President Obama announced the full restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba today, ending a 54 year freeze between the two countries. The United States will be opening an embassy in Havana and Cuba will be opening their embassy in Washington, D.C. Both countries announced their intention to convert their missions--or interest sections--in each country to embassies.
This can be done without the approval of Congress, but they can make life difficult for President Obama. It is unlikely that the Republican Senate will confirm anyone that President Obama nominates to be the Ambassador to Cuba, so he will have to appoint one on an interim basis until the next election.
I honestly don't understand why Republicans are still trying to fight the Cold War, but someone needs to tell them that it's over. If we can restore full diplomatic relations with Vietnam and have a relationship with Communist China than we should be able to do the same with an island that is 90 miles away from our border.
This is what the Obama Doctrine looks like. Engaging with the world instead of conducting cowboy foreign diplomacy is good for America and good for the world.
lonely bird Wrote: About frigging time.
jaredsxtn Wrote:President Obama announced the full restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba today, ending a 54 year freeze between the two countries. The United States will be opening an embassy in Havana and Cuba will be opening their embassy in Washington, D.C. Both countries announced their intention to convert their missions--or interest sections--in each country to embassies.This can be done without the approval of Congress, but they can make life difficult for President Obama. It is unlikely that the Republican Senate will confirm anyone that President Obama nominates to be the Ambassador to Cuba, so he will have to appoint one on an interim basis until the next election.I honestly don't understand why Republicans are still trying to fight the Cold War, but someone needs to tell them that it's over. If we can restore full diplomatic relations with Vietnam and have a relationship with Communist China than we should be able to do the same with an island that is 90 miles away from our border.This is what the Obama Doctrine looks like. Engaging with the world instead of conducting cowboy foreign diplomacy is good for America and good for the world.
Dutch Wrote:lonely bird Wrote: About frigging time. But a bit late; but I don't think the Cubans want US imperialism either. Sorry to say we still try to "dictate" the world on how they should live; if we don't like it then we invade or bomb it. A lot of Republicans are still brainwashed that Communism is evil, but the Koch brothers are our saviors.
The United States and Cuba opened their embassies in each country today, officially ending decades of a diplomatic freeze between the two countries. The American Embassy is now officially open in Cuba, but they are waiting to raise the American flag at the embassy until Secretary Kerry visits the country soon.
This is a good day for the United States. Being able to talk with people we disagree with is the entire point of international diplomacy and I look forward to the day that we are able to do that with every single country in the world.
TJ Wrote: Long over due. I think it will be interesting to watch. Tourism will be huge (southern). With hotels having wifi, citizens will get the spillover wifi and the curtain can be lifted. I'm wondering how long it will be before the Cuban citizens realize just how poor they are. I bet they are already building new resort hotels. Ferry service will be a big deal as well.
They're poor because of the embargo.......poor are treated way better in Cuba than in the US. There are no homeless in cuba. Education is free, healthcare is free
There aren't many resources left after that. Infact....Cuba just handed over a lung cancer vaccine to the US that not only shrinks tumors but also extends the life of the terminaly ill.
The US will have nothing to do with the infrastructure in Cuba. They already have plush resorts. Do you have any idea how cheap sugar will be if we bought from them and didnt subsidize good old C&H.???
This deal isn't what you think it is....they built a culture in Cuba that will survive long after Fidel and Raul. THEY REMEMBER HOW IT WAS DURING BAUTISTA
L.A. Citizen Wrote:TJ Wrote: Long over due. I think it will be interesting to watch. Tourism will be huge (southern). With hotels having wifi, citizens will get the spillover wifi and the curtain can be lifted. I'm wondering how long it will be before the Cuban citizens realize just how poor they are. I bet they are already building new resort hotels. Ferry service will be a big deal as well.They're poor because of the embargo.......poor are treated way better in Cuba than in the US. There are no homeless in cuba. Education is free, healthcare is freeThere aren't many resources left after that. Infact....Cuba just handed over a lung cancer vaccine to the US that not only shrinks tumors but also extends the life of the terminaly ill.The US will have nothing to do with the infrastructure in Cuba. They already have plush resorts. Do you have any idea how cheap sugar will be if we bought from them and didnt subsidize good old C&H.???This deal isn't what you think it is....they built a culture in Cuba that will survive long after Fidel and Raul. THEY REMEMBER HOW IT WAS DURING BAUTISTA
Secretary Kerry is in Cuba today and will cement the official opening of the Cuban embassy when he raises the American flag over the embassy for the first time in half a century. Kerry will then meet with Cuban officials and then separately with Cuban dissidents upset with the Cuban government.
This is a largely symbolic gesture because the two countries have already begun to normalize ties, but it is an important step in the normalization of relations.
I'll add the video of the flag raising once it's posted.
jaredsxtn Wrote:Secretary Kerry is in Cuba today and will cement the official opening of the Cuban embassy when he raises the American flag over the embassy for the first time in half a century. Kerry will then meet with Cuban officials and then separately with Cuban dissidents upset with the Cuban government.This is a largely symbolic gesture because the two countries have already begun to normalize ties, but it is an important step in the normalization of relations.I'll add the video of the flag raising once it's posted.
Dutch Wrote: Also the GOP strongly opposes the closing of the Guantanamo base and return that piece of land to Cuba. Of course when Obama got into power he promised to close that base; thus if you can chop his legs off, who is stopping you. I don't know what is wrong with this country; it becomes un-governable.
Actually Dutch it is very governable. It simply depends upon what the underlying philosophy is and how we the people are wedded to that philosophy.
May I suggest "why America failed: the roots of imperial decline" by Morris Berman?
When you have a citizenry that is basically clueless about the rest of the world, believes in magic rather than science and believes more violence is the answer to solving social issues, what can one expect?
More guns, invade any country that doesn't "submit to our needs", pollute the planet to make the 1% even more wealthy and powerful and then have the balls to say "God bless the USA"!