U.S. and Cuba seek to normalize relations

[Bosonic]

Source: CBC

American officials say the U.S. and Cuba will start talks to normalize full diplomatic relations as part of the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades.

Officials say the U.S. is also looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months. The moves are part of an agreement between the U.S. and Cuba that also includes the release of American Alan Gross and three Cubans jailed in Florida for spying.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said the agreement includes normalizing banking and trade ties with Cuba.

U.S. President Barack Obama was due to make a statement at noon ET on Cuba, the White House said, and U.S. official said Obama would announce a shift in Cuba policy. Cuban President Raul Castro was also set to make a statement at that time. CBCNews.ca will carry Obama's remarks live.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-and-cuba-seek-to-normalize-relations-1.2876088

[hack89]

1. Great news. nt

[flamingdem]

2. Hooray! This is a B.F.D.!!!!!

Que viva Cuba!

[msanthrope]

3. Cuba. He's gonna do Cuba. nt

[underpants]

4. I am surprised that Castro has lasted this long but I knew Obama would end up doing this

The time has come. Good for us.

[KingCharlemagne]

24. Um, the current president of Cuba is Raul Castro, Fidel's brother. Fidel

relinquished control a couple years ago.

[underpants]

34. What I meant was that he is still alive

When Obama first got elected I thought the timing would be that he would be President when Castro died. I also assumed that though normalization had to happen at some point it wouldn't happen until Castro was gone. Between US hard liners and the lack of anyone having enough nerve to stand up to them I just couldn't see normalization happening. I am glad Obama is making this move before his term is over.

[KingCharlemagne]

35. Me too. Normalization of relations with Cuba should have begun when the

USSR dissolved, imo. But I'm really glad it is happening now.

[heaven05]

5. GOOD!!!!!

Fuck the RW war mongering torturers and their 'fellow travelers'....their heads are going to explode..

[former9thward]

6. Great news.

I visited the island once in 1995. Very beautiful. Hope things are normalized quickly.

[bahrbearian]

8. I was wondering what it would be like to retire to Cuba, $ wise.

[former9thward]

11. Until things are normalized it is hard to tell.

There are restrictions on what type of stores foreigners can go to and things like that. No restrictions on travel when I was there. I could go anyplace on the island I wanted. Generally most Central American nations have cheap living expenses.

[flamingdem]

12. It's hard to say because right now it's very tough for Americans to live there

but in the future I imagine half of Miami will have retirements spots picked out.

Right now you'd have to leave every two months but that's only if you went illegally through a third country to begin with. Many fly to Cancun for the day to be able to re-enter and keep living there for another two months.

Rents to foreigners are about say $900 a month and food is not much cheaper than in the US unless you want to eat like a Cuban. Health care would be with foreigner clinics .. but you could fly to Miami. That will be the best change for any would be retireees.

It might be a great place to retire but remember that for now there is much poverty. Less crime though than other Caribbean islands and much more wonderful culture and a fascinating, friendly society.

[Scuba]

7. Way overdue, and a very good thing. Thank you President Obama and SOS Kerry.

[Newsjock]

9. Well played, Mr. Obama

This is going to drive a wedge right down the middle of the GOP. Few things delight me more than the sight of wingnut heads exploding under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve.

[bigworld]

10. I'm headed there next month!

Should be interesting... and maybe even legal!

[Paladin]

13. Outstanding! (nt)

[Fred Sanders]

14. That darned Obama, about time he did something progressive, am I right?

Watching the right wing hair ablaze yet again warms my heart.

Mr. President, where do I sign up to get you nominated for a third term?

Has CNN switched from their marathon coverage of the no longer breaking news of the Bloody Siege of Syndey long enough to take notice and prepare their GOP sock puppets for some good old fashioned outrage and the usual lies?

By the way, it can not be a siege if the bad guy is the one in the building, unless you mean the cops were doing the bloody "siege", and unless you mean less than a day when you mean "siege".

Never let a good click bait term go to waste.

[jwirr]

15. Long past due. Hopefully that doesn't mean that our corporations move in to take over. They are

not doing so good here.

[Fred Sanders]

17. Canada and Europe already have all the good business opportunities and the good will locked up.

The main attraction for Cuba for international tourists was no American tourists...all good things must come to an end, folks, try to be nice to them, share a Bud in Havana.

[Dustlawyer]

28. That's what is driving this, corporations cannot wait. Only some RW heads will explode,

the rest will be told by their Donors to quietly support it.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

16. The good news will be if I can make Havana Club mojitos

The better news will be when the Bacardis can return home.

[underpants]

36. Ooooh Christmas in Cuba

My wife fell in love with mojitos on our one trip to Key West.

[Xolodno]

54. I had a mojito made from Havana Club...

...when I was in Cancun. Never since.

[cosmicone]

18. Fantastic news

Throw the Miami cubans under the bus ... Marco Rubio under the double wheel in the back ....

