President Trump has placed some restrictions on travel to Cuba, but has not entirely undone the changes that former President Obama made in his second term:
In an overhaul of one of his predecessor's signature legacies, President Donald Trump will redraw U.S. policy toward Cuba on Friday, tightening travel restrictions for Americans that had been loosened under President Barack Obama and banning U.S. business transactions with Cuba's vast military conglomerate.
Trump's changes are intended to sharply curtail cash flow to the Cuban government and pressure its communist leaders to let the island's fledgling private sector grow. Diplomatic relations reestablished by Obama, including reopened embassies in Washington and Havana, will remain. Travel and money sent by Cuban Americans will be unaffected, but Americans will be unable to spend money in state-run hotels or restaurants tied to the military, a significant prohibition.
Editorials for and against the rollback.
Previously: Deal Will Allow Up to 110 U.S. Flights to Cuba Daily
President Obama Visits Cuba
USA Ends "Wet Foot/Dry Foot" Policy for Cuban Migrants
Related Stories
Air travel from the United States to Cuba, and in particular Havana, may see a massive increase as the result of a new deal between the two countries:
The United States and Cuba have struck a deal to allow as many as 110 regular airline flights a day, allowing a surge of American travel to Cuba that could eventually flood the island with hundreds of thousands more U.S. visitors a year, officials said Thursday on the anniversary of detente between the Cold War foes.
The deal reached Wednesday night after three days of talks in Washington opens the way for U.S. airlines to negotiate with Cuba's government for 20 routes a day to Havana and 10 to each of Cuba's other nine major airports, the State Department said. While it will likely take months before the first commercial flight to Havana, the reestablishment of regular aviation to Cuba after half a century will almost certainly be the biggest business development since the two countries began normalizing relations last year.
Even a fraction of the newly allowed number of flights would more than double current U.S. air traffic to Cuba but it may take years to reach that number. U.S. travel to Cuba has risen by more than 50 percent this year alongside an even great surge in travel from other countries, overwhelming the country's outmoded tourist infrastructure.
Havana Times has an op-ed marking the year after President Obama and Raul Castro's statements on normalizing relations.
President Obama has become the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since long before the Cuban embargo began:
President Barack Obama embarked on Sunday on a historic trip to Cuba where a Communist government that vilified the United States for decades prepared a red-carpet welcome. Lifting off from Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, Obama headed for Havana where the sight of Air Force One, America's iconic presidential jet, touching down on Cuban soil would have been unimaginable not long ago.
The three-day trip, the first by a U.S. president in 88 years, is the culmination of a diplomatic opening announced by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro in December 2014, ending a Cold War-era estrangement that began when the Cuban revolution ousted a pro-American government in 1959. Obama, who abandoned a longtime U.S. policy of trying to isolate Cuba internationally, now wants to make his shift irreversible. But major obstacles remain to full normalization of ties.
Ahead of Obama's arrival, plainclothes police blanketed the capital with security while public works crews busily laid down asphalt in a city where drivers joke they must navigate "potholes with streets." Welcome signs with images of Obama alongside Castro popped up in colonial Old Havana, where the president and his family will tour later on Sunday.
Also at The Guardian and live at The Washington Post. Voice of America reports that dozens of protesters were arrested hours before Obama's visit.
Extras:
How Canada played pivotal role in Obama's history-making trip to Cuba
How Raúl Castro broke with firebrand brother Fidel to jump start Cuba-U.S. relations
US hotel firm Starwood strikes historic Cuba deal
The World Socialist Web Site reports
Under the previous policy, Cubans who made it to dry land in US territory were permitted to enter the country and take advantage of the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act, which allowed Cubans to claim permanent US residency after one year in the country. Cubans who were interdicted at sea by the US Coast Guard, on the other hand, were returned to Cuba.
[...] On January 12, President Barack Obama announced that, effective immediately, the US government would end the so-called "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" policy, as well as the Cuban Medical Professional Parole Program. In a joint statement detailing the changes in migration policy, the Cuban government agreed to accept Cuban nationals deported or returned by the US.
Through these programs, Cubans were extended preferential immigration status and a continued incentive to leave the country, which contributed to a "brain drain" of trained professionals and provided Washington and right-wing Cuban exiles the fodder for propaganda about state repression in Cuba fueling a constant stream of refugees.
Cuba has an abundance of well-trained medical personnel. Economist Dean Baker has pointed out that allowing the American Medical Association to construct artificial barriers to expanding USA's medical labor force is dumb and makes healthcare more expensive.
Also at The New York Times and Fox News.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @07:39PM (21 children)
Only communists could object to putting money in the hands of the workers instead of a murderous regime.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:01PM (1 child)
Trump's regime murderous? Missed that tweet.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:24PM
Regarding using nukes:
Who in their right mind would say something like that? Oh right, a murderous tool.
