Debate over U.S.-Cuba policy is at fever pitch

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Friday, 04.10.09
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS
Debate over U.S.-Cuba policy is at fever pitch
President Barack Obama's interest in looking anew at U.S.-Cuba policy has sparked a flurry of activity on both sides of the debate.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND FRANCES ROBLES
[e-mail]

WASHINGTON -- The debate from Washington to Miami and Havana over President Barack Obama's next steps toward Cuba heated up Thursday, as the momentum to improve relations with the communist country reached levels not seen in nearly three decades.

Activists and members of Congress held a news conference on Capitol Hill blasting other U.S. lawmakers and the Cuban government -- just hours after the release of a new report by a longtime exile group calling for increased relations.

The rhetoric on both sides of the controversial topic has been revved up in preparation for a highly anticipated announcement from Obama that he will lift the remaining restrictions on Cuban family travel and remittances to the island. The president also has authority to allow more American academic and cultural groups to visit Cuba.

As Obama delays his announcement to coincide with next week's fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad, activists for and against increased travel and trade to Cuba have been busy issuing reports, holding dueling news conferences, sending letters to the president, tapping dissidents on the island and leaking news stories to the national press.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/993231.html

[Mika]

1. Read: A lot of money is changing hands. n/t