Obama Administration Continues to Loosen Rules Regarding Cuba
EmailJake Tapper and Kirit Radia report: The White House announced Friday afternoon that it would further ease travel and other restrictions regarding Cuba.
President Obama directed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to:
- ease travel to Cuba for religious groups and students;
- allows more remittances – up to $2,000 a year — to flow to non-Communists in Cuba; and
- allow all US international airports to offer charter flights.
Currently only airports in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami offer such charter flights.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, said in a statement that the “changes undermine U.S. foreign policy and security objectives and will bring economic benefits to the Cuban regime.”
Said Ros-Lehtinen, “Loosening these regulations will not help foster a pro-democracy environment in Cuba. 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.”
Freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also voiced opposition to the changes, saying the “weaken U.S. policy towards Cuba.”
Rubio, born in Miami to Cuban-born parents who fled for the US following Fidel Castro’s takeover, said what needs to change are "the Cuban regime's repressive policies towards the independent press and labor unions, its imprisonment of political prisoners and constant harassment of citizens with dissenting views, and its refusal to allow free multi-party elections. 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.”
But Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, President of Cuban American National Foundation, applauded the move, saying the changes “will help to break the chains of dependency that the Castro regime has traditionally used to oppress those inside Cuba….These measures do not represent a concession to the Castro regime, but rather form part of a continuing series of unilateral measures that the US is taking which demonstrate a concern for the well-being of ordinary folks.”
Hernandez suggested that increased travel will “foster fraternal bonds among ordinary people that those in power in Cuba's totalitarian system will have difficulty in controlling.” Change in Cuba will come because of “these same ordinary people inside the island. The more we can do to promote their self-reliance, their knowledge of the realities of the outside world, and their independence from the Castro regime, the better are their prospects for democratic change."
President Obama began easing restrictions regarding Cuba in April 2009, reversing the course set by President George W. Bush.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll from April 2009 found 55 percent support for ending all travel restrictions to Cuba, 57 percent support for ending the trade embargo, and 66 percent support for establishing diplomatic relations. (Read more on that poll HERE.)
- Jake Tapper and Kirit Radia
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Fellow travelers.
Posted by: nat turner | January 14, 2011, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
Decades of isolation have only allowed the continuation and consolidation of power. Open dialog and exchange between US citizens and Cubans will do far more to foster change. It is not only about time, it is far past time.
Posted by: sb | January 14, 2011, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
So everybody trades and benefts from Cuba, except the US. We are only punishing ourselves to gain favor with a shrinking minority of partisans…
How many US Presidents has the man outlived… You think the “intelligence community” would learn something by now.
Posted by: CBA | January 14, 2011, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Go to Florida. Visit Little Cuba. Go to Key West and stand 90 miles from one of the most beautiful countries in the world. What benefit is there in continuing a plan that hasn’t worked?
Posted by: ELOC | January 14, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
I just want to know when we can get the cigars again.
Posted by: Smokey | January 14, 2011, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Long over due. Expose the Cuban people to freedom and they will free themselves.
Posted by: Frank | January 14, 2011, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Add me to the chorus that believes this could begin the change that is needed to overthrow Castro.
Posted by: secondlook | January 14, 2011, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
My concern is that I read Fidel Castro plotted with Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela and other radical rulers to send drugs to America, illegally to weaken the U.S young students and harm the future of America to bring it down. Our leaders should be careful liberalizing too much.
Posted by: Moderate American | January 15, 2011, 1:51 am 1:51 am
Whatever you may feel about whether relaxing the travel ban will reward Castro or help bring about the end of Cuban repression, it is unarguable that keeping the ban in place is a gross abuse and limitation on the ability of U.S. citizens’ right to travel….a right that virtually all other nations enjoy. Isn’t a bit absurd that those in the “land of the free” have for so long been denied their rights as a result of the unending battle for Florida votes.
Posted by: Bill McLaughlin | January 15, 2011, 2:10 am 2:10 am
Does the article disclose the reason the “White House” (curiously not the president) decided to looses travel restrictions to Cuba? Get the president on record!!!!!!!!
