U.S., Cuba hold unannounced talks

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Three State Departmentofficials say a senior American diplomat has held unannounced, high-level talks in Havana with the Cuban government.

The officials tell The Associated Press that the talks were the first of their kind in years between representatives of the two countries.

They say State Department official Bisa Williams met with Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Dagoberto Rodriguez during a six-day trip to Cuba this month.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly confirmed Tuesday that Williams remained in Cuba after previously announced talks on restoring mail service between the U.S. and Cuba. The other officials gave details of the trip but spoke only on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss it.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33078139/ns/world_news-americas/

[flamingdem]

1. salsa! nt

[Ghost Dog]

10. That and plenty more...

I find this, for example: http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/

The Council on Hemispheric Affairs, a research center in Washington, D.C., urges Barack Obama to pursue normalized relations with Cuba even if it means taking political risks. In a piece published Monday, the council said:

President Obama has not taken any decisive steps to veer away from Washington’s benighted, near half-century trade embargo against Cuba. By refusing to take advantage of the opportunity to reject a longstanding and morally-bankrupt policy, which has achieved very few successes and which has been based on hypocrisy, double standards, and inconsistencies, President Obama has turned his back on the possibility of a new beginning for U.S. policy towards Latin America based on constructive engagement.

If Obama is to remain a worldwide emblem of hope and change, he will have to undertake the some political risk that is necessary to break with an old paralytic habit, by ushering in a new generation of Cuban-U.S. relations.

Sophia Weeks, a research associate at the council, wrote the piece.

/... http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2009/09/cuba-analyst-to-barack-obama-go-ahead.html

[flamingdem]

20. I think he's being influenced by Hillary

whose brother is married to a right wing Cuban American lawyer.

Then again, maybe it's just not numero 1 on the list right now.

[rfranklin]

2. Freepers and Cuban Americans' heads explode....

oh my God!

[flamingdem]

7. We'll just make arroz con frijoles with the remains nt

[Oldtimeralso]

3. K & R and proud to be # 5 n/t

[TommyO]

4. Hopefully one step on the way to normalizing relationships between our countries

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. K & R! I for one can't wait until we can visit their beaches

and help support their economy.

To those in opposition, please explain our continual support of China. Until you can reconcile that, you have no standing.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Wonderful! Best wishes to Bisa Williams-Manigault for her efforts during this landmark event. n/t

[Ghost Dog]

8. Cuba Asks Obama to Lift Travel Ban of U.S. Citizens

Cuba Asks Obama to Lift Travel Ban of U.S. Citizens (Update1)
By Fabiola Moura

Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez urged President Barack Obama to ease restrictions on American citizens’ travel to Cuba and end an economic blockade. “President Obama could allow American citizens, by means of a license, to travel to Cuba,” Rodriguez said today at the United Nations General Assembly. “The U.S. continues to ignore the overwhelming appeal that is launched by this General Assembly year after year to put an end to the blockade.”

...

Legislation to end a ban on Americans traveling to Cuba has enough support in the U.S. House of Representatives to win approval by yearend, Representative Sam Farr, a California Democrat, said earlier this month. The bill has 181 votes in the House and needs 218 to pass, said Farr, a co-sponsor of the legislation.

...

“The most serious and dangerous aspect about this new situation is the uncertainty about the real capacity of the present authorities in Washington to get over the political and ideological trends that threatened the world under the previous administration,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also said Cuba wants to restore bilateral relations with the U.S.

The White House is undertaking a full review of policy toward Cuba with the goal of advancing “the cause of freedom” in the country less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the coast of Florida, Daniel Restrepo, a special assistant to Obama, said in April.

/... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aHt3ur6.xKv0

[flamingdem]

11. Never hurts to ask .. nt

[Judi Lynn]

17. Thanks for the images of the principle people. Very helpful, interesting! n/t

[bemildred]

18. "Mr Obama, tear down this wall!"

What sort of commie dictatorship is that that wants to let more outsiders in? Is that how N. Korea acts? Hmmm.

[Billy Burnett]

9. My goodness! This is serious US progress into the 19th century.

What a newfangled all American concept!

There could possibly be direct mail delivery that travels a whopping 90 miles between the US and Cuba!!11!!11!!!11!1!!!!!

What will the kids think of next!.



do I need this? --> :sarcasm:

[Braulio]

12. Improving relations between USA and Cuba

Should help the Cubans quite a bit. Maybe the Cuban government will move away from their marxist line and allow Cubans to own property, and build and own regular hotels and restaurants for the tourist trade. Imagine what they can do if they were to move away from collective farms, privatize farming as is done elsewhere, and allow people to work for a living growing crops and raising farm animals for a profit. Cuba would be rich.

[Billy Burnett]

15. You really don't know anything about Cuba.

And, based on other discussions also, you've been averse to learning much about it.

Nice fantasy though. You sound like a Utopian capitalist.

[dipsydoodle]

22. It was the collective farms

which got them through. Suggest you buy watch this DVD sometime : The Power Of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

[bemildred]

13. I wonder if the "other officials" speaking anonymously are in trouble

for speaking about stuff they "weren't authorized to discuss"?

But anyway, yay for a ray of sanity and humanity.

[dipsydoodle]

23. See BBC link below

Looks as though the news has only just leaked out.

[bhikkhu]

14. Sounds like the dam may be about to burst

after a whole lot of years...it would be nice to see. Maybe they could clue us in on how to run some first-rate health care.

[Lagomorph]

16. Get me some cigars.

Cohiba Siglo IV's.

