US/Cuba to Begin Talks

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I'm disappointed that Obama wants to normalize relations with Cuba, but hopefully the US congress won't see it fit to lift the embargo for now. Cubans are Republican anyways, so Democrats must not be worried about their vote if they intend to move forward on this.

Slightly less than 70% of Cuban-Americans favor opening diplomatic relations with Cuba and lifting the travel ban.

Obama offering up major concessions with no reciprocation, what do you know? Legitimizing and offering an economic lifeline to oppressive regimes is practically a hobby for him.

Exactly what concessions were you hoping for? See, they don't especially need us. It would benefit them in some ways to open relations with the United States, but frankly, exposing command economy citizens to a sudden influx of Western goods proved to be problematic for the former U.S.S.R. and the rest of the Soviet Bloc, and I'm sure that the Castro brothers are well aware of the potential downside. This economic lifeline could prove culturally and politically volatile.

Frankly, the best chance that the island has for any sort of advance in civil and political liberties lies in exposure to Western economies and ideas, and not isolation from them. The embargo was not only useless, it was likely counterproductive, harming the very people it was meant to eventually save, and giving Castro a Goliath against whom he could cast himself as David. This has been evident for decades. However, in a triumph of pettiness over practicality, we kept it going, a relic of a former time, outmoded and useless even before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I'm disappointed that Obama wants to normalize relations with Cuba, but hopefully the US congress won't see it fit to lift the embargo for now. Cubans are Republican anyways, so Democrats must not be worried about their vote if they intend to move forward on this.

Slightly less than 70% of Cuban-Americans favor opening diplomatic relations with Cuba and lifting the travel ban.

Obama offering up major concessions with no reciprocation, what do you know? Legitimizing and offering an economic lifeline to oppressive regimes is practically a hobby for him.

Exactly what concessions were you hoping for? See, they don't especially need us. It would benefit them in some ways to open relations with the United States, but frankly, exposing command economy citizens to a sudden influx of Western goods proved to be problematic for the former U.S.S.R. and the rest of the Soviet Bloc, and I'm sure that the Castro brothers are well aware of the potential downside. This economic lifeline could prove culturally and politically volatile.

Frankly, the best chance that the island has for any sort of advance in civil and political liberties lies in exposure to Western economies and ideas, and not isolation from them. The embargo was not only useless, it was likely counterproductive, harming the very people it was meant to eventually save, and giving Castro a Goliath against whom he could cast himself as David. This has been evident for decades. However, in a triumph of pettiness over practicality, we kept it going, a relic of a former time, outmoded and useless even before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The other problem hinges in our perception in Latin America. After the Cold War, we kinda had to give kudos to Cuba for being a rebel, whether we wanted or not

[Kubra]

Obama offering up major concessions with no reciprocation, what do you know? Legitimizing and offering an economic lifeline to oppressive regimes is practically a hobby for him.

No reciprocation? Ya'll yanks have def never had authentic cuban Havana Club. It's one of the better rums at the $30.00 mark.

[Kelinfort]

The Foreign policy enacted towards Cuba has been a complete failure. We need a change of approach.

[Calimera II]

The Foreign policy enacted towards Cuba has been a complete failure. We need a change of approach.

I agree.

[Fortschritte]

The Foreign policy enacted towards Cuba has been a complete failure. We need a change of approach.

Hey, it hasn't failed completely. Thanks to the embargo, young American patriots won't be corrupted by communist...err...cigars. Yeah, we're protecting our youngsters from Cuban cigars.

[Iwassoclose]

The Foreign policy enacted towards Cuba has been a complete failure. We need a change of approach.

I agree.

Cultural and economic assimilation is the next step.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

The Foreign policy enacted towards Cuba has been a complete failure. We need a change of approach.

Hey, it hasn't failed completely. Thanks to the embargo, young American patriots won't be corrupted by communist...err...cigars. Yeah, we're protecting our youngsters from Cuban cigars.

And rum! Communist rum! Red rum! And those of us who saw The Shining know what red rum really means!

[Calimera II]

I agree.

Cultural and economic assimilation is the next step.

I hope so. I dislike Castro, I hope he opens the country.

[Parhe]

Stupid question, but what would happen to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base? I imagine Cuba would still have beef with America holding it.

[United Marxist Nations]

Hey, it hasn't failed completely. Thanks to the embargo, young American patriots won't be corrupted by communist...err...cigars. Yeah, we're protecting our youngsters from Cuban cigars.

And rum! Communist rum! Red rum! And those of us who saw The Shining know what red rum really means!

Can't let them contaminate our precious bodily fluids.

[Greed and Death]

I'm disappointed that Obama wants to normalize relations with Cuba, but hopefully the US congress won't see it fit to lift the embargo for now. Cubans are Republican anyways, so Democrats must not be worried about their vote if they intend to move forward on this.