Not so murderous, but clearly unhinged violence.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Friday June 16 2017, @08:05PM (18 children)
Uh... I get what you're going for and all, but you should probably do a quick dictionary check on the word "communist"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:12PM (7 children)
Probably going for "communism"? [reason.com]
(Score: 5, Informative) by ikanreed on Friday June 16 2017, @08:32PM (6 children)
Man, that reason article is fucked up and dishonest.
I don't like to get into Mao or Stalinist apologist bullshit(of which the internet contains fucking plenty). They were terrible and holomdor was a goddamn barbaric disregard for his Stalin's own citizens. But "All the famines of the 20th century were under communism" is pretty fucking dumb, several hundred Americans died prematurely at least in part due to the dust bowl.
2-3 million Indians died in the bengal famine. The Indian famine of 1974 killed 1.5 million, If you count 1900 as the 20th century(I know it's not), another million indians died in the famine of 1900.
The great Persian famine had close to 10 million die.
Approximately a million died in the Vietnamese famine of 1945.
The Great Chinese famine of 1928(predating the evils of communism) killed an unknown number best guessed in the low millions.
Africa has had numerous famines, and the colonial powers controlling Africa for much of the 20th century didn't even bother documenting them. Ethiopia alone had a half dozen in the 20th century. They sure as hell weren't commies.
Europe faired better, with most of their famines clocking in at under a million deaths, but still included hundreds of thousands in: Greece and the Netherlands(caused by WW2).
Again, I'm not trying to absolve Stalin and Mao for their crimes in actively causing famine, but fuck reason and their complete lack of research.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:39PM (5 children)
The reason article uses a low estimate. [scottmanning.com]
How many other famines were because the government deliberately murdered, relocated and imprisoned successful farmers (kulaks)? [wikipedia.org] You cannot separate the famine from the ideology when it is a direct consequence of that ideology.
(Score: 4, Touché) by ikanreed on Friday June 16 2017, @08:45PM (2 children)
Again, not apologizing for stalin's evil shit.
Just excoriating a shitty article that contains outright lies.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:01PM
Fair enough. In defence of the article, it merely documents the presented infographic which cites references from the estimates it uses. While we don't have accurate figures, the estimates are quite horrifying enough.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:01PM
But but muh false equivalence!
(Score: 2) by t-3 on Friday June 16 2017, @09:40PM (1 child)
Purposeful inefficiency and totalitarianism are not ideological tenets of communism.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @10:27PM
That very much depends on which side of the lie you are on.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:31PM (9 children)
What do you mean? Are you saying No True Communist? Because if so, then fuck you! If it says it's a communist, walks like a communist, and murders people like a communist, it's a fucking communist, regardless of what your perfect ideal of communist might be.
(Score: 3, Informative) by ikanreed on Friday June 16 2017, @08:36PM (6 children)
No, I mean, you retard, that communists, literally by definition are supposed to favor workers.
Why communist governments seem to universally fail at that is a exercise for the reader. Which doesn't absolve you of being a fucking retard who doesn't get that communist ideologues celebrate workers to obscene degrees.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @08:44PM (5 children)
Which was the entire point of my original comment. I also disagree with you that it's supposed to favor workers, that's the sale line but not the intent.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @10:00PM (4 children)
Just like capitalism is supposed to be about free market competition resulting in more efficient and higher quality results.
Silly rabbit trix are for kids!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @10:19PM (3 children)
As for putting the means of production in the hands of the workers... go buy a 3D printer, desktop CNC or whatever you need. They're affordable because capitalism delivered them. And no, I'm not saying capitalism is perfect, only that socialism is a much greater evil.
(Score: 1) by noneof_theabove on Friday June 16 2017, @11:45PM (2 children)
Humans are "social" animals with the exceptions of lawyers, most politicians(R), and the Liar-in-Chief, they fall under "snakes".
Evidently you failed human history and reading the bible.
Capitalism is a creation of the USA especially having "extreme" in front of it.
Up until a few hundred years ago if you did not participate in your local social group, you were ex-communicated, shunned, and many other variants.
Tell me what good capitalism has brought outside of the ultra rich being enriched which we have become and that is a oligarchy.
Why do I need oranges from Florida when South Texas where I live has plenty.
Why should I call my doctor at 3am ask ask them if I need drug XYZ. [only the US and New Zealand allow advertising drugs]
Why is there no "menu" at the hospital?
So 2 things that should explode your last remaining brain cells.
Welcome to the the United Corporations and Churches of America [UCCA was USA]
Where the real product is the stock and the true customer is the stock holder.