Posted by: s | January 15, 2011, 5:40 am 5:40 am
“- allows more remittances – up to $2,000 a year — to flow to non-Communists in Cuba;”
The Communist Cuban government is bankrupt. It will collapse unless it is fed dollars. Stop feeding it and it will collapse. Then the Cuban people will once again have the opportunity for liberty, self governance, and economic success.
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 15, 2011, 7:04 am 7:04 am
How many of these right-wing idiots complain when the ships are off-loaded from China? That happens to be the biggest Communist country in the world. The have a human rights record that is much worse than Cuba. Yet, they are a cherished trading partner.
Posted by: Lee | January 15, 2011, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Moderate American wrote “My concern is that I read Fidel Castro plotted with Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela and other radical rulers to send drugs to America….” — More drugs have flowed into this country through the CIA than through Castro and Chavez….
Posted by: Lee | January 15, 2011, 7:54 am 7:54 am
,Frank, you stated, “expose the cuban people to freedom and they will free themselves”. Nice sentiment, but niaively wrong. Why do I think your bumper sticker slogan wont work? Well simply because the cuban people ARE exposed to freedom daily. Free people from many free nations visit cuba. Ca.ada, France, Germany, and Brazil, Venezuela, jhst to name a few. Do you think that the USA is the only country that can show cubans freedom? Or is it that you just like blaming us for the world’s ills? The USA does not hold the key to cubas freedom…think of JFK and his Bay of Pigs. Castros downfall lies in the hands of the russian government. As has been shown, when russia stopped the mo.ey flow that propped up tbe castro brothers, their power was quickly diminisbef. Sadly, it seems that chaves and some middle eastern nations are replacing the funding
Posted by: Ncpilot15 | January 15, 2011, 8:01 am 8:01 am
Lee, why do you cry about only the “right wing idiots” when you bring up political issues like trading with cuba a.d china? Just because it gives you a chance to stomp you foot childishly? Wake up, junior…your cherished left wing geniuses have been in charge of trade practices for almost 5 years. Yet you continue the vitriolic rants. And you were one of the first to blame “hate speech” for the Az tragedy. Shame on you.
Posted by: Ncpilot15 | January 15, 2011, 8:09 am 8:09 am
US Debt Just Passes $14 Trillion – Yes, We Can.
Posted by: young_voter | January 15, 2011, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
Is this going to change Cuba? I don’t think so. It is another move in the wrong direction. Cuba could have changed all these years, if Cubans wanted it.
Posted by: kottaras | January 15, 2011, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
“Cuba could have changed all these years, if Cubans wanted it.”
Sure they could. The Cuban people love Castro’s secret police (SDE), just like the East Germans loved the STASI. Why would Cubans want to change a worker’s paradise when it functions so well?
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 16, 2011, 8:24 am 8:24 am
The Communist Cuban government is bankrupt. It will collapse unless it is fed dollars. Stop feeding it and it will collapse. Then the Cuban people will once again have the opportunity for liberty, self governance, and economic success.
I totally agree with this comment its not the people that need helping its the governing bodies that need fixing
Posted by: vwt4 | January 16, 2011, 11:05 am 11:05 am
“Lee”…don’t let black and white thinkers (like NC Pilot) who constanly refer and resort to the failed “confrontational policies” of the past deter you from posting your more progresive and positive thoughts. I agree…you give the people (of the middle class) an opportunity to have things and do bertter…then watch the “old guard” fall from within. Besides…they would make an ideal trading partner at a time when we could use one to help stimulatye our economy. I have said this for years. Whenever the GOP is in power…you will NEVER get any rational debate on this issue…because of the large base iof “right wing Cubans” in Florida.
Posted by: CND FOX | January 16, 2011, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
It will absolutely change Cuba to have Americans relatives visiting them.
Right now, Cuban people are isolated and needy.
Opening the country up to a friendly relationship will offer people a view of what life could be like….
Nevermind that there are millions of Cubans in the US, many of them Catholic, who would like to provide relief and support for the families they left behind.
