We as Americans are rightfully glad that our fellow citizen, Alan Gross, has been released by Cuban authorities and has now returned home. This is great news for Mr. Gross and his family, given his unjust five-year imprisonment.
However, like many Americans, I question not only the President’s decision to release the Cuban agents in our custody, but also his decision to normalize relations with the Cuban regime at this time.
Make no mistake – the people of Cuba are not free nor has there been any softening by the Castro brothers on human rights issues. Cuban citizens still live with the haunting fear of unjust imprisonment based on the political views they might hold or espouse. Any attempt to normalize relations with the Cuban regime must be conditioned upon real humanitarian, political and social reform for the betterment of the Cuban people. It’s clear the Administration has received no such commitment from the Castro regime.
Make no mistake – the people of Cuba are not free nor has there been any softening by the Castro brothers on human rights issues. Cuban citizens still live with the haunting fear of unjust imprisonment based on the political views they might hold or espouse. Any attempt to normalize relations with the Cuban regime must be conditioned upon real humanitarian, political and social reform for the betterment of the Cuban people. It’s clear the Administration has received no such commitment from the Castro regime.
The President’s action will have repercussions and Members of Congress will be heard on this issue. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I anticipate that there will be an amendment offered to prohibit taxpayer dollars from being spent on the construction or acquisition of any sort of embassy facility in Cuba. If offered, that amendment will have my support.
Charlie Dent's criticism is relatively restrained, compared to the rants of his Republican colleagues. Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, himself a Cuban-American, is calling President Obama the “Appeaser-in-Chief.” Florida Senator Marco Rubio has branded Obama the "worst negotiator in modern U.S. history."
On the other hand, Pope Francis believes normalization is in the interest of both countries.
So do I. Maybe he'll make me a Bishop.
39 comments:
My God the Republicans whine more than than the crazy NorCo woman with the gun. They are just embarrassed that Obama is making progress despite their attempts to bring everything to a halt.
Suck it, cupcakes.
Progress in sucking up to a dictator. Obama is not happy unless he's the leadoff story on every channel. His ego knows no boundaries. Worst negotiator of all time. And worst president. Guess his REAL constituents, Cuban-Americans don't mean squat. Raul is his new idol.
Sorry Charlie, but disagree with you on this one. No idea why this wasn`t done years ago. If you want to show that Communism is dead, at least for now, let it compete with Democracies, but compete without onerous sanctions. Finally ,I wonder how we would feel if the Cubans had a military base in Florida, like we do in their country. Time to open the doors in both countries.
This is one of those rare occasions where I disagree with Charlie on foreign policy. I think it is in our own national security interest to make Cuba an ally instead of an enemy.
This is way overdo. Hell, even JFK had a backdoor diplomat in Cuba the weekend he was assassinated. The idea of "pretending" this is not a country and a threat to the US is about as relevant as Hammer harem pants.
Of course reading Good Time Charlie's statement is like what I heard from Ted Cruz. These guys are all sent the standard talking points s and they just rattle on. Cruz even compared this to the Bay of Pigs. And they wonder why they won't have a credible Presidential nominee.
Of course it has to always end with six years of Obama mistakes and evil, weakness, etc. etc.
If Obama found a cure for cancer they would issue a statement condemning him for destroying the numerous cancer drug companies economies.
It is getting predictable and old, just like the basic GOP ideology.
Get your heads out of your asses and start to live in eh 21st century. This is the kind of whack-a- doddle puppet shit that will one day doom Charlie. It is only a matter of time.
I am glad we are starting a dialogue. We need to be realistic and understand that this is still a dictatorship run by the Castro family.
Cuba has traded with N.Korea and other "bad" states. We have of course tried to isolate them so their actions are not totally without reason from their perspective.
I still believe opening diplomatic relations is the start to trying to push for reforms in Cuba. Nixon believed that when he went to China. We did not condone and still don't the Chinese way of government but we live in the same world.
