Quote
Cuban President Raul Castro said he welcomed the shift in a TV address.
The move includes the release of US contractor Alan Gross and three Cubans held in the US.
Wednesday's announcements follow more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving Pope Francis.
The US is looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months, Mr Obama said on Wednesday.
The plans set out in a White House statement also include:
-Reviewing the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism
-Easing a travel ban for US citizens
-Easing financial restrictions
-Increasing telecommunications links
-Efforts to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo
//http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30516740
If the US isn't supposed to have relations with Cuba, why not countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt?
Yeah, Obongo just sold out every Cuban American in the country.
Nice going, another foreign policy home run for the most inept incompetent admin in over 100 years. ac_toofunny
No biggy - just moonbeams in action - Congress will kill it
Glad to see you like dictators being strengthened - Fall of the dictatorship was likely to come very soon as Russia, Venezuela etc ... those who put money into Cuba .. are close to broke now
Thanks to Mr Incompetence .. if he could have made it stick ... , money would flow in and save Castro's ass = dictators ship forever - Democracy never
But, seems some hypocritical moonbeams like dictators and hate democracy .. .when it suits their anti American agenda
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Glad to see you like dictators being strengthened - Fall of the dictatorship was likely to come very soon as Russia, Venezuela ets ... those who put money into Cuba .. are close to broke now
Thanks to Mr Moonbeam .. if he could have made it stick ... , money would flow in and save Castro's ass = dictators ship forever - Democracy never
But, seems some hypocritical moonbeams like dictators and hate democracy .. .when it suits their anti American agenda
Oh my goodness cc li tarte, did Keeper pick that avatar for you?
No. I have used it for a decade at Christmas time
I'll try to downsize but it requires finding a safe gif program
Here's my other one I use
A Horny Dear
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
I do remember cc li tarte and I remember the one you used for the new year.
My attempts at being funny equal fail.
ac_boring
Quote from: "Renee"
Nice going, another foreign policy home run for the most inept incompetent admin in over 100 years. ac_toofunny
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Glad to see you like dictators being strengthened - Fall of the dictatorship was likely to come very soon as Russia, Venezuela etc ... those who put money into Cuba .. are close to broke now
Thanks to Mr Incompetence .. if he could have made it stick ... , money would flow in and save Castro's ass = dictators ship forever - Democracy never
But, seems some hypocritical moonbeams like dictators and hate democracy .. .when it suits their anti American agenda
Yet America considers brutal and oppressive regimes like Saudi Arabia and Egypt as great friends and allies. Why Cuba but not them?
Sorry - Instead of responding defensively, I should have responded to the humor of "did Keeper pick that avatar for you" ... it was funny
I'm sure he will approve
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Expected that very lame reply. Could have and should have written it for you
Scratch Egypt off your pathetically hokey list - SiSi was freely elected just as your hero's buddy Muslim Brotherhood islamist guy was. islam always fails without strong leaders which is why democracy ALWAYS fails there - see 57 counties for examples. We should not try to help islam as helping is always useless. islamics want hard core shariah and dictators are the only other option
As to Saudi, we cannot affect anything within islam ... 'sides, he likes islamists - we can affect Cuba and help the will of its people - and collapse of the regime was
But O'traitor did not come in to help his country, he came to diminish it as all his efforts testify to - He did not come to help the world toward democracy, he came to do the opposite of what was in his country's best interests .. and now to do the opposite of what was in Cuban's interest and desires
Hmm. I thought you'd be against the US being friends and allies with those countries.
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Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday the lengthy U.S. economic embargo against Cuba "just hasn't worked" and voiced support for opening trade with Cuba in the aftermath of the Obama administration's policy shift regarding the communist island.
Paul said in a radio interview with Tom Roten of News Talk 800 WVHU in Huntington, West Virginia, that many younger Cuban Americans support open trade with Cuba. And many U.S. farmers, he said, would back Obama's moves because Cuba would offer a new market for their crops.
"The 50-year embargo just hasn't worked," Paul said. "If the goal is regime change, it sure doesn't seem to be working, and probably, it punishes the people more than the regime because the regime can blame the embargo for hardship.
Paul noted that he grew up in a family that opposed communism and at first thought opening up trade with China was a bad idea. But he said trading with China was the "best way to actually ultimately defeat communism."
His father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has supported lifting the Cuban embargo.
"The bottom line is, even the Cuban community is kind of coming around on this," Sen. Paul said.
