quinta-feira, 18 de dezembro de 2014

End the embargo of the United States to Cuba at the hands of the Republicans

Raul Castro and Barack Obama, respectively Presidents of Cuba and United States, have given this Thursday an important step towards the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two Governments and to put an end to the American embargo of Cuba. But that may not be enough to achieve the purpose of the blockade that has lasted for more than 50 years.

The American embargo of Cuba began officially in February 1962 and in August of the same year passed the law. Several additions have been added over the years, squeezing the commercial, economic and financial ties to the territory controlled by the Communist regime of the Castro brothers.

"50 years have shown that isolation hasn't worked. It's time for a new approach. "â€"President Obama #CubaPolicy http://t.co/Qrzp5zODZk

In 1996, with a new law, the Helms-Burton Act (so named due to Republican Senators that the "drew"), the embargo against Cuba has been internationalized and put under threat the companies with interests in the United States to insist on doing business with Cuba.

To be "chained" to American law, the end of the embargo would have to be debated and voted in Congress to ensure that these laws be repealed. What does not seem easy. From January both chambers of Congress are controlled by Republicans, as opposed to the Democrats who control the White House.

First Russia, then Iran, now Cuba: One more very bad deal brokered by the Obama Administration http://t.co/XYYpeq0yxA pic.twitter.com/XCe1A6wqax

Guess-if a dispute on and even more when to 2016 are marked the close of the United States presidential, for which Obama, serving the second term, I will not be so eligible. In these elections, the vast Latin community in the United States, and Cuban in particular, may be decisive and this is an important legacy placed on the table of the Congress by the current Obama administration.

I support President Obama's decision for the United States to start a new chapter in our relationship with Cuba.

Some Congressional Democrats and Republicans, favorable to the isolation of Cuba, has criticized the decision by the American President. This is the case, for example, the Senator from Florida, Republican of Cuban origin Marco Rubio, recognized the Castro brothers ' regime opponent and, beginning in January, responsible for Foreign Affairs Subcommittee that will interview and confirm the next American Ambassador in Cuba â€" a delicate choice, already admitted Rubio.

"This Congress does not lift the embargo. I'll use all the tools in my power to fight the most possible changes announced, "threatened the Senator from Florida. The speaker of the House of representatives, fellow Republican John Boehner lamented "a long series of thoughtless concessions to a dictatorship that brutalizes its people and conspires with the enemies of the United States."

Relations with the Castro regime should not be revisited, let alone normalized, until the Cuban people enjoy freedom â€" & not 1 second sooner

Some measures of rapprochement between the two countries will, however, be already implemented as the opening of embassies in both countries in each other's territories, the permission for American banks open branches in Cuba and the opening of borders to which Cubans already residing in the United States to visit the country and vice versa. But, as Raul Castro stressed, "is missing the most important".

"The economic, commercial and financial blockade, which causes enormous human and economic losses to our country, must end. We must learn the art of coexist in a civilized manner with our differences, "warned Fidel Castro's brother and current President of Cuba.

While Raul Castro spoke, Obama also began to speak in Washington. A phrase in Spanish excelled in the communication of Obama: "we are all Americans". The American President takes in hand the change in history: "Today, America chooses to free themselves from the bonds of the past in order to aspire to a better future for both the people and the Cuban Americans themselves."

It's time #Los5libres #The5free Raul Castro & BarackObama announce relations improvement <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USCuba?src=hash">#USCuba</a> <a href="http://t.co/xRBeIlYrTn">pic.twitter.com/xRBeIlYrTn</a><p>â€" Juan del Puerto (tripilingo) 17 dezembro 2014

The historic day for Cuba began with the release in Havana of the American Alan Gross, of 65 years, arrested in December 2009 on charges of spying when trying to install, illegally and under the guidance of the American Agency for international development (USAID, in English acronym), a network of internet to serve a Jewish community in the territory of the island controlled by the regime of Raul Castro. Freedom from Gross was achieved in Exchange for the three Cubans detained for more than 10 years by the United States on charges of spying and also that belong to the group called "Los Cinco de Cuba."

Welcome home, Alan Gross. http://t.co/zeorp4h0jr #CubaPolicy pic.twitter.com/rOeFEY3GQv

Three u.s. lawmakers visited the Cuban capital in a Government plane, where he also followed his wife of Alan Gross. Aged and without some teeth, who hopes to replace soon, the American returned to "home" and landed in Washington at the same time of another plane carrying American capital return to the Secretary of State, John Kerry.

Gross and Kerry hugged and went side-by-side, sitting on a couch, who attended in the direct communication of Barack Obama.

Wonderful reunion. Welcome home Alan Gross thanks StateDept &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse">WhiteHouse for working with us to make this happen pic.twitter.com/rUJ8aea08e</a>

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