U.S To Normalize Relations With Cuba

[Straight Shooter]

The United States and Cuba exchanged prisoners Wednesday as part of a deal to expand trade, increase travel, and normalize relations between the U.S. and its six-decade communist foe, government officials said Wednesday.

"We will end an outdated approach that has failed to advance our interests," Obama said in making a formal announcement at the White House. "These 50 years have shown isolation has not worked."

The biggest shift in the American-Cuban relationship since formal ties were severed in 1961 — the year the president was born — includes new rules for banking and financial dealings as well as a general easing of the U.S. embargo against Cuba and the opening of a U.S. embassy in Havana, said Obama and other officials.
Obama said the decades-long embargo has had little effect on Cuba's regime, and that encouraging more engagement will help promote reform in the long run. He linked the move to the decision in the 1990s to normalize relations with Vietnam, with which the U.S. had fought a war.

As Obama spoke, Cuban President Raul Castro -- brother of communist revolutionary leader Fidel Castro -- made a similar announcement in Havana. Echoing Obama, Castro said he welcomed new ties to the United States, though differences between the two countries remain.

Obama and Raul Castro spoke by phone Tuesday about the agreement, officials said, the first direct contact between American and Cuban leaders since Fidel Castro led the communist revolution in 1959. (Fidel Castro, old and ailing, did not participate in the talks.)

Among others who helped broker the deal, officials said: Pope Francis, who sent a letter on the subject to Obama and Raul Castro. Officials said that Obama and the pope discussed Cuba during the president's visit to the Vatican in March.

The agreement includes Cuba's release of Alan Gross, an American citizen arrested in 2009 on espionage charges for trying to provide Internet service to Cuban residents. The U.S., meanwhile, agreed to release three Cubans accused of spying and imprisoned in the United States, officials said.

U.S. officials said they also obtained the release of an un-named "intelligence asset" who had been imprisoned in Cuba for two decades.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-alan-gross-prisoner/20526497/

Historic move. As the saying goes, sunshine is the best disinfectant

 

[Mayhem]

Long overdue. The Cuban embargo has hurt us as much as it as hurt them and it has helped absolutely no one.

 

[Jagger69]

The Cold war is over....at least with Cuba it is. We need those casinos back!

 

[Jack Davenport]

We have been deprived of hot Cubanas for way too long. Except for those of them that can swim.

 

[Mayhem]

No one talks about cigars around here. However this plays out, be very careful before buying any "Cuban" cigars. Even in Cuba itself, counterfeiting is huge. And even the real ones have really dropped in quality over the last couple of decades.

I personally have never bought into the hype. The ones that I had were good enough, but I never saw how they were any better over cigars from Nicaragua.

 

[pool_hustler]

Long overdue.

Definitely

 

[Supafly]

Good idea. Was this timed for some moment when the Obama administration was catching flak?

Whatever, it is a good thing.

 

[bobjustbob]

I think Obama mentioned this in the past. It was like a passing thing that got mixed into stuff he promised to do but never got any ink. It is well overdue to get talks going with Cuba. The old man held onto too many things that the old men in congress and Presidents couldn't get onto the same side of. Kind of like controversial issues that might stir up a kettles for elections and reelection. The American voters wouldn't support a Raul run Cuba much like supporting a Jeb for president. The name alone is cancer.

This is going to be a boom for both economies in too many ways. The human rights things will be resolved once cruise ships start landing there with our big American dollars.

 

[Mayhem]

This is going to be a boom for both economies in too many ways. The human rights things will be resolved once cruise ships start landing there with our big American dollars.

This is what I've been saying for years and years. :clap:

 

[Harpsman]

I think the Cubans are mad!!!

It's great. Building bridges is good. Nobody has anything to fear from peace

 

[zeeblofowl_1969]

Should have happend 25 years ago.
Congress spouting off about Cubas poor treatment of their citizens, we do business with china and Saudi Arabia so WTF.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Congress spouting off about Cubas poor treatment of their citizens, we do business with china and Saudi Arabia so WTF.

Good point. As far as the Islamic State, what side are the Saudis really on? I figured Iran obviously hates their guts.

 

[Johan]

Should have happend 25 years ago.
Congress spouting off about Cubas poor treatment of their citizens, we do business with china and Saudi Arabia so WTF.

Don' forget Qatar, all of the western civilised countries do business with Qatar. And Qatar is quite ambiguous about their relationships with Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, etc...

 

[tvstrip]

This is going to be a boom for both economies in too many ways. The human rights things will be resolved once cruise ships start landing there with our big American dollars.

As petty as it sounds, its going to suck for non-Americans who have used Cuba as the cheapest Caribbean vacation spot, since demand is going to skyrocket.

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

Of course Dear Leader has chosen to overreach again. He and Fidel come from the same school of thought.

Why We Isolated Cuba for 53 Years

 

[Straight Shooter]

Of course Dear Leader has chosen to overreach again. He and Fidel come from the same school of thought.

I really thought the 53rd year was going to be the one to end it all

 

[Mayhem]

Of course Dear Leader has chosen to overreach again. He and Fidel come from the same school of thought.

Why We Isolated Cuba for 53 Years

Another award winning link from dipshit. Tell me, how much of this junior high book report came as news to you?

 

[bobjustbob]

Ace, 53 years of sanctions have proven that 53 years of sanctions will turn a military, economic, Marxist threat into today's Cuba. If the Russians still do have nukes pointed at us from Cuba then they haven't been a threat to us for those 53 years. Central America hasn't been more stable in generations. Let the talks continue and ease up on them.

 

[Johan]

Of course Dear Leader has chosen to overreach again. He and Fidel come from the same school of thought.

You know that Fidel is no longer the leader of Cuba, don't you ?

 

[Will E Worm]

I say, no.

Not until Cuba renounces Communism.