//http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/18/rand-paul-cuba_n_6348558.html
Quote from: "Renee"
Nice going, another foreign policy home run for the most inept incompetent admin in over 100 years. ac_toofunny
I see this in the same way as when the US switched diplomatic recognition of China from the Nationalists in Taiwan to the PRC on the mainland back in 1979. We all knew it was inevitable as we knew the US/Cuba cold war would not last forever, especially after the more moderate Raul took over. There were a lot of unhappy traditional Chinese back then who opposed the diplomatic U-turn as I don't doubt a lot of conservative Cubans feel betrayed by this change.
Cuba is not an Islamic shithole, so I have no problem with this, other than Cuba will be a lot more crowded and expensive place for Canadians to holiday in.
BTW, the Canadian government played a role in this inevitable fence mending.
http://globalnews.ca/news/1731666/u-s-cuba-seek-to-normalize-relations-after-american-released-from-prison/
It's al O'just blabber. Congress will never let it happen
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Quote
Expected that very lame reply. Could have and should have written it for you
Scratch Egypt off your pathetically hokey list - SiSi was freely elected just as your hero's buddy Muslim Brotherhood islamist guy was. islam always fails without strong leaders which is why democracy ALWAYS fails there - see 57 counties for examples. We should not try to help islam as helping is always useless. islamics want hard core shariah and dictators are the only other option
As to Saudi, we cannot affect anything within islam ... 'sides, he likes islamists - we can affect Cuba and help the will of its people - and collapse of the regime was
But O'traitor did not come in to help his country, he came to diminish it as all his efforts testify to - He did not come to help the world toward democracy, he came to do the opposite of what was in his country's best interests .. and now to do the opposite of what was in Cuban's interest and desires
Quote from: "Romero"
Yet another dodge from what was on the table - doesn't that so obvious childish tactic embarrass you?
I sure don't need you trying to think for me, but anyhow ... I do not recall saying that I approved of the US being friends or allies with any countries.
Which brings up the question - Exactly WHAT countries do you
Islam wants to supplant not adopt Western liberalism. If it's done by violence and fear, that's just a bonus.
Everything in the Islamic texts (Allah's orders, not just instructions) is clearly against Western liberalism and Democracy
islam & democracy are totally incompatible - that is what multicult has placed in our midst - an ideology totally incompatible with our democratic ideology
Seems maybe Egypt is the only true exception re: democracy. Then, Egyptians have more going for them than all the others. They literally threw out O'traitors islamist plants and hate him with a passion for his trying to keep islamists in place
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
islam & democracy are totally incompatible - that is what multicult has placed in our midst - an ideology totally incompatible with out democratic ideology
Islam is incompatible with nations that value human rights. It is also incompatible with communism. This is why no Islamist nation that I am aware of ever adopted that alien ideology.
There are NO human rights in Islamic texts / orders .. not rights we would consider human rights. You are right that Islamic rights are incompatible with what we consider basic human rights
islam is incompatible with Western human rights & with true democracy ... so .... why are islamics here? ac_rollseyes
WHY?
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
islam is incompatible with Western human rights & with true democracy ... so .... why are islamics here? ac_rollseyes
WHY?
To make our countries as fucked up as the backward 8th century shitholes they came from. Anybody that thinks Islam will adopt Western liberalism is either on drugs or lying. Islam we must adopt their ideology not the other way around. If we don't we die.
I know you meant "Islam we must adApt". islamics will fake it until #s increase ... they are ok to go with faking or lying when it serves islam in the long run ... then when #s increase, all the quiet minions follow the then islamist self-proclaimed leaders .... but actually change their inner core belief? Not even after hell freezes over ... they know allah would punish them
Back to topic - Congress will kill O'bamba's idea .... He managed to kill decades of Cuban and Egyptian people's love for the US .... irreparable damage ... then ... that's his intention
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Quote from: "Romero"
Yet another dodge from what was on the table.
I sure don't need you trying to think for me, but anyhow ... I do not recall saying that I approved of the US being friends or allies with any countries.
Which brings up the question - Exactly WHAT countries do you
I don't know which countries you approve of the US being friends or allies with!
Well, I don't think the US or Canada should be friends and allies with the regimes in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. They oppress their people terribly. We should be sanctioning them until they're better with human rights.
Cuba's not nearly as bad though. I think we can make some progress there. Canada has maintained relations with Cuba and has been a good influence. Nice work with Harper setting it up.
Quote
The announcement, made in a speech to the nation from the Cabinet Room of the White House, follows similar decisions by Mr. Obama in recent weeks to defy Republicans on immigration, climate change policy, the regulation of the Internet and negotiations with Iran.
