US To Improve Cuba Ties As Contractor Released
CNN and ABC News are reporting that USAID contractor Alan Gross, who has been held for nearly five years in Cuba, is being released in a prisoner exchange, and that the Obama Administration is moving quickly to overhaul Cuba policy and immediately improve diplomatic relations with the island nation.
This would be the most sweeping change in US-Cuban relations in a generation.
President Barack Obama is also set to announce a broad range of diplomatic and regulatory measures in what officials called the most sweeping change in U.S. policy toward Cuba since the 1961 embargo was imposed.
For a President who took office promising to engage Cuba, the move could help shape Obama’s foreign policy legacy.
“We are charting a new course toward Cuba,” a senior administration official said. “The President understood the time was right to attempt a new approach, both because of the beginnings of changes in Cuba and because of the impediment this was causing for our regional policy.”
Click here for reuse options![Gross] was working for the U.S. Agency for International Development when he was detained. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for seeking to undermine Cuba. President Raul Castro has called him a spy.
A senior Obama administration official said that Gross was released on humanitarian grounds and was on a U.S. government plane bound for the United States.
Gross’ wife, Judy, said earlier this month that her husband was “literally wasting away” in confinement and had lost more than 100 pounds and gone mostly blind in one eye. She has been critical of the Obama administration’s handling of the ordeal.
Gross’ family has said that he was bringing expanded Internet access to Cuba’s small Jewish community when he was detained.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
10 responses to US To Improve Cuba Ties As Contractor Released
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Tommy6860 December 17th, 2014 at 09:10
We should have normalized relations with Cuba decades ago. It was pointless after a time and costly to the people of Cuba and their well being. It also hurt the US economically. I know the wing-nut anti-communist forces will have their fee fees hurt if Obama does open diplomatic relations. But since these wingers have no problem supporting big corporations doing business with communist China, the irony will burn deep.
Aun Awn December 17th, 2014 at 11:17
I’m not sure how I feel. Communism anywhere in the world ends up hurting the world economically because they don’t have the same respect for property laws as capitalistic nations. There is also no question that communism has hurt the people of Cuba more than helped. But as you point out, compared to what China has done over the past few decades, Cuba is insignificant. Also, Cuba is planning to have a capitalist city like China’s Hong Kong (1 country 2 systems policy) in the future, which while not as good as the real thing is at least better than nothing.
Tommy6860 December 17th, 2014 at 10:10
We should have normalized relations with Cuba decades ago. It was pointless after a time and costly to the people of Cuba and their well being. It also hurt the US economically. I know the wing-nut anti-communist forces will have their fee fees hurt if Obama does open diplomatic relations. But since these wingers have no problem supporting big corporations doing business with communist China, the irony will burn deep.
Aun Awn December 17th, 2014 at 12:17
I’m not sure how I feel. Communism anywhere in the world ends up hurting the world economically because they don’t have the same respect for property laws as capitalistic nations. There is also no question that communism has hurt the people of Cuba more than helped. But as you point out, compared to what China has done over the past few decades, Cuba is insignificant. Also, Cuba is planning to have a capitalist city like China’s Hong Kong (1 country 2 systems policy) in the future, which while not as good as the real thing is at least better than nothing.
Anomaly 100 December 17th, 2014 at 09:11
Welcome home Mr. Gross.
Anomaly 100 December 17th, 2014 at 10:11
Welcome home Mr. Gross.
Foundryman December 17th, 2014 at 11:32
It’s about time…Cuba used to be and will be again a better ally than China will ever be..
Foundryman December 17th, 2014 at 12:32
It’s about time…Cuba used to be and will be again a better ally than China will ever be..
eyelashviper December 17th, 2014 at 11:38
The aging group of Cuban Mafiosos in Miami are going into orbit, foaming at the mouth, and wailing about their lost riches, their hopes dashed about returning to take over their long lost real estate and other goodies.
eyelashviper December 17th, 2014 at 12:38
The aging group of Cuban Mafiosos in Miami are going into orbit, foaming at the mouth, and wailing about their lost riches, their hopes dashed about returning to take over their long lost real estate and other goodies.