Obama Restores Ties With Cuba

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 07:59:13 PM EST
Tags: Cuba (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

After 50 years, the U.S. has restored ties with Cuba.

After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies in each other's countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.

The two leaders made the announcement in simultaneous televised speeches. The Vatican and Canada facilitated the deal.

Obama is also calling for an end to the embargo. Republicans aren't happy with that and Congressional approval is necessary to lift it. There was also a prisoner exchange: [More...]

Cuba is also releasing an intelligence agent who spied for the United States and was held for nearly 20 years, and the United States in return freed three Cuban intelligence agents held in the United States.

Alan Gross arrived in the U.S. today. John Kerry met with him at Andrews Airforce Base.

< Spending Bill Denies Funding for Federal Medical Marijuana Raids in Approved States | Obama Issues Pardons and Commutations >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Obama Restores Ties With Cuba | 43 comments (43 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

The embargo has not been lifted, (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by fishcamp on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 08:26:10 PM EST

but it is lifting. It's difficult for we Americans to understand the pure hate that Marco Rubio and the domino playing Cuban's in Little Havana, hold in their hearts. I'm sad they and their people lost everything back in 1958, but progress is being made due to the efforts of Obama, the Pope, Castro, and amazingly, Canada. I applaud all of them for their forward thinking. Hopefully the many problems will be overcome. Viva los Estados Unidos y Cuba tambien.

How auspicious was our discussion ... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 08:55:55 PM EST

... of not too long ago on this very subject?

I'm actually excited to see the final vestiges of the former Cold War crumble away with today's announcement. This is a good day for everyone, save for that loud little handful of bitter hatemongers in South Florida. But at this point, who cares what they think?

Dogs bark, the caravan passes.


Weird thing is that they've moved on... (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 10:37:47 PM EST

Two or three generations have grown up here. How many would go back if they could? How many of those were the large ranch and sugar plantation owners? Not many, according to John F. Kennedy:

At the beginning of 1959 United States companies owned about 40 percent of the Cuban sugar lands--almost all the cattle ranches--90 percent of the mines and mineral concessions--80 percent of the utilities--practically all the oil industry--and supplied two-thirds of Cuba's imports.

Kennedy to Jean Daniel, October 24, 1963:

I believe that there is no country in the world including any and all the countries under colonial domination, where economic colonization, humiliation and exploitation were worse than in Cuba, in part owing to my country's policies during the Batista regime. I approved the proclamation which Fidel Castro made in the Sierra Maestra, when he justifiably called for justice and especially yearned to rid Cuba of corruption. I will even go further: to some extent it is as though Batista was the incarnation of a number of sins on the part of the United States. Now we shall have to pay for those sins. In the matter of the Batista regime, I am in agreement with the first Cuban revolutionaries. That is perfectly clear.

from the Wikipedia entry on Batista

One month later, Kennedy was dead.


: Former assets are never returned (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by sj on Fri Dec 19, 2014 at 12:58:31 PM EST

Ask the Palestinians or Native Americans. I don't understand why some Cuban refugees think that would ever happen. I understand them being aggrieved. Truly. But those assets are lost.

Quite a few of my NJ catholic school peers (none / 0) (#6)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 08:52:36 PM EST

were sons and daughters of Cuban emigres from around the time of the revolution. Their parents were friends of my parents. Conversations among the emigres after a few cocktails often got spirited. I think we Americans should be able to understand the hate that some hold toward Castro and Guevara, etc.


: In case it's not clear, I very much welcome the (none / 0) (#8)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 08:56:57 PM EST

idea of normalized relations between our two countries.

Anyone see if there is anything in US-Cuba deal (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Peter G on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 09:27:18 PM EST

about the status of U.S. revolutionary fugitives of the '70s who have had sanctuary in Cuba, such as Assata Shakur/Joanne Chesimard?

N.J. authorities hope thaw in Cuba relations (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 09:36:24 PM EST

N.J. authorities hope thaw in Cuba relations will aid capture of cop killer Joanne Chesimard

What a fantastic coincidence... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 10:41:23 PM EST

She was added to the FBI's most wanted list just about 18 months ago. After 40 years.

When did talks begin? About 18 months ago.


Sorry, (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 10:41:55 PM EST

here's the link.


I'll bet that's a return to the Ten Most list, (none / 0) (#27)
by Peter G on Thu Dec 18, 2014 at 11:32:40 AM EST

not a first appearance. In fact, it looks like this is some other ("most wanted terrorists") list, not the traditional "Ten Most Wanted." I can't imagine she wasn't on Most Wanted list for a least a while after the Black Liberation Army (and some white supporters) busted her out of a New Jersey prison, from which she disappeared to Cuba.