[Sunlei]

19. Nice to see President Os 2009 Cuba statements turn into policy!

[vlyons]

20. Rubio's and Cruz's heads explode!

Well after 50+ years of a policy that accomplished nothing but suffering for Cubans, it's about time. Pope Francis helped broker this deal. I love this Pope. Just shows that peace is more powerful hate, vengence, and war.

So how long before Donald Trump opens a casino, ala The Godfather Part II?

[Fred Sanders]

23. Can his pappy now fly planes for Cuba again?

[project_bluebook]

21. This is decades overdue

The US imposed iron curtain should come down.

[Enthusiast]

22. This proves that Obama is a commie!

[ForgoTheConsequence]

25. Quick, someone build a Walmart in Havana!

Enjoy your new found freedom Cuba.

[pampango]

26. "In a deal negotiated during 18 months of secret talks

hosted largely by Canada and encouraged by Pope Francis, who hosted a final meeting at the Vatican, President Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba agreed in a telephone call to put aside decades of hostility to find a new relationship between the United States and the island nation just 90 miles off the American coast."

Mr. Obama spoke with Mr. Castro by telephone on Tuesday to finalize the agreement in a call that lasted more than 45 minutes, the first direct contact between the leaders of the two countries in more than 50 years, American officials said.

Officials said they would re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between the two governments within months. Mr. Obama will send an assistant secretary of state to Havana next month to lead an American delegation to the next round of talks on Cuban-American migration. The United States will also begin working with Cuba on issues like counternarcotics, environmental protection and human trafficking.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/world/americas/us-cuba-relations.html

[ReRe]

27. Sen Jeff Flake...

... just told Andrea Mitchell that we need "to stop letting Cuba dictate our policy." WTF does that mean? Did anyone know that Cuba has been dictating policy to the USA?

[BooScout]

29. This is History in the making....

This is probably the biggest change in policy in my lifetime. Great news!

[Paper Roses]

30. About time, this embargo has gone too long! n/t

[Little Star]

44. Ditto

[bemildred]

31. US Global Aid Chief to Resign; Oversaw Secret Cuba Programs

The head of the nation's global development agency said Wednesday he will step down from his post in February, following an announcement by the U.S. government that it would start talks toward restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Rajiv Shah, the administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, gave no public reason for leaving the agency he's led since 2000. In a statement released Wednesday morning, he said he had "mixed emotions" but did not elaborate.

Shah's announcement also came hours before U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday that USAID contractor Alan Gross was freed from a Cuban prison. He was arrested in December 2009 and later sentenced to 15 years after Cuban authorities said he tried to smuggle illegal technology into the country.

USAID, under Shah, drew intense criticism from some U.S. lawmakers and the Cuban government for its Cuba programs. An AP investigation this year revealed the agency ? with the help of another Washington-based contractor ? created a Twitter-like service, staged a health workshop to recruit activists and infiltrated the island's hip-hop community.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-international-aid-head-step-27658448

[bemildred]

32. AP Interview: McConnell cool to Obama’s Cuba move

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is criticizing the Obama administration’s plans to normalize ties with Cuba.

McConnell says he defers to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American from Florida, on the issue because he says Rubio is an expert on U.S.-Cuban matters.

Rubio has said that the administration’s approach will help the Castro government while doing nothing to further human rights and democracy.

McConnell says he won’t differ with Rubio because he says Rubio is an expert on Cuban matters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/ap-interview-mcconnell-cool-to-obamas-cuba-move/2014/12/17/ff9a5e0e-860f-11e4-abcf-5a3d7b3b20b8_story.html

[Algernon Moncrieff]

43. I understand Senator Rubio's concerns

However, I'd point out the following:

1) We've tried embargo and isolation for 50 years. It hasn't worked.
2) Time is working against the Castro brothers, not for them.
3) We're not in a position to lecture anyone on human rights (#Ferguson # ICan'tBreath #TortureReport)
4) It's a good move for American agriculture
5) We've fought a war and subsequently normalized relations with Vietnam in the in the period between the Castro revolution and today.
6) Cuba has its faults, but it's not Iran and it's not North Korea

If nothing else, the time has come to talk to Cuba and engage them.

[kydo]

33. Crazy Awesome!

[riverbendviewgal]

37. Cuba has some of the World's most beautiful beaches

and it has beautiful people.

I fear that the corruption will come back. I can see the casino vultures coming.

[oldandhappy]

38. Yes! Good job Mr. President.

Yippee. I want to go!

[joanbarnes]

39. All my life, I wondered why we had to be 'enemies' with Cuba? Because CASTRO!

Maybe now we can import real cane sugar, stop force-feeding our kids corn syrup and achieve better health, and use corn for other purposes.

[LibertyLover]

40. Rubio is already whining

that this will make the country less safe because um, ah, terror. I imagine that Calgary Cruz will appear on Fox to denounce Obama's attempt to normalize relations too. Hey Teddy boy, maybe your dad can go back and visit some of his old compadres from the Revolution.

