From the email today:
Yesterday, after more than 50 years, we began to change America’s relationship with the people of Cuba.
We are recognizing the struggle and sacrifice of the Cuban people, both in the U.S. and in Cuba, and ending an outdated approach that has failed to advance U.S. interests for decades. In doing so, we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries.
I was born in 1961, just over two years after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba, and just as the U.S. severed diplomatic relations with that country.
Our complicated relationship with this nation played out over the course of my lifetime — against the backdrop of the Cold War, with our steadfast opposition to communism in the foreground. Year after year, an ideological and economic barrier hardened between us.
That previous approach failed to promote change, and it’s failed to empower or engage the Cuban people. It’s time to cut loose the shackles of the past and reach for a new and better future with this country.
I want you to know exactly what our new approach will mean.
First, I have instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations that have been severed since 1961. Going forward, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana, and high-ranking officials will once again visit Cuba.
Second, I have also instructed Secretary Kerry to review Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism — a review guided by the facts and the law. At a time when we are focused on threats from ISIL and al Qaeda, a nation that meets our conditions and renounces terrorism should not face such a sanction.
Third, we’ll take steps to increase travel, commerce, and the flow of information to — and from — Cuba. These steps will make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba. They will make it easier for Americans to conduct authorized trade with Cuba, including exports of food, medicine, and medical products to Cuba. And they will facilitate increased telecommunications connections between our two countries: American businesses will be able to sell goods that enable Cubans to communicate with the United States and other countries.
Learn more about the steps we’re taking to change our policy.
These changes don’t constitute a reward or a concession to Cuba. We are making them because it will spur change among the people of Cuba, and that is our main objective.
Change is hard — especially so when we carry the heavy weight of history on our shoulders.
Our country is cutting that burden loose to reach for a better future.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
I was just out of college when Castro took over and started slaughtering people with Che in charge. A bunch of Cubans, doctors, professors located in Milwaukee and were my customers. They helped me with Nixon campaign. They related the murderous thugs that the Castros were and how they slaughtered people like all good commies. Is this what the Cuban people want? Do not think so but has anyone asked? How many millions did mao and Stalin slaughter? All good commies do that.
And the state GOP is responsible, Walker in the lead, for between 500 and 700 unnecessary deaths of WI citizens every year in refusing to set up an healthcare insurance exchange and accept the Federal Funds. How many more citizens are being robbed by Walker’s political ambitions to the tune of medical and insurance premium costs being nearly $1M dollars a day in this state. How many people is Walker and DNR Sec Stepp subjecting to life-long respiratory illness through deliberate ignorance of regulating mining and industrial farm caused water pollution. Death is death, slow murder or instant murder by, “government,” and you prefer the torturous route. I don’t prefer either route of terrorists.
Nice to know your entire political career was spent enabling liars and cheats, Bobby. Congratu-fu*king-lations for your life long contributions to the betterment of society.
correction sorry… $1M a day more that they need to be.
So you are against Wisconsin taxpayers paying and having paid for Scooter and Becky the K, and WEDC’s former member Ryan Murry tripping on over to China for who knows what in the way of trade deals to sell out WI resources or jobs of WI workers?
Those commies that you hate, yet not a peep from you on those, “trade junkets,” with nothing that I’ve seen reported to date, as ANY benefits for the state of WI?
Maybe with your insider connections you can drop a link as to what benefits we as citizens here may have gain or may be able to look forward to. Fill us in Bobby?
[Dohnal} My good friend
s, for thesecondthird time in our history, aBritish Prime MinisterAmerican President has returned fromGermanyIraqAfghanistanCuba bringing peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.And besides, it’s apparently national appeasement week!
-Nemo, long time engineer, first time plagiarizer.
Yes, look out for the expected and predictable influx of exploding cigars.
This was a move in anticipation of next years passage of Obombya’s signature career legislation, (and expected dues to achieve his retirement insurance plan, $300K per future speaking engagement, ala Clinton) the TPP. Also, just think how much closer it is for US manufacturing to off-shore what is left of it in here the states.
To the likely surprise of some, Obama, taking this action to begin normalization of relationships with Cuba is imho, one positive action, so far, in his presidency.
C’mon, nq, it’s the XMAS season; be generous!
Bill and Hill couldn’t do SINGLE PAYER, but AT LEAST Obama did ACA PP with the insurance companies eliminating precondition denial, covering family up to 26 yrs, and other good things. Obama is in an unique ex prez club with historic greats’ FDR and LBJ.
One compliment in six years is not enough, Duane? Unfortunately my take above (Dec 19, 9:50am) is more to the point of what the USA wishes for Cuba. A much better explanation of the likely consequences of “improving,” relationships with Cuba can be read at the link, and I don’t see things as necessarily better for Cuban citizens. We can hope the Castros and their successors can stop the onslaught of US dollars undermining what has been good for Cubans to this point.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/12/19/us-cuba-rapprochement/