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Obama Set to Lift Ban on Travel to Cuba
Wall Street Journal ^

Posted on 04/03/2009 2:40:25 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

Obama Set to Lift Ban on Travel to Cuba

By LAURA MECKLER

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama plans to lift a longstanding U.S. ban on family travel and remittances to Cuba, a senior administration official said Friday, in what could be an opening gesture toward more openness with the Castro regime.

The move will fulfill a campaign promise and follows more modest action in Congress this year to loosen travel rules.

The president has authority to loosen these rules on his own, and the move is likely meant as a signal of a new attitude toward both Cuba and other Latin American countries that have pressed the U.S. to alter its policy.

The president does not intend to call for lifting of the trade embargo against Cuba, which would require congressional action, nor is any specific diplomatic outreach contemplated, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: agenda; bho44; bhocuba; castro; commievote; dictators; first100days
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To: Boiling Pots
No, but I spent 28 years in the Foreign Service and have a number of friends who have served in the US Interest Section in Havana.

As it stands now, it’s extremely difficult for the average American to go to Cuba.

Legally, perhaps, but many Americans go in via Canada as part of tour groups. And the USG has really not enforced the travel restriction against private Americans who violate the ban.

When you don't have formal diplomatic relations with a country, it becomes very difficult to protect your citizens when they get in trouble in the host country.

41 posted on 04/03/2009 4:14:44 PM PDT by kabar
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To: autumnraine

We all go there, bring our photos of our cars, homes and lifestyles - let the Cubans see that and it won’t be communist for long.


42 posted on 04/03/2009 4:24:13 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: kabar

This is simply not true, an Iowa school teacher was fined $60,000 last year for going in through Canada...I do agree that any government that attempts to restrict the travel of its citizens to any other place in the world is taking the first steps at limiting other freedoms...and now you know why you should be concerned about guns, speech, and rampant taxation, for examples...if we drop the travel ban, you may see the castros limit travel to cuba for americans...they are no fools and yes, it will create discontent among cubans.


43 posted on 04/03/2009 4:27:10 PM PDT by dunblak
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To: Sub-Driver

Dah comrade hussein.

LLS


44 posted on 04/03/2009 4:27:34 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (hussein will NEVER be my President... NEVER!!!)
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To: bagman

The Cuban embargo hasn’t overthrown the Cuban government despite being almost fifty years old. I suspect that it might be time to try something new. Let’s end the embargo and give our neighbors a taste of the riches of capitalism. In short order, then, I suspect we’ll be hearing “Adios, Fidel! Adios, Ramon!”
___________
I agree


45 posted on 04/03/2009 4:34:25 PM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: All

Wow that’s gonna upset some Canadians - they’re fond of shoving Cuba in the face of the people in the U.S.

“I travelled to Cuba last spring yada yada”.... like it was heaven on earth.

What dregs of a place - and their great tourist experiment hasn’t raised the level of lifestyle one bit.

“Let the Americans do it....”


46 posted on 04/03/2009 4:39:20 PM PDT by imintrouble
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To: Sub-Driver

That’s cool. Now Sean Penn can help shoot at our troops on Guantanimo, and no one will be the wiser...


47 posted on 04/03/2009 4:39:30 PM PDT by xmission (www.iwilldefendtheconstitution.com)
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To: Boiling Pots

Not to the Miami Cubans whose dads and uncles got put up against the wall or stripped of their property.


48 posted on 04/03/2009 4:41:41 PM PDT by kinghorse
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To: Sub-Driver

Well, there was bound to be one or two things he would do that I would agree with......it only took over two months...


49 posted on 04/03/2009 4:45:35 PM PDT by SW6906 (6 things you can't have too much of: sex, money, firewood, horsepower, guns and ammunition.)
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To: bagman
The Cuban embargo hasn’t overthrown the Cuban government despite being almost fifty years old. I suspect that it might is not a valid rationale.be time to try something new. Let’s end the embargo and give our neighbors a taste of the riches of capitalism. In short order, then, I suspect we’ll be hearing “Adios, Fidel! Adios, Ramon!”

You make some points about exposing them to capitalism and trying something new. But one the 1st point one could say we have haven't solved the murder problem in this country either but we don't give up. Just because the communists are still in charge doesn't argue for a position one way or the other by itself.

50 posted on 04/03/2009 4:59:56 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: Sub-Driver

Fine. And behold the silence of the media lambs when Castro fails to free his own citizens to travel outside Cuber.


51 posted on 04/03/2009 5:12:29 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Boiling Pots

“This is a good idea. The travel ban on Cuba is absurd.”

I agree...


52 posted on 04/03/2009 5:13:03 PM PDT by babygene (It seems that stupidity is the most abundant element in the universe)
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To: kinghorse

That would include members of my own family.

If that’s the standard, then no travel for Americans to any country where the Government has stolen from a current American resident or citizen.

Start with Chine, Vietnam, all the Arab world, much of Africa...

Trust me, there is no greater proponent of the travel ban/embargo than Fidel Castro himself. It has been his greatest crutch.


53 posted on 04/03/2009 5:14:25 PM PDT by Boiling Pots (The Politicians think we're all stupid, and they're largely correct.)
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To: kabar

**When you don’t have formal diplomatic relations with a country, it becomes very difficult to protect your citizens when they get in trouble in the host country.**

That may be true, but that doesn’t mean I want to take Uncle Sam with me wherever I go.

Allow people to use their judgment on where they want to go without Government interference.

A lot of people complain about Russian/Venezuelan influence in Cuba, yet won’t allow Americans to exert any influence themselves.


54 posted on 04/03/2009 5:17:15 PM PDT by Boiling Pots (The Politicians think we're all stupid, and they're largely correct.)
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To: Sub-Driver

But version 2.0 is worse, much worse.


55 posted on 04/03/2009 6:44:19 PM PDT by Baladas ((ABBHO))
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To: Sub-Driver

F the travel, just, bring in the cigars, how, else, are they going to pay for SCHIP!


56 posted on 04/03/2009 6:48:10 PM PDT by depressed in 06 (Socialism is the results when Gresham's Law is applied to politics.)
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To: Boiling Pots

You went to Cuba?

How did you get there?

What did you see?

Any thoughts in general about your trip?


57 posted on 04/03/2009 7:32:03 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: dunblak

There have been tens of thousands of Americans who have visited Cuba via Canada, Mexico, and other countries. There have not been tens of thousands of prosecutions.


58 posted on 04/03/2009 7:47:57 PM PDT by kabar
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To: Boiling Pots
In order to travel they must have a government issued document, i.e., a passport. Other countries will not let you in without it, except in certain circumstances, e.g., status of forces agreements.

If a citizen gets in trouble, he expects his government to assist him. Allowing everyone to use his/her judgment is fine if it is understood that you are on your own. The reality is that is never the case.

American travel to Cuba is not going to influence events. The Europeans and Canadians have been going there for a long time. As long as Cuba is a communist dictatorship, it will be very difficult for the people to revolt without outside assistance.

59 posted on 04/03/2009 7:55:11 PM PDT by kabar
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To: kabar

All your points may be valid, but it doesn’t trump the ability to travel freely.

I encourage every American to go to Cuba (as long as they do it legally), to see for themselves the Glory of the Revolution. It speaks for itself.

As it stands now, the US looks like a bully, and it rallies support around Castro. Tens of thousands of Americans on the Malecon in Havana will have a bigger effect than you think.


60 posted on 04/03/2009 8:12:15 PM PDT by Boiling Pots (The Politicians think we're all stupid, and they're largely correct.)
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