an evil person who has treated his people horribly and has tried to obtain nuclear weapons in the past. There's no 'FEAR' in that statement whatsoever. I said lets keep in mind that this person is NOT a good person. Although I have this suspicion that if Bush was President of Cuba, you would somehow be in favor of an embargo.

Again, no fear.. I think its time to allow it, and I think its also time to keep in mind Castro is an evil person who deserves to be dead in all honesty. However, I think allowing familes to go is probably a good thing..

Nice attempt at reading comprehension though.

 

[SickBeast]

I'm tempted to bring up my Cuba thread.

I'm happy for the Cuban people as a result of this move, however I will miss the pristine beaches that were free of Americans.

There's no saying if the Cuban government will actually allow Americans to go there, however.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: OCguy

Originally posted by: loki8481
:thumbsup:

MTV Spring Break: Havana in 3...

Cuban-Americans only.

Is that even Constitutional? I hope someone sues under equal protection clause to open this up to everyone.

Its constitutional if you word it the correct way.. meaning you must have family there.

 

[fallout man]

I have never quite understood the Cuba embargo thing. The Cold War is over, and we're still giving these folks the cold shoulder? If anything, they're a potentially delicious economic partner.

What bothers me the most about the whole story is the entire "Cuban immigrant Miami constituency" bit. These were the people who pissed themselves over Elian Gonsales? Why are gauging our foreign policy based on the demands of these cooks? It's not like they're AIPAC, and own Hollywood or anything.

 

[JSFLY]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

Is this really a serious response? I mean we do a lot of business with China, which is an actual threat to us and is a communist dictatorship, with actual nuclear weapons pointed at us, not ones it tried to obtain 40 years ago. This fear mongering about Cuba is simply pathetic. Nor has it worked.

Did you TRY reading what I said? I said I don't have a problem with it, but that people should remember that Castro is an evil person who has treated his people horribly and has tried to obtain nuclear weapons in the past. There's no 'FEAR' in that statement whatsoever. I said lets keep in mind that this person is NOT a good person. Although I have this suspicion that if Bush was President of Cuba, you would somehow be in favor of an embargo.

Again, no fear.. I think its time to allow it, and I think its also time to keep in mind Castro is an evil person who deserves to be dead in all honesty. However, I think allowing familes to go is probably a good thing..

Nice attempt at reading comprehension though.

I guess from your perspective, "fearing no evil", this doesn't count as fear mongering to you. But it does to normal people like us.

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Now that the economy is taken care of we can start tackling these critical issues. :roll: Although I don't really have a big problem with this, lets also remember this was a country trying to obtain nuclear weapons to be pointed as us. So while the knee-jerk 'oh yippie praise Obama' crowd is expected, lets also not forget that Castro is a very evil person who has treated his people horribly and was also interested in obtaining weapons that could have been used to inflict massive damage on this country.

Funny, the one Cuban family I know loves Castro and what he did for their country. In their opinion the South Floridian Cuban-Americans only dislike him because they are the former land owners and their families. Like they said, these are the same people who used to practically enslave the peasants in Cuba to work on Sugar Farms while they lived a life of luxury.

What happened in Cuba was truly a revolution (not what we call a revolution). Castro's Coup won because he had the support of all the poor and downtrodden. They kicked out the plantation owners and their government and tried to make one that was fairer.

The CIA and the Russians decided to use this as another political game where every life in the country was just another checker. Anti Castro forces that he killed during the Bay of Pigs were troops trained by us and then abandoned. The horrors that occurred in Cuba were the fault of us and them fighting over a meaningless crumb.

It is amazing how we like to rewrite history with us always acting like the hero trying to swoop in and save the day.