Obama acknowledges failure of Cuba Policy: President calls for a new approach to our communist neighbor to the South
On April 14, after 48 years of enforcing an unsuccessful economic embargo, President Barack Obama felt that a change in policy was necessary, and he decided to take steps to open up to communist Cuba.
The economic embargo on Cuba has failed to serve its original purpose, which was to change the island and cause its communist government to fall apart. Instead, it only strengthened the regime as it gave the communist dictator, Fidel Castro, and his government sympathy from Cuba’s people. This in turn only allowed them to continue to hold in power.
Thus, President Obama has taken the first few steps towards reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. During his first hundred days in office, President Obama changed several policies that affect Cuba, hoping that Cuba would take up more democratic tendencies including freedom of speech and religion, in addition to improved relations with the United States.
First and foremost, the president has decided to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, the US naval base in Cuba, before the end of the year. However, the base itself will not close.
Obama has also been taking measures to stop harsh interrogation of prisoners, which had been used under the Bush administration on suspected terrorists. The president took this action soon after entering office as it was something he promised during his campaign.
President Obama stated at a news conference on January 23 that he had three objectives: “First, I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture,” Obama said. “Second, we will close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and determine how to deal with those who have been held there. And third, we will immediately undertake a comprehensive review to determine how to hold and try terrorism suspects to best protect our nation and the rule of law.”
In April, President Obama lifted the travel restrictions between the US and Cuba made by previous administrations. He has made it possible for Cuban Americans to travel to and from Cuba freely to visit family and friends. He has also begun to increase the amount of remittances allowed for Cuban Americans.
President Obama has conveyed his new regulations to the departments of State, Treasury, and Commerce. He is also planning to establish greater communications between the two countries as soon as possible to promote dialogue.
Although President Obama and other high-ranking officials are willing to begin negotiations and open relations up to Cuba, they are being cautious because they fear that if they give Cuba too much, nothing will change. He has, therefore, set goals and objectives that Cuba must reach before the continuation of negotiations. Some of these objectives include things such as the release of political prisoners, and a reduction of the 20% of the remittances taken by the government.
History teacher Sarah Huff agrees with the president’s new policies, saying that she believes it is much better now that American Cubans can go to Cuba anytime they choose, instead of having to wait, sometimes for years, to return.
She also said, “I would like to go to Cuba. I’ve never been there; only people in special programs are allowed to go to Cuba.” She also believes that President Obama is being wise in opening relations with Cuba step by step.
Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, is reported to be welcoming the president’s new policies. Raul has said that he would be glad to begin talks in order to discuss human rights and other proposed topics by President Obama, rather than negotiating only the embargo. As a result, the US and Cuba have already begun to set up the first informal talks in order to open up relations.
Although the president has implemented the new changes, he has still not taken any steps to lift the embargo, which has been in effect since 1962 when Fidel Castro took control of the country. President Obama cannot lift the embargo by himself, as it needs congressional approval.
Mrs. Huff believes that the embargo should be lifted eventually but only cautiously in stages. She said that there should be more traveling for all people to Cuba and that the embargo should end. Mrs. Huff, however, cannot tell how long it will take for the US to fully open up diplomatic relations with Cuba, and said that “it depends on Cuba” and how it responds to the US’ overtures.
Eleventh grader Felipe Ernst, a third-generation Cuban American, thinks that President Obama should stop the embargo.
Felipe’s grandparents came to the US from Cuba and his family has been here since. Felipe explained that his grandparents left Cuba for their secondary educations.
Although President Obama has changed his policy and is allowing Cuban Americans to travel back to Cuba, Felipe has no plans to travel there anytime soon. He said he’ll go “probably when I’m older at a time where there is no communism.”
As for the president’s other policies towards Cuba, Felipe said, “I don’t think we can tell how the policies will affect bilateral relations now. We’ll obviously only be able to tell how effective they are after they’re implemented and once we can see what they have done.”
Whether President Obama’s new policies toward Cuba will have any effect or not, only time will tell. It is reported by Politico that the president desires to not only repair diplomatic relations with Cuba, but also with the other countries of the Americas.