If people thought about the decision, it would make more sense to them. They don’t have to draw the same conclusion. They just have to look at how it might be good for the US and good for the Cuban people to do something positive at a time when Cuba is on the brink of historic change.
Otherwise, it’s just the same sort of baseless criticism…. T-Shirts at the pep rally! Obama is a Communist! He’s born in Kenya.
Some people just hate the Democrats. And they see anything good about Obama as a threat to their petty partisan agenda. What’s new?
They did the same thing when Clinton was in office.
Posted by: buzzo | January 16, 2011, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
mi question is the new laws is for all the cubans people,wan visiting the family outside of cuba too?.so yoani sanchez,the lady of whites,farinas,and all the cubans dissidents will get visa ,to fly ouside of cuba to. elio esquivel,expolitical cuban prissioner.
Posted by: elio esquivel | January 16, 2011, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Cuban terrorist Luis Posada is on trial this week in El Paso, not for his terror campaign against the Cuban people, but for immigration violations.
Its long past time for the US to stop coddling terrorists.
Posted by: Flash Override | January 16, 2011, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
“Opening the country up to a friendly relationship will offer people a view of what life could be like….”
Ridding the Cubans of an oppressive dictatorship and allowing them liberty to visit other countries freely, would be a better way to five them a view of the world. They are like animals in a zoo.
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 17, 2011, 6:16 am 6:16 am
If Obama was serious about helping Cuba change for the better, he’d get rid of the silly wet-foot-dry-foot policy. Keep the dissidents in Cuba so that they can get angry and get in the face of the political machine there. If Carter hadn’t allowed Mariel, Cuba would be free by now.
Posted by: Noz | January 17, 2011, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Is Obama switching from ciggies to cigars?
Posted by: Bo, PWD | January 17, 2011, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
“Opening the country up to a friendly relationship will offer people a view of what life could be like….”
If you have never visited or lived in a country that has a communist dictatorship, you may not understand the dynamic of the secret police (SDE in Cuba) or how the political informant system operates. Foreign visitors are closely watched, as are the people they visit. Go to Cuba and start extolling the values of freedom elsewhere to the Cubans you meet and chances are your friendly conversations will result in the hauling off of your new friends for questioning at the local SDE facility. Cuban prisons are full of political prisoners, enemies of the state.
Posted by: Sigmonde | January 18, 2011, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
You really think Cubans don’t know how it is here, the freedoms? Think again. They come by the hundreds and thousands each year crossing the ocean on makeshift boats. Their not stupid, they know what America is like. They think this is paradise that’s why they risk their lives. My cousin risked her and her daughters’ lives 5 years ago on such a boat, as did another relative of mine 2 years ago. This will not crush the regime as the people are divided and have lost hope. The only hope they have is leaving or depending on relatives in the US to send them money, medicine, clothes, etc. This would be better for us to send them stuff and visit them but in no way will it help them crush the regime. Many have tried and failed, it’s impossible. As someone said, if they really wanted to they would have already. Their stripped of everything you can imagine. Only to be imprisoned, tortured, and/or killed if they protest. So most don’t. And if the U.S. really wanted to bring their “democracy” to Cuba like they did for Iraq supposedly, they would have already, decades ago but they haven’t. It’s not in their interest to do so.
Posted by: Shani | January 20, 2011, 5:45 am 5:45 am
The embargo hasn’t worked. Afer 50 years the regime is still intact and still oppressive to its people. If anything it has helped Castro for he uses it as an excuse for the failed economic policies, political oppression, and lack of free speech. It is time for a different approach. Rubio doesn’t care for the cuban people at all. He only cares about being considered a hard line republican.
Posted by: camille | January 28, 2011, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
Also, anybody that claims that cuba could have changed if only the cubans had wanted it to change is irresponsible, naive and cruel. Cuba is an island, isolated, and the control that the government has over the population is almost 100%. It is extremely easy for armchair americans who are spoiled when it comes to freedom and democracy to demand from cubans to rise up and martyr themselves.
Posted by: camille | January 28, 2011, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm