Bernie Sanders wants normal U.S.-Cuba relations but is fuzzy on details

[BainsBane]

Bernie Sanders knows he wants the United States to treat Cuba like any other country when it comes to diplomacy. . .
What he doesn’t know is what that relationship would look like in practice.

Asked about three specific Cuba policies — the Cuban Adjustment Act; wet-foot, dry-foot; and the immigration status of Cuban nationals convicted of state and federal crimes — Sanders said he didn’t know enough about them to opine.

“I just don’t know all of the details about that,” he said. . .

On Tuesday, Sanders declined to take a position on Colombian peace talks after he was asked about the negotiations on a Miami Colombian-American radio station.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article65064407.html#storylink=cpy

Maybe it's time to start working on that foreign policy team?

[George II]

1. ?

[Bleacher Creature]

2. Bernie Sanders wants [fill in the blank], but is fuzzy on details.

It's becoming a theme.

[NurseJackie]

41. Nailed it!

[earthside]

51. “Libya was a different kind of calculation. And we didn't lose a single person."

And maybe Sen. Sanders is smart enough not to try and get specific when it is not necessary ... unlike the other candidate.

Better a bit "fuzzy" than the "open mouth insert foot" tactic.

[peggysue2]

53. Absolutely nailed it

When you're painting in broad strokes, it's important to have paint on the brush. Otherwise the canvas is blank.

All this Cuba love but he cannot be specific on policy, hasn't read enough.

It's time for St Bernard to go back to study hall.

[beedle]

58. Obama 2008 --- fuzzy?

Are you dismissing Obama because his Foreign Policy experience was missing? Not sure if you would call his FP 'fuzzy', or would you criticize him for completely changing it once in office?

Personally I'd say his campaign FP was nothing like what he did in once in office, but then again I'm not a suck-up to Dem-personality cults.

I trust Sanders to make decisions based on staying out of wars, if that doesn't happen then I'll be criticizing him as well ... Clinton? I have no doubt where she stands on war and conflict; That's her default stance.

[BainsBane]

63. No, there is no comparison

Obama had an active interest in foreign policy and had assembled a team of experts. This article points to some very clear differences. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/bernie-sanders-foreign-policy-deficit-218431

He didn't deflect questions on foreign policy matters.

One of the key arguments made for the rise of ISIS is the inattention Obama paid to the Malaki government after he took office. Malaki undertook purges and massacres of sunnis, which led to the rise of ISIS. Obama, like many of us, opposed the Iraq War and wanted to consider it over and done with. Yet the situation continued to worsen. A country need not actively pursue war for it to come about.

Sanders has made very clear he supports coalition-based military intervention against ISIS. He has vowed to pursue them until they are destroyed, only he has made strange claims about having Iran and Saudi Arabia ban together to fight the war, effectively as our proxies. That is not peace. The claim that he provides an alternative to Clinton is not supported by his own statements. That combined with the fact he doesn't demonstrate the interest in foreign policy necessary to acquire the level of knowledge necessary for the presidency should be a point of concern.

I see a lot of projecting about what people want Bernie's foreign policy to be, most of it based on hope more than evidence. He voted against Iraq. That is much to his credit, but he has staked out positions on current conflicts that do not indicate a peace posture. He responds to other questions by deflecting to general goals rather than invoking any substantive policy discussion, and the specifics he does mention often don't comport with geopolitical reality (like not acknowledging long-held tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia or Iran's current involvement in Syria through Hezbollah).

[beedle]

64. And then flip flopped once elected.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100083104/the-u-turn-president-barack-obama-top-ten-flip-flops/

[leftofcool]

62. Nailed it!

[Ed Suspicious]

3. Judging by the gif in your sig, maybe it's time to start working on that hair care regime.

Great hair can't have flakes.

[revbones]

4. Ha! nt

[BainsBane]

6. I don't find US-foreign relations funny

or trivial. I expect a president to be well-informed or at least have interest sufficient to become informed in order to carry out the job of president.

[Ed Suspicious]

7. I think my candidate will do just fine on matters of foreign affairs.

[BainsBane]

8. Knowledge is the basis for any policy

foreign or otherwise.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. She'll come, she'll see, they'll DIE.

