Posted on 02/22/2009 1:19:55 PM PST by Abathar
The U.S. policy of shunning communist Cuba by imposing a strict trade embargo has failed to prod the island nation toward democracy and should be re-evaluated, according to the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"We must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests," wrote Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., in a report dated Monday.
The report lends new weight to a bipartisan view in Congress that RaDul Castro's rise to power has opened a window for U.S.-Cuban relations.
President Obama has promised a fresh look at the U.S. policy. He says he would be open to meeting with Castro, who took over as Cuba's president for his ailing brother, Fidel. Obama also supports easing limitations on the number of visits and the amount of money sent to Cuba by family members in the U.S.
But like his predecessor, George W. Bush, Obama has said he believes the embargo provides important leverage with the country's leaders.
Lugar's suggestion that the U.S. rethink that position was included in an assessment of U.S.-Cuban relations written by his senior staffer, Carl Meacham, who traveled to Cuba in January. The report was scheduled to be distributed this week among Lugar's Senate colleagues.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
In all honesty, outside of winning the good graces and votes of the Cuban exiles in the USA, why do we have an embargo on Cuba? China and Cuba are pretty much the same type of country, yet we have full relations with China and not Cuba.
Time get out a can of RINO-B-Gone
Lugar the Lunatic.
Obama’s republican buddy. It figures
wrong
Why?
Castro hasn’t rethought his policies in 50 years!
So, who is more responsible for the suffering of the Cuban people?
How did the exiled Cubans vote in the last election?
Lugar is one of the many reasons the Republicrat Party sunk.
Agreed, his support of Barry is the last straw for me and the last time I vote for him. Him and Bayh are a disgusting couple trying to hoodwink Hoosiers.
I have been to China and I have been to a certain Caribbean nation not far from the American shore.
The conditions and freedoms for the people of that Caribbean nation are no worse than they are for the people in China.
If we can trade with China we can trade with all nations in our hemisphere.
Because Cuba provided arms and training for guerrillas during the Civil Wars in Central America. In other words, Cuba was training terrorists. But I guess that this administration seems adamant about making friends with terrorist havens like Iran and Syria. Ditto for this rino from Indiana.
That's the thing. Up until Florida went blue in 2008, no politician who called for ending the embargo against Cuba won Florida. Obama was able to win Florida without having to support the embargo.
Me personally, I just see no real practical reason to continue the embargo especially since we have full relations with "worse" countries.
I think it’s the Cuban government who needs to rethink their policy.
Obama will be having the Castro Brothers to the White House within 2 years
Probably because the Bay of Pigs fiasco got the Democratic Party’s panties in a wad.
Change parties or LEAVE Already, Lugar!
At least Bayh is what he runs as, you get what you voted for. Lugar has been entrenched too long and forgets the people who put him in there like clockwork are his boss.
We here in our county are trying desperately to get a conservative to run against him that can break the name recognition impulse lever pullers and kick his butt out.
China helped North Korea during the Korean War. They also helped the North Vietnamese regime during the Vietnam War.
Washeimer’s Disease: Republicans who stay in Washington DC long enough eventually become Democrats.
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