With Cuba trip, Obama aims to make renewed ties irreversible

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will use his historic trip to Cuba to chip away at key remaining U.S. obstacles to travel and commerce with the communist island, working to push his diplomatic relaunch past the point of no return before he leaves office.

The three-day trip to Havana beginning next weekend marks the first time a sitting president will set foot in Cuba in nearly nine decades. It also is one of Obama’s final opportunities to lock in the sharp reversal in policy toward Cuba that his administration launched. In a bid to show growing momentum, the Obama administration is preparing to further ease restrictions and greenlight projects by U.S. companies in connection with the trip, according to a half-dozen individuals familiar with the administration’s plans.

Starwood, the hotel chain whose brands include Sheraton and Westin, is expected to receive a license from the Treasury Department in the coming days to operate hotels in Cuba, following extensive conversations with both Cuban and U.S. officials. If successful, Starwood would become the first and only U.S. hotel company with operations in Cuba.

he Connecticut-based chain, which is being purchased by Marriott, is exploring numerous possibilities for Cuba that include managing the famed Hotel Saratoga in central Havana, said the individuals, who weren’t authorized to discuss the plans publicly and requested anonymity. Starwood declined to offer specifics but confirmed it has applied for a license from Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which would allow it to do business in Cuba despite congressional sanctions.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-cuba-trip-obama-aims-to-make-renewed-ties-irreversible/2016/03/11/7e621818-e7d4-11e5-a9ce-681055c7a05f_story.html

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jpak.

[central scrutinizer]

2. I just returned from a 4 week bike tour in Cuba

And this sounds like good for Marriott but no benefit to the Cuban people. There are already several expensive resorts operating, just no US ones. La Habana is already run over with tourists

[Mika]

9. Who do you think builds these projects and work at them?

Cubans.
The progressive corporate tax system pays for their health care system.
Working in just about any tourism related jobs are very desirable jobs.

"Run over with tourists."

Like you.

You don't like that Cuba has lots of tourism, then don't go on a bicycle tour there.

Jeez.

[Abouttime]

3. Obama needs to think big

Announce that he is closing Guantanamo, releasing all the prisoners and returning the land to its rightful owners, the people of Cuba. He would instantly earn his second Nobel Peace Prize and do more to end the war on terror than all the bombs dropped during his tenure.

[Ken Burch]

4. Absolutely.

We never had any need for a base on Cuban soil, and our presence there represented nothing but imperial arrogance.

[democrattotheend]

5. Can he do that unilaterally?

I thought he has been unable to close it because Congress has blocked him from doing so.

[Abouttime]

6. All Obama has to do is announce it

Once he promises to give the base back and release the prisoners the media both in the USA and worldwide will hail praise on him and America as a whole. It will be a story of healing and reconciliation that will give much needed hope to finally end the war on terror and give a big push for a solution to the Israel/Palestine situation.
Once Obama openes the jar the genie cannot be put back in.

[NYC Liberal]

7. And Republicans will still refuse to provide the funding.

Even Bernie Sanders voted against funding the closure and transfer of prisoners back in 2009.

[Major Hogwash]

8. This is great news.

I hope President Obama is successful.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Hope he will win this one over the fascist drools taking up space in the U.S. Congress.

This goal of his is something the whole world will greet with complete approval. All the human beings, that is.

The greedy, murderous right-wing will have to throw itself a pity party.

Here's hoping they can't stop him on this priceless action. It has taken a high set of principles to attempt it, knowing the hardship they will try to put in his way. The war pigs have had their dirty way far too long.