(Reuters) - The United States and Cuba agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago, and President Barack Obama called for an end to the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy.
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's call for an end to the economic embargo drew resistance from Republicans who will control both houses of Congress from January and who oppose normal relations with the communist-run island.
Obama said he was ending what he called a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba that had failed to achieve change on the island.
His administration's policy shift includes an opening to more commerce in some areas, allowing use of U.S. credit and debit cards, increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans and allowing export of telecommunications devices and services.
More at reuters.com
6 comments:
I agree. Open borders to trade and travel will aid in efforts to defuse the 50-year stalemate. american businesses can now open up shop in Cuba, and all the bigwigs can now get Cuban cigars legally.
LOL.
What the hell did we ever have to fear from Cuba? The Russian missiles? They were a big joke and a massive bluff.
The Cuban embargo was the result of three overgrown egos in a shoving contest: Kennedy, Castro and the shoe-banging Russian Khrushchev, all of whom are now dead and gone.
It's past time to undo the mess those three created.
Maybe now a bunch of Florida's
Cuban boat people can go back home.
Bob - Great! I was expecting to catch a lot of flak over this post from my more conservative blogging buddies.
I'm not much of a cigar smoker, but I tried some Cuban cigars in Mexico, they were real good.
Maybe you will, but - sooner or later - we gotta start using our heads in dealing with our neighbors. Embargoes, military strikes, invasions and occupations, all that crap will eventually make the rest of the entire world hate our guts and do us in.
I don't know what Obama's objectives are since all he wants to do is destroy white America. But this tactic may backfire on him and his white haters because the Cuban people have always loved and admired America.
I hope things ease up...
Bob - I agree, we need to run our country the way smart people run their lives.
You get nowhere fast bullying people into doing what you want.
We need to make friends, buy sell trade in a mutually beneficial way.
BBC - You and me both.
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