Daily Commentary – Friday, April 10, 2015 – A Decision is Near Whether or Not to Remove Cuba From a List of Governments Who Sponsor Terrorism

• This decision could go a long way towards normalizing relations between the USA and Cuba

Daily Commentary – Friday, April 10, 2015 Download

Sen Bob Menendez D-NJ) Slams Naive Barack Obama on Cuba … “Fallacy to Believe Cuba Will Reform Because an American President Opens His Hands & the Castro Brothers Will Suddenly Unclench Their Fists”

BARACK OBAMA: THE NAIVE, UNICORN RIDING COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Democrat  New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a Cuban-American whose parents immigrated to Union City, NJ in the 1950s, blasted President Barack Obama’s motions toward normalization of relations with Raul and Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba. Menedez saidhe was disappointed in the president and “I think it stinks”.Menedez was also none too happy that the Obama administration had been negotiating with Cuba for more than a year and he was never consulted.

“I think it stinks,” Menendez, the son of Cuban immigrants and the outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, said at a press conference on new financial help for Hurricane Sandy residents. “I think it’s wrong. I am deeply disappointed in the president.”

Angry over Obama’s failure to consult him on the talks involving Cuba, which lasted more than a year, Menendez said he would not approve easing the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, which can only be done by Congress, and called on the incoming chairman of the committee, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) to hold hearings when the new Congress convenes in January.

Sen. Menendez: One-sided deal rewards Cuba regime:

By releasing Mr. Gross in exchange for three convicted Cuban spies who conspired to commit espionage against our nation, this administration has wrongly rewarded a totalitarian regime and thrown the Cuban regime an economic lifeline.

For compromising on bedrock U.S. values, we received zero commitments from the regime to change its ways, to hold free elections, permit dissent, halt censorship and free all political prisoners. We abandoned U.S. policy, while the Castro brothers’ stranglehold on power just got tighter.

This swap sets an extremely dangerous precedent and invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips.

Most concerning is that the decision to open relations with Cuba fails to understand the nature of the Castro regime that has exerted its authoritarian control over the Cuban people for 55 years.

There is no reason that Cuba will reform just because the American president believes that, if he extends his hand in peace, the Castro brothers will suddenly unclench their fists.

Bipartisan Blasting of Barack Obama’s Change in Policy on Cuba … Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) & Marco Rubio (R-FL) Rip Obama, “Worst Negotiator in Modern US History

FINALLY WE HAVE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT IN THE SENATE … AGAINST OBAMA’S CHANGE IN RELATIONS WITH CASTRO’S CUBA …

Following Barack Obama’s change in foreign relations with Communist Cuba, Obama feels the bipartisan backlash of politicians. Republicans and Democrats alike both question the purpose and the wisdom behind Obama’s actions. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) both blasted Obama’s ill-advised, naive and foolish changes in relations with Cuba.

Marco Rubio went on to say, “the Cubans have agreed to release political prisoners and allow more internet access; however, they are creating no economic openings, no concessions on freedom of speech, no concessions on elections, no concession on freedom to have alternate political parties, no concessions on having elections.” Where are the democratic concessions from Communist Cuba?  But this is Obama’s MO, giving away the farm unilaterally, ,”in exchange for nothing”. Rubio stated that Barack Obama … he is the worst negotiator in modern US history.

“My interest in Cuba has been the furthering of democracy and freedom,” Rubio said. “Nothing the president will announce today will further that goal…It’s part of long record of coddling dictators and tyrants this administration has.”

“They’ve created no economic openings, no concessions on freedom of speech, no concessions on elections, no alternative political parties. …The idea that this leads to democratic opening is absurd, but it is par for the course for an administration possibly giving away unilateral concessions for Iran or Cuba in exchange for nothing.”

RUBIO RIPS OBAMA … “Nothing the president will do will further that goal” of Democracy and freedom

But wait, it is not just Republicans that are livid with Barack Obama’s actions. Democrat Senator Bob Menendez condemned Obama’s Cuban prisoner swap today after it was announced. Menendez said the deal, “vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government.”

Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is slamming President Obama over the deal to release an American held in Cuba.

“President Obama’s actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government,” Menendez, known for his tough stance on Cuba, said in a statement.

“There is no equivalence between an international aid worker and convicted spies who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage against our nation.”

American aid worker Alan Gross, who was held in Cuba for five years for trying to set up Internet for a small Jewish community, was released on Wednesday as the U.S. released three Cuban agents convicted of spying.

Menendez said the move “sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”

“It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that today’s actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms.”

Barack Obama Normalizes Relations With Catro’s Communist Cuba

UNREAL … THE AGITATOR AND CHIEF IS AT IT AGAIN.

President Barack Obama announced that the United States will normalize relations with Communist Cuba. As the WAPO writes, Obama gives the Castro regime in Cuba an undeserved bailout. What would you expect from a man who blames America for everything bad in the world. Note to Obama, Cuba is run by Communist dictators, or don’t you care?

Obama & Raul Castro, Bosom Buddies

After a half-century of Cold War acrimony, the United States and Cuba moved on Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations — a historic shift that could revitalize the flow of money and people across the narrow waters that separate the two nations.

President Barack Obama’s dramatic announcement in Washington — seconded by Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana — was accompanied by a quiet exchange of imprisoned spies and the celebratory release of American Alan Gross, a government contract worker who had been held in Cuba for five years.

The shift in U.S.-Cuba policy was the culmination of 18 months of secret talks between the longtime foes that included a series of meetings in Canada and the personal involvement of Pope Francis at the Vatican. It also marked an extraordinary undertaking by Obama without Congress’ authorization as he charts the waning years of his presidency.

“These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked,” Obama declared at the White House. “It’s time for a new approach.”

Obama spoke as Castro was addressing his nation in Havana, where church bells rang and school teachers paused lessons to mark the news. Castro said that while the U.S. and Cuba remain at odds on many matters, “we should learn the art of living together in a civilized manner in spite of our differences.”

Obama’s plans for remaking U.S. relations with Cuba are sweeping: He aims to expand economic ties, open an embassy in Havana, send high-ranking U.S. officials including Secretary of State John Kerry to visit and review Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The U.S. also is easing restrictions on travel to Cuba, including for family visits, official government business and educational activities. But tourist travel remains banned.

Hmm,an embassy in Cuba eh? Who is going to approve the funding for that or vote for the approval of an ambassador?

Daily Commentary – Wednesday, December 11, 2013 – President Obama Shakes the Hand of Raul Castro

• Obama shakes hands with the Cuban ruler Raul Castro at the Memorial service for Nelson Mandela