South American ministers urge U.S. to end Cuba embargo

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters


Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:00am IST

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Several South American defense ministers on Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba, saying such a move was crucial to improve U.S. ties with the region.

Ministers from the 12-country-strong Union of South American Nations, or Unasur, said the issue would shape future relations with Washington.

"It is important for the United States to change its policy toward Cuba to have a good relationship with South America," Brazil's Nelson Jobim told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting ...

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-38440820090310

---

Defense ministers urge end to Cuba embargo by US
The Associated Press
Published: March 10, 2009

... Cuba may have threatened U.S. security during the Cold War, but "it now poses no risk whatsoever," said Uruguay Defense Minister Jose Bayardi.

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration offers the best hope in decades for Cuba's return to the Organization of American States after it was expelled nearly 50 years ago, said Argentine Defense Minister Nilda Garre.

"Today, we see favorable conditions with the new president in the United States to put an end to this discriminatory and unjust situation," she said. "This is a pending issue in our region."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/10/news/LT-Chile-Defense-Ministers.php

[Tx4obama]

1. Major reversal isn't happening now, BUT this is

US Congress eases curbs on Cuba
Wednesday, 11 March 2009

The US Congress has voted to lift restrictions on relations with Cuba imposed by the Bush administration.
Cuban-Americans will be allowed to travel to the island once a year and send more money to relatives there.
Curbs on sending medicines and food have also been eased. The measures were part of a $410bn bill to fund US government operations.
The legislation was approved by the Senate after clearing the House of Representatives last month.
The bill was supported by two Cuban-American senators who had initially opposed it.
They changed their votes after receiving assurances from the Obama administration that the changes did not amount to a major reversal of the 47-year-old US trade embargo on Cuba.
Lifeline
The legislation overturns rules imposed by the Bush administration which limited travel to just two weeks every three years, and confined visits to immediate family members.
President Obama - who needs to sign the bill - has said he supports it.
Read More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7936430.stm

[No Elephants]

5. Go ahead, vote. Don't worry. We'll never enforce it. What crap.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

2. Pretty please I love cuban cigars.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Then why not in the meanwhile

just get them shipped from the UK ?

Here for example from a simple google search : http://www.cigarsunlimited.co.uk/acatalog/Havana_Cigars.html

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

6. Well because that would be illegal.

[dipsydoodle]

8. So presumably

nobody brings them in from Canada.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Lots of people break the law.

I just don't think it's a good idea to advertise the fact that you are breaking the law.

David

[Judi Lynn]

3. It wouldn't be a bad idea to start treating the Latin Americans as if they were human beings, too.

So far the leaders have only been pawns, in the best of times, and mortal enemies, targets for assassination, if necessary, to get rid of them when they were leftists.

Hope time will bring enlightenment in this administration which has shown the best potential for helping the nation to grow up, and turn away from childish, spiteful, self-centered, destructive behavior.

[harun]

7. Seems reasonable to me.