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 ...
As it stands now, its 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.
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.
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.
Dah comrade hussein.
LLS
The Cuban embargo hasnt overthrown the Cuban government despite being almost fifty years old. I suspect that it might be time to try something new. Lets end the embargo and give our neighbors a taste of the riches of capitalism. In short order, then, I suspect well be hearing Adios, Fidel! Adios, Ramon!
___________
I agree
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....”
That’s cool. Now Sean Penn can help shoot at our troops on Guantanimo, and no one will be the wiser...
Not to the Miami Cubans whose dads and uncles got put up against the wall or stripped of their property.
Well, there was bound to be one or two things he would do that I would agree with......it only took over two months...
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.
Fine. And behold the silence of the media lambs when Castro fails to free his own citizens to travel outside Cuber.
“This is a good idea. The travel ban on Cuba is absurd.”
I agree...
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.
**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.
But version 2.0 is worse, much worse.
F the travel, just, bring in the cigars, how, else, are they going to pay for SCHIP!
You went to Cuba?
How did you get there?
What did you see?
Any thoughts in general about your trip?
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.
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.
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.