BREAKING: Obama to annoucne policy-reversal wrt Cuba

[Thanas]

Speeches made by both Obama and Castro at the same time will start in two minutes.

Apprently the embargo will be significantly loosened.

[Zaune]

Well it's about bloody time.

[Patroklos]

Something I can get behind. Hopefully Congress follows suite. I can't see a political reason not too, even the Cuban expats are largely down with this now.

The easiest way to flush out the last remnants of Fidel's system is to expose it to American investment and tourists. The national security aspect of embargo (whether you think it was warranted or not) died with the USSR.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Excellent. I've always wanted to go to Havana.

[SCRawl]

There is a flourishing Cuban cigar import industry near the Canada-US border that will probably have to find something else to do. On balance, though, this is good news.

[Joun_Lord]

Good. This is long overdue and should help freedomize the shit out of any last remnants of bad shit down there.

Also means there will be no more bitching when rich friends of politicians get passes to go down there which is always a good thing.

I guess this situation is the reason for Alan Gross being released.

[Thanas]

I guess this situation is the reason for Alan Gross being released.

...yes, as Obama said so in the speech. Obama exchanged three Cuban agents in exchange for Gross and a high level Cuban traitor who according to Obama handed the USA at one point their network in the US and who had been imprisoned for over two decades.

[Broomstick]

About goddamned time.

[TheHammer]

Of course many prominent Republicans are decrying this as the "End of the world as we know it". So I wouldn't expect Congress to do anything to better this, but on the flip side they can't really do much to stop it either.

[K. A. Pital]

End of the Cuban embargo is long overdue.

[Ralin]

Wow, I think I was just talking to a friend about how the embargo was stupid and likely to continue indefinitely.

I thought Castro was retired?

[SCRawl]

Wow, I think I was just talking to a friend about how the embargo was stupid and likely to continue indefinitely.

I thought Castro was retired?

His brother took over. Happened a while ago.

[montypython]

Wow, I think I was just talking to a friend about how the embargo was stupid and likely to continue indefinitely.

I thought Castro was retired?

Raul Castro been the leader since Fidel retired. In any event this could open up the market for vehicle restorationists looking for 50's era cars.

[Irbis]

The easiest way to flush out the last remnants of Fidel's system is to expose it to American investment and tourists. The national security aspect of embargo (whether you think it was warranted or not) died with the USSR.

Tourists? Last I heard, the plan is for easier business visas, tourist travel ban stays. Once again, big money proves it's the only thing that matters in politics these days.

Funny thing is, if you wanted Cuba to like USA more, best course was to do reverse, allow tourism while still halting business. Now, my bet is Cuba will get all the problems China has with outsource exploitation and little to no benefits.

[The Romulan Republic]

Wow.

Looks like Obama showed some balls for a change.

[SCRawl]

We could hope that the next two years would be best described as "Let Obama be Obama". Assuming the "real" Obama is what we're really hoping for.

[Lord MJ]

We could hope that the next two years would be best described as "Let Obama be Obama". Assuming the "real" Obama is what we're really hoping for.

One would hope. Too bad that he waited until the GOP controlled both houses of Congress. Also even if Obama is planning on being more strong in dealing with the Republicans, he still is far to beholden to big money corporate interests for my tastes. But then again, it's almost impossible to be President and not be beholden to big money corporate interests these days.

[Flagg]

End of the Cuban embargo is long overdue.

Yes, and it still is, unfortunately. Embargo needs to be repealed by congress. I wouldn't hold my breath, but you never know.

[The Romulan Republic]

End of the Cuban embargo is long overdue.

Yes, and it still is, unfortunately. Embargo needs to be repealed by congress. I wouldn't hold my breath, but you never know.

If Obama is supporting something, its almost a given that the Republican-dominated Congress will oppose it, especially if its seen as backing down to communists.

[Ralin]

Wow, I think I was just talking to a friend about how the embargo was stupid and likely to continue indefinitely.

I thought Castro was retired?

Raul Castro been the leader since Fidel retired. In any event this could open up the market for vehicle restorationists looking for 50's era cars.

Oh, doh.

Yeah, I knew that, I just still read "by both Obama and Castro" as Fidel. Dumb of me.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Good. This is long overdue and should help freedomize the shit out of any last remnants of bad shit down there.

Also means there will be no more bitching when rich friends of politicians get passes to go down there which is always a good thing.

I guess this situation is the reason for Alan Gross being released.

The last time the American government held sway over Cuba, it was a cesspool of mafia gangsterism etc. Granted that was a long time ago, but seriously? This freedomization nonsense tripe has really ought to stop, or are American conservatives really this juvenile?

[Broomstick]

They're really that juvenile.

[The Romulan Republic]

If only being juvenile was the worst of their problems.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

If only being juvenile was the worst of their problems.

Yes. And I am getting a strong sense that there's another Iraqi war just waiting to happen again. The war fatigue is over. Just a few beheadings and the mainstream media and politicians all get worked up.

[Adam Reynolds]

The last time the American government held sway over Cuba, it was a cesspool of mafia gangsterism etc. Granted that was a long time ago, but seriously? This freedomization nonsense tripe has really ought to stop, or are American conservatives really this juvenile?

In many ways this is what is wrong with how America remembers WW2 and the Cold War, which still dominates our perspective on foreign policy. That the world stage is a battle between good and evil. Because we were good then, we must still be good now. If only Imperial stormtroopers followed this logic.

If only being juvenile was the worst of their problems.

I would say that this is among the biggest problems because of what it leads to, lack of compromise. This is actually the largest current problem in modern American politics, that nothing gets done because everyone is so concerned with staying in office that they fail to vote of anything of value.

Yes. And I am getting a strong sense that there's another Iraqi war just waiting to happen again. The war fatigue is over. Just a few beheadings and the mainstream media and politicians all get worked up.

The Iraq war actually never ended, the US military simply changed from boots on the ground to advisers to constant air attacks. that worked beautifully the last time it was tried. Transitioning from Bush's foreign policy back to Clinton's/Obama's. Anything is fine as long as no Americans die, with special operations forces and air strikes preferred as they have less political risk while still allowing the President to appear to be tough in domestic politics. This is obviously not to say that either Bush did better.