Ten boxes will do.

I like to share.

[Vidar]

19. I hope this is a step toward a lonf overdue normalization.

[dipsydoodle]

21. BBC link

A senior American diplomat held high-level talks with the Cuban government during a visit to Havana earlier this month, US officials have confirmed.

It was the highest-level contact between the two sides in years.

State department official Bisa Williams held the talks with Cuba's deputy foreign minister.

>

Earlier this month, Ms Williams, the deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, was part of a US delegation that went to Havana to discuss the possible resumption of direct postal services between the two nations.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8281756.stm

[Steerpike]

24. Let's see...

I would be pleasantly surprised if President Obama normalized relationships with Cuba. I would go a long way to reviving my Obama-Love.

[Billy Burnett]

25. Obama can't reestablish normal relations. Only congress can.

The US congress passed the Libertad Act, section 205 of the law prevents any formal normalization of relations between the US and Cuba as long as there is anyone with a last name of Castro anywhere in Cuba's government. Period.

Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (Libertad) Act of 1996 {PDF document}
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/legal/statutes/libertad.pdf

[Steerpike]

26. sounds like the repug line

Obama is powerless. Obama is marginal. Obama can't help it...Obama has no clout in the direction of the country...

I'm really sick of hearing this shit...Bush sure did ramrod his vision of america right thru...

[Billy Burnett]

27. Um... the act was passed in '96 and signed by Bill Clinton.

And where did I say Obama is powerless, Obama is marginal, Obama can't help it...Obama has no clout in the direction of the country...?

I said no such thing.



Obama's lifelong position on the sanctions was that they were ineffective and useless.

He maintained that position during his campaign until he came to Miami and addressed the CANF. Flip flop. The US sanctions stay - Cuba must bow and kiss the US ring.

But, Mr Obama does have some power ... he gave the Cuban exiles living in the US a giant wet kiss. They have been granted their full rights and are now 1st class citizens/residents - able to travel anywhere including Cuba. (And now they're going to Cuba to obtain low cost health care - while the rest of us can't.)

The rest of us have been relegated to second class status - still travel banned.

Do some looking for yourself, the US sanctions on Cuba are politically bipartisan in US politics. The Libertad Act was cosponsored and voted for by Dems.

I'm sick of this shit also.

[Steerpike]

29. so

i'm saying where is the change? i don't need a history lesson...i'm saying better start putting up...he needs to kick ass and take names...right now i'm getting a lot of exscuses....i don't need to hear what someone else did or didn't do...i need to see Obama take the lead and start dictating policy to his minions...we do not have an indefinite amount of time...Obama has squandered his mandate and let slip precious time. He could lose the presidency and we could lose the congress...and then where will the liberals be left to?

[Billy Burnett]

32. Cuba policy will have near zero impact on your concerns.

Republican't teabagging talking points ...

i don't need a history lesson

i don't need to hear what someone else did or didn't do

Thanks for playing.

[Steerpike]

33. I appreciate your point of view...

But, please understand my frustration....Many Democrats (including me) have taken a moral stand for decades that we should normalize relationships with Cuba. It's just one of those things (Like freeing leonard peltier) that have moved a great many liberals over the years.

This is not something I just made up...it is a consistent liberal stand...

[Mika]

34. You accused Billy of posting "the repug line".

And now you are agreeing with Billy.

It has been his, and my, consistent position to normalize relations with Cuba, and that is the position of a majority of Americans.

I was appalled at Mr Obama's flip flop on this when he came to Miami.

During the campaign I posted several threads w/vids of Obama's before Miami and then in Miami flip flop and then I was soundly spanked here for pointing this out.

Nonetheless, few Americans are going to base their presidential vote on US/Cuba policy, DUsers included. :(

[Steerpike]

35. ha

I was replying to billy burnett not you...

and I may have been too harsh with billy in my own frustration...

[Steerpike]

36. hmmmm

are you billy's sockpuppet?

[Mika]

38. Nope. Just defending a friend.

(Note to self: don't cut and paste posts w/o reading. :dunce: )

[Billy Burnett]

40. No need to.

And you're welcome to cut n paste my posts anytime. After all, I do yours.

If you're back in Miami, PM me. :hi:

[Steerpike]

41. well

I'm sorry for being so harsh with you. I've been here since early 2002 and I know you are one of the good guys.

[Billy Burnett]

43. It's cool.

If you're on board with normalization, then we're both aboard the same ship. :fistbump:

[Mika]

37. Yep.

Billy has been on board w/normalization for as long as anyone.

[Steerpike]

39. yes

We do agree on normalization. We may disagree on President Obama's role. I would prefer to see a more aggresive policymaker.

[Billy Burnett]

42. I would like it if Mr Obama was more aggressive on this too.

But, realistically, it is not a high priority on most of the American voter's minds.

[bemildred]

28. Isn't Castro a common name in Cuba?

That sounds like one of those "Bill of Attainder" things that are unconstitutional.

But in any case, I'm sure Obama could fix it with a "signing statement". Or he could just ignore Congress like Republican presidents do.

[bemildred]

30. Ah, it names Fidel and Raul.

Boy, that is an amazing piece of work. You can tell someone was really pissed off.

[Billy Burnett]

31. Joe Lieberman was one of the cosponsors.

He's a good friend to the CANF in Miami - and they richly reward his efforts to "free" Cuba.

Amazing, isn't it?

The US demands democracy in Cuba before normalization, but restricts the candidate list for there to be elections recognized by the USA. :crazy:

[evenso]

44. We should have normal relations with Cuba by now.