"He's going down a checklist of thorny, longstanding problems, and he's doing whatever he can to tackle them," said David Axelrod, a former senior adviser. "These are things that have been tearing at us for decades and generations."
On Wednesday, Mr. Obama finally made good on his pledge. "When I came into office, I promised to re-examine our Cuba policy," the president said. "I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result."
Mr. Obama's unilateral action on Cuba is part of a pattern that will define the end of his presidency. Frustrated by congressional inaction and Republican efforts to block legislation, the president has increasingly pushed the limits of his executive authority in domestic and international policy making — an approach that anticipates, and largely dismisses, angry responses from his critics.
//http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/us/politics/cuba-action-is-obamas-latest-step-away-from-a-cautious-approach.html?google_editors_picks=true&_r=0
EDIT - OH FUCK - slipped in another whacy wefty cut / paste
Anyhow, Congress will kill that crap
Egypt? You are kidding, right?
What is your problem with a democratic country ..... especially one that threw out Osama's Muslim Brotherhood ... and then had an election.
Obama's no fan of the Muslim Brotherhood. The US very much welcomed them losing power. In fact, they helped.
Egypt is still mainly controlled by the military. Protesters are being rounded up and jailed. Hundreds have been sentenced to death.
al-Sisi may have been elected, but it doesn't have to stop us from doing the right thing. We're allowed to criticize any country if it's doing wrong.
Obama and the US has resumed military aid to Egypt. There shouldn't be any military aid. We both know what it's really going to be used for.
Two words - Freely elected
The new govt' banned and is killing Osama's MB terrorists as we speak - strength and integrity
Quote
WTF are you inferring?
The Egyptian military has been oppressing protesting civilians. All of the tear gas and weapons are stamped with "Made in the USA".
They are oppressing & killing O(s)bama's old Brotherhood terror friends - exactly what the people elected him to do
That is a problem for you?
Calling killers and killer's supporters "protesting civilians" is disingenuous .... and worse
They have been mainly civilians as far as I know.
The Egyptian military is oppressing and killing Obama's Brotherhood
Quote
The news came as Secretary of State John Kerry visited Cairo just two weeks after former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in as president.
Mr Sisi won May elections, vowing to tackle "terrorism" and bring security.
He has since been pursuing a crackdown on Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, which urged a boycott of the 26-28 May elections.
The US also promised it would provide 10 Apache attack helicopters for use by the army against militants in the Sinai peninsula.
"The Apaches will come and they will come very, very soon," John Kerry said at joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart.
Egypt remains a strategic ally for Washington, and Mr Kerry's visit so soon after Mr Sisi's inauguration shows the US is still keen to engage actively and early on with the new president in the hope it will make a difference.
//http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27961933
Sounds to me like Obama and the US are more than friendly with Egyptian military and against the Brotherhood.
Recently O'islamist
Previously O supported the brotherhood doggedly - If you were worth it I would look up some slightly less recent articles by El SiSi and of the people who hated Osama supporting the MB .. but you know that was the case anyhow
Again. Egypt is the best of the 57. ..... hmmm .... You have me thinking now. Knowing that all the others are far worse, why would any thinking person viewing the reality of it all support islam or it's minions? ... obviously a failed ideology .... answer - they would not / could not
Relations with communist states like Cuba or Vietnam are sensible. Relations with China are an absolute necessity. Relations with Islamo-OPEC states like Saudi Arabia? FUCK NO!! acc_angry
Quickly build a network of pipelines to all coasts of Canada and ramp up heavy oil production in Canada, shale oil in the US/Australia as well as offshore Brazil. Secure long-term supply contracts with Asia and Europe and then introduce economic sanctions on those cocksucking Saudi scumbags. They want to get into a pricing war with us? Let's fucking fucking cut off their demand as quickly as they would cut off our heads if given a chance.
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Yes, I have heard that Obama is a secret Muslim and the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the US government!
//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood_conspiracy_theories
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Yes, I have heard that Obama is a secret Muslim and the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the US government!
//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood_conspiracy_theories
I know Obongo is not a muzzie, but just like Bush he foolishly thinks Islam is a religion of peace. ac_rollseyes
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Yes, I have heard that Obama is a secret Muslim and the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the US government!
//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood_conspiracy_theories
But he was in part raised by them and he is without a doubt a sympathizer.
Worse - he is an
Quote from: "Renee"
No doubt! Obama has only bombed seven Muslim countries in six years.
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Renee"
No doubt! Obama has only bombed seven Muslim countries in six years.
No he has bombed Muslim radicals. The problem is he doesn't understand that they are ALL potential radicals. Like you, he thinks he can pick and choose within an ideology that is misogynistic, sexist, intolerant and dangerous.