[tclambert]

41. But, but the sanctions were gonna start working any day now!

It's only been 54 years. Ya gotta give 'em a chance. Surely Cuba would have given it all up soon, by next Tuesday afternoon at the latest. Round about 2, 2:30.

[inanna]

42. White House does not rule out Cuba visit by Obama (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama does not have concrete plans to visit Cuba after restoring diplomatic relations with Havana, but a White House spokesman said on Wednesday he would not rule out a presidential visit.

"If there is an opportunity for the president to visit, I'm sure he wouldn't turn it down," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.

Earnest acknowledged that a future U.S. president could reverse Obama's new policies on Cuba, but said the White House hoped that Congress would take steps to completely lift the U.S. embargo before Obama leaves office.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-does-not-rule-cuba-visit-obama-193032918.html

[bemildred]

45. Statement by President of Cuba Raul Castro on US-Cuba Links

Fellow countrymen,

Since my election as President of the State Council and Council of Ministers I have reiterated in many occasions our willingness to hold a respectful dialogue with the United States on the basis of sovereign equality, in order to deal reciprocally with a wide variety of topics without detriment to the national independence and self-determination of our people.

This stance was conveyed to the US Government both publicly and privately by Comrade Fidel on several occasions during our long standing struggle, stating the willingness to discuss and solve our differences without renouncing any of our principles.

The heroic Cuban people, in the wake of serious dangers, aggressions, adversities and sacrifices has proven to be faithful and will continue to be faithful to our ideals of independence and social justice. Strongly united throughout these 56 years of Revolution, we have kept our unswerving loyalty to those who died in defense of our principles since the beginning of our independence wars in 1868.

Today, despite the difficulties, we have embarked on the task of updating our economic model in order to build a prosperous and sustainable Socialism.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3377991&Itemid=1

[Little Star]

46. Changes in coming weeks, months.....

The two countries are expected in the coming weeks to negotiate an agreement to lead both countries to opening embassies in each other's capitals.

Obama said business and travel ties will be launched, but that he will have to negotiate with the U.S. Congress over ending the country's economic blockade against Cuba.

Also, the U.S. Treasury said in the coming weeks that financial sanctions on Cuba will be amended. And the U.S. will unfreeze U.S. bank accounts of Cubans who no longer live in Cuba, the White House said.

Obama has also asked Secretary of State John Kerry to review Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. "This review will be guided by the facts and the law," he said. "A nation that meets our conditions and renounces the use of terrorism should not face this sanction.''

Kerry said that he would travel to Cuba at some point in the future. "I look forward to being the first Secretary of State in 60 years to visit Cuba," Kerry said in a statement.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Roberta Jacobson will travel to Cuba in January to discuss the renewal of diplomatic relations, he added.

"As we did with Vietnam, changing our relationship with Cuba will require an
investment of time, energy and resources," Kerry said.

In the coming months the U.S. will also work with Cuba on such issues as migration, counternarcotics, human trafficking and the environment.
http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-cuba-releases-american-alan-gross/2562509.html

I am so happy PBO is doing this. It's about time we moved on! Oh yeah, screw Rubio.

[yurbud]

47. I'm glad to hear it. I disagree with a lot of what Obama does, but I give him his props here.

[bemildred]

48. He is very good at politics.

He has a remarkable propensity to wrong-foot his enemies. This is a great example.

[yurbud]

55. it would be nice if he capitalized on that ability for the benefit of the rest of us.

[bemildred]

49. Charles Pierce explains:

As politics, of course, it's completely brilliant. Fresh off the Triumph Of The Morons, the Republicans now have two major freak-outs in their base that will do nothing except inflame the implacable Right, and thereby cripple the party's ability to reach out to the new Hispanic voters it claims it wants to attract. The president has dressed Mitch McConnell and John Boehner in meat suits and sent them to feed the wolverines. This is extraordinarily well-played. . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016109243

[jakeXT]

50. Bush signs order lifting sanctions on Libya

Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Posted: 0812 GMT (1612 HKT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Monday signed an executive order lifting the remaining U.S. commercial sanctions against Libya after determining the African nation has met all of the U.S. requirements for eliminating its programs on weapons of mass destruction, CNN has learned.

The order went into effect Tuesday.

In December Bush announced an agreement between the United States, Britain and Libya for Libya to give up its WMD programs in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and better relations with the international community.

Bush had promised that Libya's actions would be responded to in "good faith" by the United States.

Since then, Libya has declared all of its nuclear and chemical weapons programs and embarked on a three-phase disarmament program in which the United States and Britain removed the majority of WMD material, about 1,032 metric tons, from the country.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/09/20/libya.sanctions/index.html?_s=PM:WORLD

[Yavin4]

51. Getting a look at their cars will fascinate us

They've kept them running for decades in good condition. Can't wait for a documentary or someone to take a long look.

[KinMd]

52. Fidel is 88 and Raul is 83

regime change is coming soon one way or the other.

[gwheezie]

53. Historic.

This will improve relations with all Latin American countries.