[still_one]

25. sure, just pick up a book

[Scootaloo]

9. So why are you supporting Clinton, then?

• Voted for the Iraq war
• Threatens to "obliterate" Iran
• Was involved in the Honduran coup
• Pushed the president for the Libya disaster
• Supported the dictatorial regime of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak - called him a good friend
• Armed the king of Bahrain, with full knowledge the weapons would be used against pro-democracy protesters.
• Called for a no-fly zone in Syria, which would have led to a military conflict with Russia

These are just the things she has an active hand in, and I'm probably leaving some out. There's plenty of other very strange and fairly frightening facts about her "experience" ranging from her habit of parroting AIPAC talking points to her bosom friendship with Henry Kissinger.

[BainsBane]

16. Only some of those statements are true

and Sanders might be able to mount a persuasive critique if he cared enough about foreign policy to inform himself. He has not, as far as we know from press reports, even put together a team of foreign policy advisers. An absence of knowledge or interest is not a feasible alternative. He doesn't take the matter seriously. Why should he expect voters to take him seriously in that capacity?


She helped initiate the current treaty with Iran. She actively confronted those who favored bombing instead

I don't know of evidence that the US was involved in the coup. I do know they sanctioned a transition to a new government, which equates to tacit approval of the coup but is not the same as an active role. That is not to defend the policy at all, but facts do matter at it may have been more like Brazil in 1964 than Guatemala in 1954. Neither is acceptable to me.

The only reason you even raise the no-fly zone is because Bernie mentioned it in a debate, and there is NO REASON to take his word that it would lead to conflict with Russia. The US has negotiated an agreement with Russia, Syria and non-ISIS rebels. Russia is also withdrawing forces.

The US supported Mubarak for decades in order to maintain peace with Israel. You criticize that at the same time you criticize US involvement in coalition in support of Libyan rebels. Those are directly contradictory positions. You clearly haven't thought about the issue other than how you can use it to attack Clinton.

I can disagree with Clinton on any number of issues, but that doesn't mean I want someone who doesn't even demonstrate enough interest to familiarize himself with key foreign policy issues, like those important to voters in states he is asking to support him for presidents. Wetfoot, dryfoot isn't just about foreign policy. It's US immigration policy, another area in which Sanders record is far from stellar.

It's unfortunate that there isn't a candidate on the left who cares about foreign policy enough to mount thoughtful critiques, or to even assemble a team of advisors that would help prepare him to do so. We are thus left with no alternative.

Competence matters. I can disagree with Clinton or any candidate on any number of issues, but that doesn't mean I want someone who has demonstrated no capacity or even interest in carrying out key functions of the presidency. Sanders is simply not a plausible alternative.

[Scootaloo]

24. All of them are true, BainsBane

And your only argument is "But clinton is right and Sanders is wrong, so mnuuuuh!"

You fail to make a case against Sanders and your arguments for Clinton are a combination of special pleading and make-believe.

[BainsBane]

37. "All true"

Evidently Iran has been bombed to oblivion while we weren't looking and there really wasn't a peace treaty. Or perhaps you've pulled another quote out of context and ignored actual policy, as you did in regard to her education proposals, never admitting that you were wrong. That would require actually caring about education policy rather than the more important issue of attacking Clinton.


Meanwhile, you have decided brutal dictators are bad only if Clinton doesn't advocate military intervention against them, but the ones who take out airliners full of American civilians should be propped up against popular rebellion by the population simply because Hillary Clinton advised participating in coalition efforts to aid a popular insurrection. There is nothing approaching ideological coherence or principle in your list of complaints. The entire list can be summed up as "Clinton bad."

