Posted on 01/16/2011 8:47:16 AM PST by Nachum
Republican lawmakers of Cuban descent sharply criticized President Obama's plans to loosen Cuban travel policy to allow students and church groups to go to the communist country, saying the changes will benefit the Castro regime while doing little for the average citizen. "Loosening these regulations will not help foster a pro-democracy environment in Cuba," said U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "These changes will not aid in ushering in respect for human rights. And they certainly will not help the Cuban people free themselves from the tyranny that engulfs them."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
People never learn.
Obama knows best. He is “The Won’.
Even old Fidel laughs at this ice cream eating dolt.
note to cuban american lawmakers, BO doesn’t care what you think.
It has been 50 years and we have accomplished nothing by this policy. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
The Soviet Empire collapsed because the Soviets were no longer able to isolate their people from the influences of the "free world" if such a world even exists anymore.
Maybe it is time to reassess this policy. I don't know, but what we have done to date hasn't accomplished squat.
castro’s buddy, chavez, is happy...
Michael Moeere is happy, happy, happy.
For indoctrination and photo ops only.
Many true Christian charity groups have been working in Cuba for years, without the blessing of the government.
I agree. As much as I hate the kenyan being president, I can’t disagree with this. Nixon went to China. We’ve been playing with Russia since WWII. Why is it we pretend Cuba doesn’t exist? One reason is the Cuban vote in Florida. Another is the sugar cane lobby.
Tourists from all over the world visit Cuba, and it hasn’t made one iota of difference.
That's another thing I don't understand. If these people loved Cuba, you'd think they'd want to have the freedom to travel there and visit with their relatives. They've been isolated for 50 years. What good has it done?
Another is the sugar cane lobby.
Not to mention the tobacco lobby (or what is left of it).
Neither has our policy of isolation. I thought we were supposed to be a free nation, yet we, as American citizens, can't travel to an island 90 miles from our border because.... ?
Well, why exactly?
We can travel to Iran and Syria and Venezuela, but we can't travel to Cuba?
Are we at war with Cuba?
Has Congress declared war? If so, then why don't we just march our Navy in there and do what we did in Panama?
No doubt they do, and the fact that they're willing to forego it is a pretty strong statement. These people have a special insight into what will help and what will hurt the Castro regime. I'm inclined to follow their lead in terms of policy.
It has been 50 Years! What "insight" do they have that the Canadians or the Brits don't? Most of these people were born here and raised here and have never set foot on Cuban soil. They have no fond memories of life under Bautista.
I'm inclined to follow their lead in terms of policy.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over and expecting different results. It hasn't worked for 50 years. It will not work if we do it another 50 years. We need to reassess our policy. Either that or just admit we are insane.
"I believe that what does need to change are the Cuban regime's repressive policies towards the independent press and labor unions, it's imprisonment of political prisoners and constant harassments of citizens with dissenting views, and its refusal to allow free multi-party elections," he added. "It is unthinkable that the administration would enable the enrichment of a Cuban regime that routinely violates the basic human rights and dignity of its people."
We need a lot more just like him in the Senate.
I’m sick of hyphens. One is either an American or one is not.
Yes, 50 years since the revolution, but not 50 years since people have lived under Castro. I used to work with a guy who got out of Cuba about 10 years ago. I haven't spoken with him recently, but my guess is he'd be incredulous that we're loosening our policy towards Cuba.
What "insight" do they have that the Canadians or the Brits don't?
Yeah, because you gain a lot of insight by vacationing for a week at a Cuban beach resort and screwing Cuban hookers. Have the Canadians or the Brits lived under Castro? Are the Canadians or the Brits in contact with relatives who live under Castro?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over and expecting different results. It hasn't worked for 50 years.
I haven't particularly been expecting the policy to lead to an overthrow of Castro, have you? The fact is that they have an entrenched regime that will not reform, and that's not going anywhere short of another revolution. But by playing hardball with the current regime, by not blinking, we are strengthening our hand with subsequent Cuban governments, who will not be so willful. The payoff will come when Castro is gone, if we don't fold now.
“I don’t see how our past policy of isolation has worked in convincing the Cuban People to overthrow the commie regime.”
You have missed the point, but it’s not your fault.
The isolationism was to cover up Kennedy’s mucking up the Cuban invasion. He mucked it up royally. He was 100% at fault for this disaster. He lost; and like a little kid, he tried to shift the focus. A little island like Cuba beat back the U.S.
Oh, and P.S. Here is some information few folks in the U.S. know. Tons and tons of food fly into Panama from merchants in the States. They are then rerouted and flown to Cuba.
Unfortunately, little if any reaches the folk on the street. I need not explain to whom it goes.
There was a small store across the street from my hotel where Cubans in good standing and foreigners could buy. They had U.S. goods although not too much (“sparse” I suppose is the word); but it was on the shelves.
Again, Kennedy sure was just another wonder of an idiot.
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