Slightly less than 70% of Cuban-Americans favor opening diplomatic relations with Cuba and lifting the travel ban.

There is a big question of does it affect their votes. We do know those who favor keeping the restrictions do vote on it as an overriding issue.

It is why gun control flounders, those for gun control normally have other concerns on their risk that are higher up, those against gun control vote on it as an overriding issue.

[Informationland]

I'm happy that America's warriors in Congress will mantain the embargo on Cuba.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I'm happy that America's warriors in Congress will mantain the embargo on Cuba.

It's not only the U.S who was thinking about it. Seems geopolitically, Raul also benefits from the embargo himself. If you don't have American goods, services and ideas flowing in you can keep control of the people.

But, you know, good job America at shooting your own foot again.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Slightly less than 70% of Cuban-Americans favor opening diplomatic relations with Cuba and lifting the travel ban.

There is a big question of does it affect their votes. We do know those who favor keeping the restrictions do vote on it as an overriding issue.

It is why gun control flounders, those for gun control normally have other concerns on their risk that are higher up, those against gun control vote on it as an overriding issue.

Valid points. I'm simply saying that Cubans don't march lockstep on this issue. Whether or not that translates into votes is another matter entirely. I think that we can safely say that it's not the political suicide that it would have been just a few years ago.

[Informationland]

I'm happy that America's warriors in Congress will mantain the embargo on Cuba.

It's not only the U.S who was thinking about it. Seems geopolitically, Raul also benefits from the embargo himself. If you don't have American goods, services and ideas flowing in you can keep control of the people.

But, you know, good job America at shooting your own foot again.

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

[United Marxist Nations]

It's not only the U.S who was thinking about it. Seems geopolitically, Raul also benefits from the embargo himself. If you don't have American goods, services and ideas flowing in you can keep control of the people.

But, you know, good job America at shooting your own foot again.

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

Then why have embargo, since it obviously doesn't affect them.

[Informationland]

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

Then why have embargo, since it obviously doesn't affect them.

The embargo is entirely Cuba's fault. The embargo would end if Cuba became a democratic country.

[Fortschritte]

It's not only the U.S who was thinking about it. Seems geopolitically, Raul also benefits from the embargo himself. If you don't have American goods, services and ideas flowing in you can keep control of the people.

But, you know, good job America at shooting your own foot again.

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

Yes, they would. It would allow new ideas to flow in. Furthermore, economic growth from American trade would cause people to demand more rights, particularly economic and political rights. It happens frequently in history, and Cuba will not be an exception.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

It's not only the U.S who was thinking about it. Seems geopolitically, Raul also benefits from the embargo himself. If you don't have American goods, services and ideas flowing in you can keep control of the people.

But, you know, good job America at shooting your own foot again.

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

That's not what an exchange of ideas is supposed to do for starters. By exchanging ideas the goal is for Cubans to see that our country is better and that they should emulate it.

If it is democracy, please, we already trade with China and Vietnam, who are quasi-dictatorships. The democratic shtick can only be repeated so much before it is empty.

[Informationland]

Cuba wouldn't be any more democratic if they had access to American goods.

That's not what an exchange of ideas is supposed to do for starters. By exchanging ideas the goal is for Cubans to see that our country is better and that they should emulate it.

If it is democracy, please, we already trade with China and Vietnam, who are quasi-dictatorships. The democratic shtick can only be repeated so much before it is empty.

These countries haven't been liberated by America nor they are in America's backyard. Furthermore, they have significant markets and natural resources, America would be harmed if it did not trade with them. Cuba, not really.

[Sex Nation]

In my cynical way of looking at things, what i see here is a supremely intelligent way for Obama to screw Republicans.

- If they derail the process, they lose latino votes, since a lot of cuban descendants want the normalisation.

- If they agree to go along with Obama's plan, they lose latino votes, since many cuban refugees really want the embargo.

It's a republican no-win scenario. Very well played.

[Nazi Flower Power]

This is great. Nice to see something positive in the news for once.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

That's not what an exchange of ideas is supposed to do for starters. By exchanging ideas the goal is for Cubans to see that our country is better and that they should emulate it.

If it is democracy, please, we already trade with China and Vietnam, who are quasi-dictatorships. The democratic shtick can only be repeated so much before it is empty.

These countries haven't been liberated by America nor they are in America's backyard. Furthermore, they have significant markets and natural resources, America would be harmed if it did not trade with them. Cuba, not really.

Jingoism is a dead doctrine. Get with the times.

Also, they are key to the security in the hemisphere precisely because they're so close. Do you honestly believe our enemies would sit all across he world when they can just befriend Castro and be right in our backyard?

[Soldati Senza Confini]

This is great. Nice to see something positive in the news for once.

This is more controversial than positive...