What would give you the impression that would ever "plead" to you for anything, let alone your vote?
My post was an explanation of my own views. I don't need to justify anything to you. I have already caucused for Clinton. I choose to support someone who cares enough about the responsibilities of president to engage seriously with all aspects of the job and who bothers, despite her already extensive knowledge from being Sec of State, to maintain foreign policy teams designed to keep her up to date with latest developments. I do not believe an ignorance of the world around us is a virtue, and I will not vote for someone who won't even bother to assemble a foreign policy team. That isn't make believe. (I don't know if that's the part you think is make believe of if you are just randomly flinging insults). It has been documented in Politico, and Sanders has done nothing to set the record straight. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/bernie-sanders-foreign-policy-deficit-218431 HIs responses to the questions in Florida certainly indicate that he hasn't made any effort to acquire that knowledge or advice since the Politico article was first published. You prefer a president who doesn't know Sunni from Shia or Turkey from Jordan, that's your business. Your vote is your own, as mine is.

I realize I've spent far too much time writing this because you clearly didn't read my last post and just defaulted to rude comments.

[white_wolf]

34. I know one thing Sanders isn't fuzzy

He's crystal clear about not being a hawk where as Hilary will likely start at least one war during her administration. More than one if it's profitable.

[Kentonio]

40. Sorry, but this is nonsense.

You expect a presidential candidate to have in depth knowledge about every deal and issue effecting a country the US might or might not have relations with? Not just knowledge mind you, but in depth enough knowledge that they could establish a policy position on each issue in advance?

Just not feasible.

[libtodeath]

49. Such a bang up job Hillary did in Libya.

[revbones]

5. Hillary wants not to be indicted, but she's fuzzy on the details of how to avoid it... nt

[fbc]

10. Results of your alert

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Gratuitous smear against a Democrat, completely unfounded in truth and has nothing to do with the subject of the thread. This whole indictment meme is being pushed by the right wing. It is without basis and has no place on a Democratic message board.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Seems like a good post to me. Clinton definitely mishandled classified material in a way that would have had anyone else brought up on charges by now.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I think you are overreaching?
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Juvenile, but not hide Worthy
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Actually, she could very well be indicted. That would be a disaster not only for the party but also for the nation if she gets the nomination first.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. I love the constant attempts to make any mention of an ONGOING CRIMINAL FBI INVESTIGATION a

"right wing meme".

They should tell it to the fucking FBI, then. I'd sleep better if the thing were dismissed out of hand before we're stuck with her as our nominee.

[George II]

46. Research it - the FBI is not investigating Hillary Clinton

[vintx]

56. "FBI formally confirms its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server"

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/fbi-formally-confirms-its-investigation-hillary-clintons-email-server

[George II]

66. The media says stuff like that, it gets more attention. Sadly its not the first, or last....

....misrepresentation of the truth by the media.

[vintx]

67. And Pagliano's immunity deal - this is also, in your mind - evidence of a non-investigation? nt

[George II]

68. revbones, you should really read the substance of the "immunity deal" AND the objective....

....of the investigation.

You may be surprised.

[Warren DeMontague]

69. Why don't you educate us, George.

Tell us exactly what the FBI's specific objective is here, in granting immunity to the "one stop shop" IT guy who worked directly for Hillary Clinton, and why it has nothing to do with the former SOS.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-clinton-email-investigation-justice-department-grants-immunity-to-former-state-department-staffer/2016/03/02/e421e39e-e0a0-11e5-9c36-e1902f6b6571_story.html

[Beacool]

13. Free Republic is to your right, buddy.

They will agree with you over there.

[revbones]

14. That's funny. Just ignore an active FBI investigation

and alert whenever someone brings it up. You guys are funny with the drama. Maybe the truth just hurts a little bit.

Not everything is a right-wing conspiracy. Your candidate has faults. Deal with it.

[Beacool]

19. You don't know me.

I have never alerted nor put anyone on ignore. I abhor censorship.

[revbones]

21. Meh, that was in general. nt

[leftofcool]

42. You do know that the FBI has already stated HRC is not the target right?

You do understand that the FBI is only investigating the way material is currently classified, right? You can contact the FBI on this.

[revbones]

18. Also...

What if Sanders supporters just used the pitiful excuses that Hillary supporters have used lately in alerts and started alerting like crazy as the Hillary supporters are?