The US has lived with some pretty bad characters in our history and that is life. Lets talk about the Saudi justice system and their freedoms.
However, this is a start. The worse that can happen is we go back to the way it was. Maybe, with the death of Fidel within reach it could open new possibilities.
If this had been done by a Republican President Dent would be optimistically concerned but willing to give it a go. He has gone over to the Cheneyside and now just says what he is told.
I use to respect the guy but now he is just an ideological puppet.
In October 2010, Dent provide another one of his press releases suggesting he was hopeful Quaddafi death would end bloodshed in Libya. However, a few years earlier, he played a good GOPer and was silent when Bush called for diplomacy with Libya and and lifted economic sanctions. Faux News acted like a good foot soldier too. Maybe Mr. Dent can explain why the change in policy then was benefitical to the US despite Pan Am incident. I guess my point is there is an awful lot of double speak from the GOP when it comes to a multiple of issues. The lowest Congressional approval rating in recent times.
"I use to respect the guy but now he is just an ideological puppet."
...says someone who can't sign his name.
Even if you believe that it's in the US interests to open diplomatic relations with a brutal dictatorship, this isn't the way to do it.
By timing the announcement to coincide with the release of an American citizen held captive, it sends a terrible message worldwide, and puts Americans abroad in danger.
The smart (and obvious) way to have done this would have been to do the prisoner swap at one point, and a few months later announce the normalization of relation a few months later. Doing it that way would have also allowed us time to negotiate for something in exchange - such as increased freedoms for the Cuban people.
Far from Obama curing cancer, this was an opportunity missed.
The Popw cancelled a trip to Tibet, so not to offend the Chinese. Then, he advocates for normalized relations with a brutal regime in Havana. The Pope is a hypocrite and shouldn't have any influence on US foreign policy.
No longer a fan of Charlie Dent. Unfortunately, he had no opponent in the last election.
Mr. Dent's statement here is more political theater. He presents no substantive opposition to the current administration's policies. In fact his current rating at Conservative Review is 'F.'
Mr. Dent has become a tightrope walker. A mere placeholder in office. No threat to liberal decision-making.
Fred Windish
Disagree with Charlie here and agree that for the past several years he has been towing the party line. A politician must be a pragmatist not an ideologue.
Of course he does, it's the opposite viewpoint of the President.
1;20AM gets it. Suggest all gasbaggers and tea party buffoons reread it. If sanctions in p;ace for 54 years have not worked, why on earth should they continue ? Congrats to the President and the Pope and (soon to be) Bishop Bernie. Disappointed that Charlie is drinking the Cruz KoolAid.
I have been to Cuba ... A mid level diplomat told us in May 2012 that relations were still bad between the U,S, and Cuban government ... But he assured us that the Cuban people are friends of the American people. He said that things could improve if the Americans ended the Embargo, freed the Cuban 5 held in a Florida jail and left Gitmo ... Economically the U.S. Embargo had hurt the Cuban economy but so has the withdrawal of Soviet-Russian economic support which collapsed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union ... Today China and Venezuela give the Cubans economic support ... But they note that the U.S. Embargo is not 100% as there is some trade with Europe. Latin America and Canada aided and abetted by tourism ... And Tourism is welcomed in Cuba for the Cash but also presents a problem for Cuban Education as Teachers prefer the higher money as Tour guides then the salaries of the Schools they had taught in ... Despite the former Russian influence on the schools , Cuban Education is based on an earlier America model which was instituted by the American Army .
Housing stock in Cuba has the old look and some areas look run down but I might add I saw worst run down areas in some areas of the U.S.
