Prying the Window To Cuba Open

TW: Have been on this one for awhile and thankfully Obama is doing the right thing. I would be for opening things up fully but I understand things do not work in such a straight line fashion. Our Cuba policy has been the hostage of certain reactionary Cuban-Americans and knee-jerk anti-communists for fifty years. Few even try to point to the embargo policy as a success, merely settling for supporting it as some kind of ill-defined necessity in the face of Castro's leadership.

Is Castro a liberal democratic leader? Far from it, but then neither were Somoza nor a plethora of right-wing south of the border leaders over the past decades. But most importantly the series of embargoes are antiquated because of one feature- they have failed miserably to alter the political dynamic in Cuba. Meanwhile, America cedes trade and cultural opportunities to the rest of the world almost none of whom abide the embargoes. It is time to move on with an alternative approach, one that might actually accelerate the day when Cuba becomes more pluralistic.

From NBC:
"The White House now is confirming a Miami Herald report, outlining what President Obama will announce with regard to Cuba. Here are some bullet-point details from the report:

- Lifting travel restrictions for Cuban Americans, allowing them to travel more freely to the island
- Lifting gift restriction for Cuban Americans, allowing them to send additional financial help to family members. (-- Expanding the items that can be sent to the island, including clothing, personal hygiene items and fishing equipment."
- "Licensing steps to open up greater communication to the island"

But:
-The trade embargo remains in place
- And still prohibited: "Sending items to senior government officials and Communist Party members"

The Herald calls the policy "the most significant U.S. gesture to Cuba in decades."

"This is an effort to reach out to the Cuban people in an effort to support the Cuban people's desire to freely determine their country's future," a senior administration official told the paper. "The president has said this is the most direct means to open up the kind of space that is necessary to see democratic change in Cuba."