Cuba News without Politics Hopefully

[Sailm8]

Posted without comment:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says new rules to significantly loosen the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and open up the communist island to greater American travel will go into effect Friday.

They are the next step in President Barack Obama's plan to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. They come three days after U.S. officials confirmed the release of 53 political prisoners Cuba had promised to free.

Only Congress can end the five-decade U.S. trade embargo of Cuba.

The measures include permission for Americans to use credit cards in Cuba and U.S. companies to export some technologies. Americans authorized to visit Cuba need no longer apply for special licenses.

Americans can also bring home up to $100 in alcohol and tobacco from Cuba, meaning the ban on Cuban cigars is officially over.

 

[gettinthere]

If my spanish was any good I'd consider going this spring as a journalist. But overall I'm not prepared for that venture just yet.

 

[justsomeguy]

They speak English pretty okay there.

 

[Benny17441]

The imperial powers of the 1800s France, Britain and Russia slowly eroded the Ottoman Empire and became overlords in the Middle East. A lot of the problems we now face stream from that era. In 1898 The US triggered a war with Spain and took over the possessions in the Caribbean including Cuba. Much alike what was happening in the Middle east the US was governing Cuba by proxy. That is the way things were done back then as the more powerful countries worked to preserve their interests. Mr. Batista was ruthless puppet President that was oppressing the population. This triggered the revolt led by Mr. Castro. Long story short when the US and its powerful corporations tried to maintain the same arrangement with the new leader they were baffled to find out that Mr. Castro had other ideas. We now run into the old dilemma did the egg come before the chicken or after. Was Castro a ruthless repressive leader or was he forced to act that way by the pressure brought to bear by US businesses, attacks by the CIA and trade limitations? Was he always a communist or was he pushed in that direction? Irrespective much like in the French and Bolshevik Revolutions a period of heavy repression against free speech and dissidents ensued in the Island. When Castro confiscated US property in the Island our Mr. Kennedy hit him with the Economic Embargo. There were waves of migration that settled in South Florida and the first were the wealthy ruling class associate with Batista. After came the educated from the middle class who had seen the handwriting in the wall about the coming communism. These people lost most of what they had and have continued to try and get back against the Castro Regime and Cuba itself. They see those that stayed behind as supporters of the dictator. They became American Citizens and being very politically sophisticated created a voting block in the State of Florida that was considered necessary for any Presidential hopeful to win. The Economic Embargo did not yield the desired results and is a failure and the reasons for it have ceased to exist but thae political block of Cuban Americans in South Florida continues to drive our policy towards the Island. The original generation is almost gone but the torch was passed to the new generation. This is an over simplification of what transpired but it may give you an idea of the causes and effects. The majority of Americans feels it is now time to bury the hatchet and resume relations with Cuba. It is the voice of this majority that needs to be heard by Congress to repeal that Embargo that not only has become useless but tarnishes our reputation as a world leader. My reasons for wanting the Embargo lifted besides improving our tarnished image some in Latin America would be that I would like to be able to sail there in my lifetime.

 

[Kermit]

So much for the "No Politics" aspect of this thread.

 

[woodster]

So much for the "No Politics" aspect of this thread.

hummm where's the politics Kermit..... or is history now politics ..or is all politics now history...

why am i asking a frog this question

 

[jibes138]

Cuba represents a large population of low cost labor with very attractive logistics in comparison to moving low cost products from the far east to the US consumers. Getting products built at 1.50 an hour only 90 miles away from the US is likely the driving force in this whole change of policy. We now have Vietnam, China, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, etc., etc. building our products, why would we exclude Cuba when they are in the same time zone and have minimum transportation costs?

 

[woodster]

Cuba represents a large population of low cost labor with very attractive logistics in comparison to moving low cost products from the far east to the US consumers. Getting products built at 1.50 an hour only 90 miles away from the US is likely the driving force in this whole change of policy. We now have Vietnam, China, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, etc., etc. building our products, why would we exclude Cuba when they are in the same time zone and have minimum transportation costs?

I knew it.... I knew it...its again all about the money..... but you can't have money with out confusion and corruption

 

[rgranger]

I knew it.... I knew it...its again all about the money..... but you can't have money with out confusion and corruption

Okay but.... when can we start SAILING there? What is the port of entry? Do you need to have an exit stamp from U.S. before you go? And is it safe?

 

[woodster]

Okay but.... Do you need to have an exit stamp from U.S. before you go? And is it safe?

that's the part about confusion and corruption

 

[rgranger]

that's the part about confusion and corruption

... believe me.... I know all about confusion.... still working on corruption:dance:

 

[jibes138]

Maybe you can sail right into Guantanamo Bay since it is a US territory you may not even need a passport. You might be able to get a tour of the prison.

 

[Terry in Naples]

The handwriting is on the wall. We will soon be handing Guantanamo bay back to Cuba. Wait and see.