So what are Americans looking at in attempting to normalize diplomatic and economic conditions in Cuba ... Perhaps as China's good intentions become more unreliable and more questioned... American manufacturers might transfer production from China to Cuba ... And also, in light of Russian signs of hostility ... Perhaps the Americans do want to stop Cuba from ageing to house Russian military personal again ... But that would mean that the Americans would keep Gitmo nut pay more for the rent they pay now ($1,000) which the Cuba government in the past refused to accept saying two things 1) The rent is not enough in today's economic situation and 2) The Cubans really want the Americans to leave
have been to Cuba ... A mid level diplomat told us in May 2012 that relations were still bad between the U,S, and Cuban government ... But he assured us that the Cuban people are friends of the American people. He said that things could improve if the Americans ended the Embargo, freed the Cuban 5 held in a Florida jail and left Gitmo ... Economically the U.S. Embargo had hurt the Cuban economy but so has the withdrawal of Soviet-Russian economic support which collapsed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union ... Today China and Venezuela give the Cubans economic support ... But they note that the U.S. Embargo is not 100% as there is some trade with Europe. Latin America and Canada aided and abetted by tourism ... And Tourism is welcomed in Cuba for the Cash but also presents a problem for Cuban Education as Teachers prefer the higher money as Tour guides then the salaries of the Schools they had taught in ... Despite the former Russian influence on the schools , Cuban Education is based on an earlier America model which was instituted by the American Army .
Housing stock in Cuba has the old look and some areas look run down but I might add I saw worst run down areas in some areas of the U.S.
So what are Americans looking at in attempting to normalize diplomatic and economic conditions in Cuba ... Perhaps as China's good intentions become more unreliable and more questioned... American manufacturers might transfer production from China to Cuba ... And also, in light of Russian signs of hostility ... Perhaps the Americans do want to stop Cuba from ageing to house Russian military personal again ... But that would mean that the Americans would keep Gitmo nut pay more for the rent they pay now ($1,000) which the Cuba government in the past refused to accept saying two things 1) The rent is not enough in today's economic situation and 2) The Cubans really want the Americans to leave
Dennis Pearson
I highly doubt this means the US will be leaving Gitmo for a very long time.
The Democrats just released a scathing report on the “torture” of terror detainees under the premise that by having used enhanced interrogation techniques the United States has lost our “moral standing” in the world.
Compare that with Obama’s decision to enhance our country’s relations with Cuba, and where’s the high ground there? Is it that we’re now willing to befriend brutal dictatorships?
I wonder how waterboarding (which we use when training our own troops) and the “Ice Bucket Challenge”-like techniques we used to interrogate terrorists compares with the brutal techniques and prisons used by the Castros to enslave the people of Cuba? My guess is that the treatment we gave to terror detainees would seem like a visit to a country club in comparison.
I wonder if Obama and his fellow Democrats even considered the human rights history of Cuba when making the decision to improve relations with that country? Maybe it only matters when they can somehow blame it on Bush and score political points with their base.
Generally I like Charlie Dent and believe he does the best job he can for the Lehigh Valley and have seen no reason to change horses over the years. I do HATE it when he's paying lip service to the party line...
50 years of ignoring/isolating/sanctioning a brutal dictatorship and its still a brutal dictatorship. Nothing has changed or improved. Nobody has come up with a better plan or tactic in all that time - why?
Why would anyone want to stay on that path and what does it gain for the US?
Globally, Cuba is not viewed as some sort of sinister rogue state bent on world domination. Its one of dozens of countries that have an authoritarian government that runs counter to modern thinking so I don't think the rest of the civilized world is going to look at the US as weak or unprincipaled for changing its policy on Cuba. Canada and Mexico have had "normal" relations with Cuba during this time with no ill effects.
Part of being a leader is recognizing when a plan/tactic/direction isn't working and having the courage to admit it and make changes to improve the situation.
Scott
9:45.....so you are in favor of continuing a failed policy ??
Long over due. We trade with China which is communist and has a worse human rights record. Obama is leading. Dent as he often does is falling in line and repeating the GOP talking points. Not a surprise at this point.
10:30 -
Are you talking about Obama's failed policy of appeasing dictators?
When can they (Cubans) start collecting USA welfare and unemployment checks?
" Obama is leading."
Though i disagree with Charlie on this one, Obama is no leader. He is a disgrace to the office and I will be glad when he's gone. Clear enough?