You're both typical, far left, moonbeam, idiots.
Fail much? ac_toofunny
I find it very disturbing that people like you will be the first to scream about the alleged GOP's "war on women" but you defend tooth and nail an ideology that allows women to be stoned to death for driving a car. acc_angry
Quote from: "Renee"
That's terrible!
Sympathy bombs?
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Renee"
That's terrible!
Sympathy bombs?
Willfully missing the point again. No surprise here. ac_toofunny
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Romero"
Yes, I have heard that Obama is a secret Muslim and the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the US government!
//http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Brotherhood_conspiracy_theories
But he was in part raised by them and he is without a doubt a sympathizer.
You could say the same thing about Bush, Harper, Tony Abbot(spelling) in Australia or almost every other Western leader too. It doesn't matter the party affiliation, the West has no fucking balls and will not say the obvious; the REAL problem is the Islamic ideology itself.
Quote from: "Renee"
As you well know, I have never once defended Islam. You're lying yet again and you know it!
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Renee"
As you well know, I have never once defended Islam. You're lying yet again and you know it!
The problem is you have never condemned that racist, misogynistic, vile ideology....even after children are slaughtered in it's name. You lable the people who attack that slimy ideology as you are doing now, but not that slimy ideology itself. This is what we find so morally repugnant about you. I know there are tens of millions of other hypocritical Westerners just like yourself though.
Islam, I condemn you!
Is it gone yet?
I haven't been attacking anyone. I did bust you for lying recently though. As usual, in this thread I'm trying to discuss and you guys have nothing but insults and name calling.
you and cc have called Islam a racist, misogynist, vile ideology over a thousand times. What has it accomplished. Absolutely nothing!
But enough about US-Cuba relations. Let's talk about Islam Islam Islam!
Quote from: "Romero"
Is it gone yet?
I haven't been attacking anyone. I did bust you for lying recently though. As usual, in this thread I'm trying to discuss and you guys have nothing but insults and name calling.
you and cc have called Islam a racist, misogynist, vile ideology over a thousand times. What has it accomplished. Absolutely nothing!
But enough about US-Cuba relations. Let's talk about Islam Islam Islam!
Good start, so you admit that ideology is evil and wants us dead. Now what, can we start admitting that it is NOT a religion of peace. In fact, the exact opposite is true. I
This is like a junkie or dunk admitting their problem. We admit the problem is Islam itself. Can we at least start by denying any sort of visa whatsoever to anyone that proclaims that vile ideology. That's not enough of course, but it's a start. How about an exclusive UN panel on Islamic Madness. We could get together some overpaid scholars who despise that ideology as much as I do, leave out apologist types like urself and proclaim a consensus that Islam is pure evil and the clock is ticking on ridding the world of this poison before it destroys us? ac_dance
If you, cc and whoever want to banish Islam, why not contact our government leaders and insist on it? You guys haven't taken any action whatsoever.
More hokey sleazy diversion, never straight up on point
You really don't get it - islam is in the process of getting itself banished from the West
It won't take long. We can hang in there and watch it destroy itself
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You have diverted for / shilled for it over a thousand times. What has it accomplished. Absolutely nothing! - because it is destroying itself more every single day despite the efforts of you peons for it
If Islam is such a threat, why are you doing absolutely nothing about it?
You spend half your life repeating yourself over and over again on teh internets. Why not spend a few minutes writing an e-mail?
You have no idea what shen does and no idea what I / we do or where I / we do it ... or for how long we have been doing "things" .... or what we don't do for that matter ..... no idea whatsoever
we have never met and never will meet off the internet ... so you know nothing about us
except in your prog(rammed) mind
Again ...
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Quote from: "islam's peon"
You have diverted for / shilled for that same racist, misogynist, vile ideology over a thousand times. What has it accomplished. Absolutely nothing! - because islam is destroying itself more every single day despite the efforts of you peons for it
So .... we all watch in anticipation of your next ploy ... you never disappoint
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
Yeah eh, how fucking presumptuous can one possibly get??
It is a disease / affliction that all progs succumb to ... this particular one being a glaring example
They all actually and truly think they know everything ... most of which they cannot know.
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
They all actually and truly think they know everything ... most of which they cannot know.
Meh, we are all aware of the left's hypocrisy when it comes to vileness that is Islam.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "cc li tarte"
They all actually and truly think they know everything ... most of which they cannot know.
Meh, we are all aware of the left's hypocrisy when it comes to vileness that is Islam.
True ... nothing new here ... move along folks