Paraphrasing some of the alert comments I've seen lately:

"They shouldn't malign a Democrat"
"That was just a right wing lie"
"The commenter shouldn't say negative things about the party front-runner"

Sheesh. Pathetic.

[leftofcool]

43. Thank you for mentioning that she is the front runner.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. So the FBI is part of the vast right wing conspiracy?

Seems to me an ongoing criminal investigation that relates to a likely presidential nominee is not something we should bury our heads in the sand and ignore, hoping it goes away.

Note to jury: On the off chance you get an alert on this post saying something about "right wing memes", these words are contained in the link, which goes to an article in the Washington Post, widely regarded by most as at least a somewhat legitimate source.

"as part of a criminal investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information"

[white_wolf]

35. Lol the person supporting the neocon Third Way candidate has no room to talk.

Seriously, Hillary is a moderate conservative at best.

[George II]

45. No need for her to waste her time on something that will never happen.

[George II]

47. What does that have to do with Sanders' position on US/Cuba relations?

[Beacool]

12. Hey, but he didn't vote for the war on Iraq.

That seems to be the extent of his foreign policy expertise.

[revbones]

15. And hers is just to angle for more wars right?

*whistles* while waiting on the alert because, well just because.

[Beacool]

17. Nope, that's a vast oversimplification.

[revbones]

20. Oh, I should have said "bigger wars". My mistake. Carry on. nt

[malletgirl02]

22. Why the laughing smilie?

Is war some how funny to you? Although my dad was not injured in Iraq he same back different, he had PTSD. He lost friends there, and millions of Iraqis were killed. Also the Iraq war was one of the reasons for the rise if ISIS.

[Beacool]

60. No, the war is definitely not funny, it's his response that's amusing.

That's his standard response to any foreign policy question during the debates. It became as predictable as Rubio's comments on Obama that Christie called him out on.

[Warren DeMontague]

31. ha ha ha, yeah, who cares about that silly old thing!

War in Iraq! Pshawwww!

[Docreed2003]

32. As an Afghanistan combat vet and friend to numerous Iraq war vets..

Your smug smilie reeks of the callousness distplayed by the right. Death, maimed bodies, disrupted countries, innumerable innocent deaths are a fucking joke to you? Many, many people, including many foreign policy experts warned about the consequences of an Iraq invasion, and they went so far as publishing a full page ad in the NY Times at the time to pronounce those fears. What happened? Exactly what was predicted by those experts. Im glad you can laugh about something so serious. Some of us have to deal with the consequences of those decisions made by power brokers daily. I have to wonder if you were old enough at that time to appreciate the level of discontent from the left with regards to the Iraq invasion. Sec Clinton's vote cannot be written off as some mere misstep, for two reasons. First, she failed to review the intelligence briefs provided to congress; and Second, she voiciferously supported the over through of the Iraqi government. That vote isn't some fucking joke to be laughed off, it had very real consequences. If you can't see that, the best I can ask for is that you at least delete the smug, incredibly insulting smilie face, because that war was no joke and the people who actually put their lives on the line for that mistake deserve much better than that.

[Beacool]

59. The chuckle was about his standard response in most debates.

It was not about the war itself. Sanders' forte is not foreign policy and he seems to revert to his vote on the IWR as a fallback when asked about foreign policy. I certainly wasn't making fun of the people who served and sacrificed so much in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else who has served.

[Docreed2003]

70. Thanks for your reply...

And forgive my over the top response. I understand where you are coming from in context, but, I readily admit, I am quick to pull the trigger on Veterans issues.

[Beacool]

71. You're welcome.

I understand that this is an issue that means a lot to you.

Take care.

[leftofcool]

44. Yep

[Freddie Stubbs]

61. Yes, but he did vote spend US tax dollars for regime change in Iraq

[William769]

23. Kick & highly recommended.

[oasis]

26. A former Secretary of State doesn't need a crash course in Foreign Policy.

Voters need to take that into consideration.

[Docreed2003]

33. And yet she seems to need a crash course in recent US history...

Given her take on the Reagan response to the AIDS epidemic...

[flamingdem]

27. I'm sure he knows everything about those topics since he's knowledgeable

about Cuba and Latin America.