Peter DeShazo, director of the Americas program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in an April 19 Politico article, “Really the purpose of the visit [to the Organization of American States summit was] for the president to underscore US commitment in the region and desire to work and cooperate with the countries.”
The economic embargo on Cuba has failed to serve its original purpose, which was to change the island and cause its communist government to fall apart. Instead, it only strengthened the regime as it gave the communist dictator, Fidel Castro, and his government sympathy from Cuba’s people. This in turn only allowed them to continue to hold in power.
Thus, President Obama has taken the first few steps towards reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. During his first hundred days in office, President Obama changed several policies that affect Cuba, hoping that Cuba would take up more democratic tendencies including freedom of speech and religion, in addition to improved relations with the United States.
First and foremost, the president has decided to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, the US naval base in Cuba, before the end of the year. However, the base itself will not close.
Obama has also been taking measures to stop harsh interrogation of prisoners, which had been used under the Bush administration on suspected terrorists. The president took this action soon after entering office as it was something he promised during his campaign.
President Obama stated at a news conference on January 23 that he had three objectives: “First, I can say without exception or equivocation that the United States will not torture,” Obama said. “Second, we will close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and determine how to deal with those who have been held there. And third, we will immediately undertake a comprehensive review to determine how to hold and try terrorism suspects to best protect our nation and the rule of law.”
In April, President Obama lifted the travel restrictions between the US and Cuba made by previous administrations. He has made it possible for Cuban Americans to travel to and from Cuba freely to visit family and friends. He has also begun to increase the amount of remittances allowed for Cuban Americans.
President Obama has conveyed his new regulations to the departments of State, Treasury, and Commerce. He is also planning to establish greater communications between the two countries as soon as possible to promote dialogue.
Although President Obama and other high-ranking officials are willing to begin negotiations and open relations up to Cuba, they are being cautious because they fear that if they give Cuba too much, nothing will change. He has, therefore, set goals and objectives that Cuba must reach before the continuation of negotiations. Some of these objectives include things such as the release of political prisoners, and a reduction of the 20% of the remittances taken by the government.
History teacher Sarah Huff agrees with the president’s new policies, saying that she believes it is much better now that American Cubans can go to Cuba anytime they choose, instead of having to wait, sometimes for years, to return.
She also said, “I would like to go to Cuba. I’ve never been there; only people in special programs are allowed to go to Cuba.” She also believes that President Obama is being wise in opening relations with Cuba step by step.
Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, is reported to be welcoming the president’s new policies. Raul has said that he would be glad to begin talks in order to discuss human rights and other proposed topics by President Obama, rather than negotiating only the embargo. As a result, the US and Cuba have already begun to set up the first informal talks in order to open up relations.
Although the president has implemented the new changes, he has still not taken any steps to lift the embargo, which has been in effect since 1962 when Fidel Castro took control of the country. President Obama cannot lift the embargo by himself, as it needs congressional approval.
Mrs. Huff believes that the embargo should be lifted eventually but only cautiously in stages. She said that there should be more traveling for all people to Cuba and that the embargo should end. Mrs. Huff, however, cannot tell how long it will take for the US to fully open up diplomatic relations with Cuba, and said that “it depends on Cuba” and how it responds to the US’ overtures.
Eleventh grader Felipe Ernst, a third-generation Cuban American, thinks that President Obama should stop the embargo.
Felipe’s grandparents came to the US from Cuba and his family has been here since. Felipe explained that his grandparents left Cuba for their secondary educations.
Although President Obama has changed his policy and is allowing Cuban Americans to travel back to Cuba, Felipe has no plans to travel there anytime soon. He said he’ll go “probably when I’m older at a time where there is no communism.”
As for the president’s other policies towards Cuba, Felipe said, “I don’t think we can tell how the policies will affect bilateral relations now. We’ll obviously only be able to tell how effective they are after they’re implemented and once we can see what they have done.”
Whether President Obama’s new policies toward Cuba will have any effect or not, only time will tell. It is reported by Politico that the president desires to not only repair diplomatic relations with Cuba, but also with the other countries of the Americas.
Peter DeShazo, director of the Americas program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in an April 19 Politico article, “Really the purpose of the visit [to the Organization of American States summit was] for the president to underscore US commitment in the region and desire to work and cooperate with the countries.”
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