Obama & Cuba

[BiteThePullet]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/world/americas/us-cuba-relations.html?_r=0

Thoughts from the LE community?

[just joe]

Long overdue. The policy is a failed relic of the Cold War. And let's stop being hypocrites. If the US really gave a **** about human rights violations, trade with and travel to China would not be happening, but half of the US Congress is in bed with communist China. You can visit any communist country in the world that you want. You can go to effing North Korea if you want to, but you can't go to Cuba?! I look forward to being able to visit the country.

[L-1]

Seting Politics Aside

Setting aside the politics, I've been there several times to attend a narcotics trafficking conference and study their criminal justice system. It's like going back in time 50 years, there is little crime, the people are very friendly and helpful to tourists and the place is relaxed with no stress. The way of life is slow and unhurried. It's a charming, unspoiled place to visit just the way it is.

If the travel embargo is lifted the place will be flooded with American tourists and spring breakers, there will be a McDonalds on every corner, a Costco every couple miles and Disney will be scouting locations for a new theme park. Once we Americanize a country it can never be un-Americanized again.

[just joe]

It will only get that way if Cuba lets it (and I hope they don't let it). I imagine Cuba will want some big money from the gaming, cruise, and airlines industries for operational concessions, a significant amount of which will have to go to rebuild crumbling infrastructure because, as is, the island is not ready for significant tourism.

My brother-in-law went to Cuba when he worked for an English firm; his experience mirrors yours, as do the accounts I have read from others.

[ftttu]

I just don't want to see the Castro brothers or their regime profit and prosper which I believe they will. My childhood friend's dad was personally shot and killed by Fidel. That childhood friend is a Houston Police officer- a really good guy.

I heard that there is a credible book out there which says Kennedy was going to push for lifting the embargo back then but you know what happened. No idea if it is true, but if so, this is long overdue.

All the above aside, I was in Guantanamo Bay in the mid '80s. Our snorkeling trips were incredible! It was like Jacques Cousteau's undersea world there.

[L-1]

I suspect they will not allow gaming back as that's part of what caused their problems when the mob was there under Batista. When Castro overthrew the government, organized crime and their casinos got kicked out.

[jdthor]

My issue is the trading of 3 criminals for basically 2 hostages plus giving Castro anything else he could think of.
Ending the trade embargo is one thing,doing hostage trading with them is the same thing that was done with the Taliban for the last deserter after we had already lost good men trying to find him .

A very bad precedent is being set here over and over thats going to get even more of our civilians and men and women in the service hunted and captured because we continue to show we will now deal with enemies and give them what they wish for to get our people back.

[Langford PR]

I'm looking forward to seeing more of the country than just Gitmo. Hopefully it'll soon be one more great reason to never vacation anywhere outside of the western hemisphere. I admit that it wouldn't hurt if the Castro bros happen to drop dead in the next six months.

[asullivan]

Thoughts from the LE community?

Well, since I taint' a LEO I guess I'll just keep my rat traP'z shut....

[Monty Ealerman]

There would've been no "missiles of October" crisis in '62 if we'd've kept Cuba instead of granting it independence after we won the Spanish-American War.

[Monty Ealerman]

I mean keep it like we did American Samoa.

[Monty Ealerman]

I think we were right to keep Guam too.

[ateamer]

Supposedly, right before he kicked the embargo into gear, Kennedy had his assistant get him a lot of Cuban cigars. Typical democRAT.

[just joe]

Well, since I taint' a LEO I guess I'll just keep my rat traP'z shut....

That's never stopped you before.

[BiteThePullet]

Well, since I taint' a LEO I guess I'll just keep my rat traP'z shut....

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