No smart candidate is going to get nailed down on Wet Foot / Dry Foot, there's just no reason to get into that now and certainly NOT to give fuel to the media right before Obama goes to Cuba.

The immigration status issue is person by person, why jump into what could be twisted by the media.

His answers are very intelligent.

The negotiations between Farc and the Colombian government are in process - and subject to change depending on what happens. There have been false starts. The involvement of Cuba in the negotiations is a real feather for Cuba's cap but why get into that now when Obama is about to pull off better relations with Cuba - even with two right wing Cubans running for potus.

So see, I know the answers, you can bet that Bernie knows them but he's too smart to answer set up questions like this.

And I'm turned off by Hillary supporters who make up fake scenarios to score empty points.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. "wet foot, dry foot" is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books.

I kid, I kid.

You're right, of course. If the primary election were decided solely on the basis of who has a more encyclopedic, wonkish knowledge of FP details, Hillary would win.

[KitSileya]

36. I'm surprised at his ignorance, given his ardent Fidel Castro support

I would have thought that he would know about these issues, given how enamored he was (is?) of the Cuban revolution and Fidel Castro.

I can only surmise that pleading ignorance was judged a better option than the truth.

[azurnoir]

38. Obama plans to kick-start U.S. business with Cuba on Havana trip next week

Obama will arrive with a delegation that includes the CEOs of Xerox and Marriott International to help nudge along deals in the works. U.S. airlines are set to resume commercial flights to Cuba this summer, a New York-based research facility is working with Cuban researchers on a lung cancer vaccine, and an Alabama-based tractor company has won approval to build a factory near Havana. Hotel chains Marriott and Starwood could announce their own deals during the president's trip, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. And AT&T could join Sprint and Verizon in providing roaming services on the island.

Cementing as many of those deals now is key, given Congress' current refusal to lift the trade embargo against Cuba and Republican presidential candidates' opposition to Obama's opening with the Cuban government, said Ralph Patino, who is nearing a deal with the Cuban government to open a building products and supply store outside Havana.

"Once these companies are embedded, it will be very difficult to roll back come another administration," said Patino, a Cuban-American and Miami attorney.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/03/14/president-obama-cuba-visit-business-deals/81528308/

[Lucinda]

39. I suspect he has known all along that he wouldn't need to get up to speed on FP n/t

[cosmicone]

48. He really really needs a foreign policy team

that he has been talking about for 6 months.

No one would want to be on the team as time goes by because they'd want to be on the side of the winner.

Hurry up and get that team already or ignorance of foreign policy will have drastic effects.

Even average, uneducated people in Florida are deeply familiar with Cuban Adjustment Act, wet foot-dry foot and Colombian peace talks.

It is actually a shame that a US Senator is so oblivious about things outside of "wall street."

[PoliticAverse]

52. Yes unlike apparently Sanders, Clinton has her foreign-policy team ready to go...

[vintx]

57. I was just going to post something along those lines

Her foreign policy experience doesn't exactly inspire confidence

[FlatBaroque]

50. It is challenging to put together a good foreign policy when

all the knowledgeable people like Lanny Davis and Sid Blumenthal are probably already on Hilly's team.

[Uponthegears]

54. Since Secretary Clinton

already has her highly skilled foreign policy team assembled (btw, does it include Henry Kissinger or no?), what is her position on the same three issues:

1. the Cuban Adjustment Act;

2. wet-foot, dry-foot; and,

3. the immigration status of Cuban nationals convicted of state and federal crimes?

(Btw, I don't think her pushing for policies as SOS that appear not to have stopped the ME from descending into death and chaos or her Honduras or Haiti policies are going to help, so I am just giving her supporters a chance here)

[beedle]

55. Nothing difficult about doing that

just do what every other country on earth has been doing for the last 50 years.

Stop acting like stupid republicans who think that there are no other countries on earth other than the ones they are bombing.

Bernie knows how to add 1+1, and he doesn't need to invent "American arithmetic" in order to know how to do it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. Well, he's not as "experienced" as Kissinger, McNamara, or Hillary.

Thank God.