US / Cuba relations thawing

[Monsterdg]

Major changes to US polices on Cuba may be coming. Smoke'm if you got'em?

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/politics/cuba-alan-gross-deal/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

[Clint]

Bummer...Stock up now!

 

[danmdevries]

Skeptical but hopeful.

 

[problemsolverjc]

wow.....

 

[jfettlol]

watching the speech now. Ahhhhh!!!

 

[Argus17]

According to the speech, the embargo is still in place. The President says that only congress can lift it.

 

[daleo8803]

Well let's hope for the best and plan for the worst! Order now!! Lol

 

[ichett]

"U.S. travelers will be allowed to import up to $400 worth of goods from Cuba, including $100 in alcohol and tobacco -- even Cuban cigars."

Looks like we're legally allowed to smoke Cubans again.

 

[herfdog]

"US Travelers." You need to be allowed to get there first.

I don't quite understand. Wasn't the embargo a presidential decree? How come it requires congress to lift it? I don't quite understand foreign (US) politics, sorry.

 

[FullyArmedFISD]

I don't completely understand foreign politics either but been reading about this story all morning and here's a summary of the key developments so far.

• Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced the restoration of full relations between the United States and Cuba, a historic rapprochement will significantly open each country to the other. Obama described the changes as: “a new chapter among the nations of the Americas”. Castro said “the embargo must end”.

• Cuba released American Alan Gross from prison after nearly five years of captivity following his arrest on suspicion of espionage. Cuba also released an unidentified intelligence agent held there for more than 20 years, whom Obama called “heroic”.

• The US will return three Cubans convicted of espionage-related charges in 2001, members of the so-called Cuban Five and Wasp Network. Castro hailed the return as a fulfillment of his brother Fidel’s declaration: “they will return.”

• The diplomatic overhaul after decades of estrangement and embargo will restore an American embassy in Havana, ease travel, trade and internet restrictions, and review the US position that Cuba sponsors terror.

• Obama thanked Pope Francis for his help facilitating talks, and praised Cuba for having recently relaxed its strict economic policies and quietly cooperated in backroom talks over the past year or so.

• Alan Gross will deliver a statement at 1.30pm ET, alongside members of Congress who flew to Cuba to retrieve him. His health is in dire condition, his family and lawyer have said.

• Members of Congress have lashed out at the president for “vindicating a dictator”, and have signaled they will try to block any attempt to lift the economic embargo on Cuba. Obama requires Congress’ help to fully lift the embargo.