Obama to allow travel, money transfers to Cuba

[thewiseguy]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

The formal announcement was being made at the White House Monday afternoon, during presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs' daily briefing with reporters. The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to upstage the president's announcement.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090413/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_cuba

Also breaking on Wall Street Journal:

* Obama administration to allow U.S. telecom companies to apply for licenses in Cuba as part of policy shift.

:) :bounce: :toast:

[vaberella]

1. I'm so bloody excited. We can go to Cuba...watch the rates now...

Cuba is going to be the dream Caribbean hot spot!!

By the way I was just about to post this...so K*R.

:kick:

[Occam Bandage]

2. "...by Cuban Americans."

A vacation to Cuba for most Americans still seems a while off, unless I'm misreading.

[vaberella]

6. Meh...you might be right...

Darn.

President Barack Obama directed his administration Monday to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban Americans to family in Cuba, and to take other steps to ease U.S. restrictions on the island, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

You're right. My excitement got the better of me. ~sigh~

[Occam Bandage]

3. These are great steps. How long until America finally restores normality to its Cuban relations?

Can't be long now.

[LostInAnomie]

4. Really, if they want to end Communism in Cuba...

... money transfers would probably be the thing. Injecting inequality into their system would be a sure way to break it down.

[Occam Bandage]

7. Dropping trade restricitons would be the best thing.

Communism in China has been steadily evaporating as the Chinese have engaged the world in trade.

[cboy4]

5. Here is the important part which I strongly support

But Obama is keeping the decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba in place, arguing that that policy provides leverage to pressure the regime to free all political prisoners as one step toward normalized relations with the U.S.