: Here's our answer: (none / 0) (#43)
by Mr Natural on Mon Dec 22, 2014 at 07:11:05 PM EST

Cuba says it has a right to grant asylum to US fugitives

HAVANA (AP) -- Cuba said Monday that it has a right to grant asylum to U.S. fugitives, the clearest sign yet that the communist government has no intention of extraditing America's most-wanted woman despite the warming of bilateral ties.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has urged President Barack Obama to demand the return of fugitive Joanne Chesimard before restoring full relations under a historic detente announced by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro last week.
Chesimard was granted asylum by Fidel Castro after she escaped from the prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973 during a gunbattle after being stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike.

While I very much support (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by Slado on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 10:37:01 PM EST

this change in policy nothing has really changed other then we will now have diplomatic relations with Cuba and alter our travel policy.

If we get no change out of our show of good faith to the Cuban government then it will not matter. The regime will use the influx of cash to strengthen its hold on power and we'll get nothing more then an exotic place to travel.

While many on here are quick to snark at the Rubios's of the world I'd ask them to keep in mind that their true motivation is political freedom for the Cuban people and reductions in the human rights abuses purpotrated on the people by the regime. What we disagree on is how to get there. In my view the policy of isolation has failed by every measure and while hawks are correct to point out softening our policies gives away leverage I would only say what did that leverage get us before? 50 years of nothing.

So will we use new embargo negotiations to foster real changeover. in the government? Will we offer aid to the regime is to s to remain in if they agree to a free press, Internet service, an economy were the people are paid fairly for their work instead of the state using the money to optess it's people?

So many possibilities become real because of Obama taking this bold first step. Now what? This is his moment. Just doing what Europe does isn't enough. To make a difference to the people of Cuba we have to engage this regime and use our economical influence to push it down a reformist path.

What I think many don't consider is the regimes main goal is to remain in power. If it doesn't change that mindset then we can do whatever we want but it won't mak a differencez

I am not sure that is the true (5.00 / 1) (#33)
by caseyOR on Thu Dec 18, 2014 at 01:45:38 PM EST

motivation for all of them, Slado. Rubio, for example, is hardly a beacon for the human rights of people here in the U.S. and in other places around the world. I have never heard him speak out against the torture regime of Bush/Cheney or our indiscriminate use of drones. Apparently, if he is concerned about political freedom and human rights abuses, that concern does not extend beyond the borders of Cuba.

I think the anger on the part of some, mainly old-timers, in the Cuban-American community has more to do with the huge upheaval in their lives that was the result of the Revolution. They left their homes and their businesses and everything they had behind.


: Listening to the reaction (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by Slado on Thu Dec 18, 2014 at 06:44:58 PM EST

From people like Rubio and activists today I get the feeling that their biggest fear is that the regime even without the Castro's will remain in power thanks to this deal. I agree with them. I also think they would have staid in power either way and if left completely isolated would have slowly discended towards a state of dispare like North Korea. People keep saying that once their dead it will all change. How? The military and party are in place and all those powerful elite will be higly motivated to keep it going. I doubt they will just turn over the keys the day after the last Castro is gone.
Meaning even with our move the best we can hope for is a slow transition to a modern communist state like we see in China or Vietnam. This for them is not an acceptable option. They feel that at the least Cuba could become a social democracy but thinking on it I just don't see it. Why? Because unfortunately for the people of Cuba the reality is they've been living for the last 57 years under a pure tyrannical oppressive old school Communist government. Not a military dictator or a king but an all encompassing suppression of individual rights and freedoms. I think it important for supporters of this shift to acknowledge the reality of the regime and stop pretending it isn't exactly what it is. If we want to really help the people of Cuba we should use our new influence to improve the human rights conditions of the Cuban people. Just pumping money into the country with no strings will not give any real reforms.
But for the Rubios's of the world I would think our last few years would have taught us democracies are hard to start and I just don't think this country is ready for an election the day after a collapse and the leaders take their money and flee to Switzerland or Malta.
There is absolutely no social structure for the mechanisms of democracy. The State controls every aspect of daily life. No media, no economic freedom and the constant fear of a police state. Remove the state and you have nothing. Good or bad. We all know what happens when such a vacuum is created. Not good.
So what to do? I am unfortunately of the opinion that we're probably just going to have to live with the Cuba that becomes a reforming Communist state. Still not a free country but at least not a tyrannical communist state were you live in constant fear of your neighbor.
As we've seen in China it's not perfect but capitalism and free trade create a better society for the average person and while the government is still not anything we could live with its better overall for the average person.
The die hards to me do in fact have noble ambitions, just unrealistic ones.

What about cigars? (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Repack Rider on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 11:13:37 PM EST

Any change in availability?

A friend wants to know.

Cubanos continue to be available via (none / 0) (#21)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Dec 17, 2014 at 11:39:10 PM EST

Canada and Mexico. I do love me some Ramón Allones.