I disagree with trying to normalize anything with Cuba. All US Dollars will do is allow the Castros the economic clout to further suppress its own people.
I also disagreed with the Bush family's fascination with Vladimir Putin over the years. You see what giving legitimacy to a tyrant does for you? Just ask Ukraine how they feel about Comrade Putin.
Cuba is a terrorist police state. Its citizens are sometimes subjected to 'real' torture. The 3 spies traded for the American are convicted killers of Americans. It's government officials are corrupt, its people dirt poor.
This type of deal only serves to VALIDATE all of this.
I fully expect Obama to visit there during the coming year and be paraded around as a visiting benevolent king. Truthfully, I think Obama will be used as Cuba's next 'Sugar Daddy,'to replace a struggling Russia.
Fred Windish
Interesting how when a Republican breaks some ice (Nixon w/China, Reagan w/USSR) it is looked upon favorably. When a Dem does it its appeasement. It was telling to watch different network versions of the same story, told radically different from each other.
Especially with Dent's foreign policy interest/background, I am really disappointed in this GOP talking point laced release--to the point of already stating he will use his position on Appropriations (and related subcomms) to prevent any diplomatic facilities. GOP: anything Obama does, do the opposite. I remember when Charlie used to campaign about his ability to "work with those on the other side of the isle." He's really fallen in line more and more lately.
Look at the long view. There are differing variables, but change will slowly come as change came in China and Russia. I have long felt opening up would ultimately bring about change from within more rapidly than the past 50 years have.
Charlie is wrong on this issue. Time to move forward and try a new approach.
But it is ok for me to wear garments made In Vietnam. Being a veteran from that era that does not make me happy.
The world we live in:
The US government is guilty of torture for pouring water up the noses of animals who slaughter school children and journalists, then, demand ransom from families for the return of the bodies.
Cuba, where political dissidents are imprisoned, institutionalized, tortured with electricity and meat hooks deserves normalized relations.
The only explanation I can comprehend is to draw in Cuba, away from Russia as its economy collapses and Putin becomes more desperate and dangerous. But, our golfer-in-chief president doesn't consider Russia a threat, per Barack's mocking of Romney (i.e. "You said Russia?! The eighties called and want their foreign policy back!").
Those well-known Teabaggers at The Washington Post called Obama naive ... effing teabaggers ....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-obama-administration-extends-the-castro-regime-in-cuba-a-bailout-it-doesnt-deserve/2014/12/17/a25a15d4-860c-11e4-9534-f79a23c40e6c_story.html
Who did this? Obama! Well then it must be a communist plot by Kenyan Muslims, right?
All I want to know is what does Hannity think.
Hannity thinks the same thing as The Washington Post you dope. Darn those pesky teabaggers.
Baaaaa, you mindless lefty sheep.
I DID NOT POST 7;45 above my last post.I do not make statements like this.
I find the irony that Reagan was considered a mover for making friends with Russia and Bush was given a pass for renewed diplomacy with Libya. At least this administration is not trading arms for hostages.
Folks, does anyone find it surprising they McCain is following the GOP talking points despite supporting renewed diplomacy with Cuba when he was running for presidential nomination?
Peter, one of three people is impersonating you. All three will claim it's me bc that is what they are like. The person responsible is Tricia Mezzacappa, Henry Schaadt or the Blog Mentor. None has respect for others.
Just appearing in the news . . .
Cuba's Castro has announced employees of foreign owned companies will have 92% of their wages taken for the government.
(this is not a joke, look it up)
Just a helpful bit of news you will NOT read in the Morning Call or Express Times.
Fred Windish
Then don't work there Fred. You people are nuts.
Wow;I gatta a fan club!!I figured out Mazza-after having said 'She find Jesus: her post w/my name went out about 49 mins later.Could that mean she was home when she posted,and when the water runs the meter runs too,I don't expect anyone to get it.BAIT, and Wait.
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