Obama Wants to Ease Cuba Family Travel

Many Cuban exiles are also frustrated with the U.S. embargo, which has failed to yield fruit after nearly 45 years.

Most Cubans in the U.S. can only visit the island once every three years and can only send quarterly remittances of up to $300 per household to immediate family members. Previously, they could visit once a year and send up to $3,000.

What kind of embargo is that? Last I remember on 60 Minutes, the U.S. dollars given to the families of the anti-Castro Cubans in south Florida were directly responsible for making Castro's financial system soluble. What was good for the individuals was counter-productive to the whole interest.

The embargo has been a total failure. Both sides have lost much and gained nothing, so it's time to drop the charade.

It's about time governments became about the people and For the People.
We sit here and make rules that satisfy our ego and fuel our continued rivalry, while the people that matter are actually suffering. Mr. Obama understand these things because he has actually lived and studied abroad. He's able to see the world through the eyes of others.
He also understands the importance of not separating families.

Conventional wisdom has failed. Now let's try new approaches.

That the embargo should end is an idea way over due. It has not changed anything excpet to make peopek in Cuba miserable and hurt relitves here.

Thank You Barack for trying to bring the world together with peace and love for all while understanding those who do want to hurt us. CUBA we don't hate you we are sorry for our past leaders who have tried to keep you down. Thankfully you haven't suffered at the hands of american corporations like we have. May we one day live in peace and may the people of all nations work together. May politicians work for the People not themselves. God has blessed the world with Barack Obama.

In May, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton said she opposed immediate changes in Cuba travel but added that there may be need for change in the next presidency if Castro is no longer in power.

In other words: Business As Usual.

What a surprise...

Thankfully you haven't suffered at the hands of american corporations like we have.

Actually their suffering under US corporations is what brought on the revolution in the first place.

Go Obama. About time someone called a bad policy a bad policy. Clintons' remark of holding off till Castro dies reminds me of how Tehran held the hostages until Pres Carters term was up. Same kind of thinking. Bad thinking. We need change alright.

Clintons' remark of holding off till Castro dies reminds me of how Tehran held the hostages until Pres Carters term was up

That was a bit different as Reagan's people had made a secret deal to release them after he took office.

The October Surprise conspiracy was an alleged plot that claimed representatives of the 1980 Ronald Reagan presidential campaign had conspired with Islamic Republic of Iran to delay the release of 52 Americans held hostage in Tehran until after the 1980 U.S. Presidential election. In exchange for their cooperation, the United States would supply weapons to Iran as well as unfreeze Iran's monetary assets being held by the US government.

Jimmy Carter had been attempting to deal with the Iran hostage crisis and the hostile regime of the Ayatollah Khomeini for nearly a year. Those who assert that a deal was made allege that certain Republicans with CIA connections, including George H. W. Bush, arranged to have the hostages held through October, until Reagan could defeat Carter in early November, and then be released, thereby preventing an "October surprise" from the Carter administration in which the hostages would be released shortly before the election. The hostages were released the day of Reagan's inauguration, twenty minutes after his inaugural address.