I also posted this in Politics, but thought it might start a discussion here as well. news excerpt: ====== Obama to allow travel, money transfers to Cuba AP - Monday, April 13, 2009 1:49:01 PM President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The formal announcement was being made at the White House Monday afternoon, during presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs' daily briefing with reporters. The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the announcement. With the changes, Obama aims to lessen Cubans' dependence on the Castro regime, hoping that will lead them to demand progress on political freedoms, the official said. About 1.5 million Americans have relatives in Cuba. Obama had promised to take these steps as a presidential candidate. It has been known for over a week that he would announce them in advance of his attendance this weekend at a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. "There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans," Obama said in a campaign speech last May in Miami, the heart of the U.S. Cuban-American community. "It's time to let Cuban Americans see their mothers and fathers, their sisters and brothers. It's time to let Cuban American money make their families less dependent upon the Castro regime." Other steps taken Monday include expanding the things allowed in gift parcels being sent to Cuba, such as clothes, personal hygiene items, seeds, fishing gear and other personal necessities. The administration also will begin issuing licenses to allow telecommunications and other companies to provide cell and television services to people on the island, and to allow family members to pay for relatives on Cuba to get those services, the official said. __________________
I'm not sure how to feel about this. I think that allowing the family members to see each other, and all that jazz is wonderful! However, I'm not sure i like the idea of having American television stations in Cuba is such a hot idea, just because of the fact that the Americans could easily put propaganda into it making them think capitalism is the way to go. It might not happen, but with our history of trying to force our style of government (capitalist democracy) on other (mostly weaker nations), its more likely it will happen then not.
While this move is inadequate, I do at least give Obama credit for some movement in a positive direction. It won't be until the embargo is lifted, lock, stock and barrel, that we'll be able to cheer about something.
This whole thing is nothing but a role back to Clinton's policy on Cuba. The Miami mafa would never allow anything else. In fact their squealing over this.
The travel ban is still quite firmly in place for folks who don't have family there.
I do not trust the united states.