In god we trust, all others pay foreign loan shark interest.
and
You can not control a population that is
1) well educated [will call your bluff] [looking at Betsy DeVos - Education]
2) well funded [for the next 2] [look at R Alexander Acosta - Labor $15/hr does not cut it and CongressCritters for wage gap and no "equal" taxation]
3) well fed [needed for #4] [Sonny Perdue - Agriculture and FDA for allowing DDT and Glyphosate/RoundUp and a long list of crap in & on our food]
4) healthy [ask Napoleon how that march on Russia worked out during the winter.] [CongressCritters for not having Universal Health Care like the rest of the G8 nations]
Remove any 1 of the 4 and you control that population.
Amazing that was written by some ancient Chinese warrior and it is happening today in the "was the greatest country on earth".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @11:52PM (1 child)
No, can't think of any good. [cato.org] -- sent from my iphone
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday June 17 2017, @08:32AM
They gave me an iPhone. I don't use it. I mean, my intern uses it. The iPhone is the best of the modern cyber, she tells me. But you have to be Einstein to figure it out. Complicated! And let me tell you, a lot, a lot of the modern cyber comes from China. The iPhone and a lot of the cyber. They're eating our lunch, folks. Killing our economy. We've got to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.A. We've got to put the American worker first. We think of Apple as an American company. But they make their product in China. And they have offices here but China makes more money with Apple than we do, if you think about it. And we have to bring Apple -- and other companies like Apple -- back to the United States. We have to do it. And that's one of my real dreams for the country, to get them back. We have a great capacity in this country. If you think about it, they have an advantage in a lot of ways. First of all, they manipulate the hell out of their currency, which just kills us. It makes it so hard to compete. China has zero respect for our country. I will get them to stop. And honestly, they're communists. Not as bad as Cuba. Not as bad as Bernie. But they're communists. Big advantage for them. But we have advantages because the shipping costs and the costs of what they do over there is so enormous. What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until such time as they bring their manufacturing to the U.S.A. How do you like it? I just thought of that. Boycott Apple. We’re going to get Apple to build their damn computers and things in this country instead of in other countries. To build their cyber in the U.S.A. #TrumpWinery [twitter.com] #MakeAmericaGreatAgain [twitter.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:56PM (1 child)
Ah, so the USA is a capitalist country then! After all it walks like a capitalist country, talks like a capitalist country, and murders brown people like a capitalist country, so it must be a capitalist country! Just ignore all the anti-free market stuff that it does because the name makes it true! I think I'm an ANONYMOUS HERO now, so you can't call me a coward! ISIS are righteous freedom fighters because they say they are! North Korea is democratic it's in the name!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @10:42PM
Yes.
Powerful interests.
There's nothing anti-capitalistic about protectionism, what do you think property rights are?
Good for you.
Communism was created for the benefit of the workers!
We got there in the end didn't we?
(Score: 2) by Lagg on Friday June 16 2017, @07:41PM (15 children)
What if an American saw a really good looking gordito burrito at Cuban Taco Bell? Do we have realtime statistical analysis at home that compares which Cuban Taco Bell disperses funds back into the state? Or is it like an honor system. Something we're just fantastic at when walking on other people's homelands. Or do they actually expect people to be good little boys and girls and listen to the babysitter you now have to have (Murika, home of the brave).
Also I feel kind of bad for the Cuban immigrant that posted in that other thread. Sure, Obama might have done it for profit. But I don't feel like they'd be any more satisfied with Trump's reasoning. And if they are then I don't think they'd care for it turning out to be a partial unraveling.
Will say though, I'm not sure what's gained in continuing the hostility. Isn't the guy the US had issue with dead now and only a matter of time before they have a solid private sector? What if we would have tried to open trade earlier? Would they be in a better state now?
By the way, the places I'd assume actual secretive state-supporting shit go down are still allowed:
Additionally, the vacation companies will make a killing with the mandatory babysitter.
Uuuuuhhmmmmuuuurrrrikaaaaaa [youtube.com]
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 2, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday June 16 2017, @08:30PM (14 children)
If the Cuban immigrant you have in mind is Mr. Cigar, AKA Kyuubey, then nope, fuck him sideways. He's not as much of a degenerate as a few other people I can name, but he's still up there, and I'm fine with him getting hurt by the stuff he supports.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Lagg on Friday June 16 2017, @08:37PM (13 children)
Sorry I should really learn to put names so I don't make it look like I'm a filthy commie or something. But I'm not used to this level of politically charged discussion so forgive me. I was referring to cmn's post [soylentnews.org] and his responses following. It's hard to not see these people's point because we meddle in places so hardcore. But yeah. I don't think the best interest of the world or normal Cubans is to be isolated and mistrusted in this way. Which is what Trump's people are trying very hard to encourage because it's a valuable divide and conquer tool. Not to mention that they probably don't care about normal Cubans so much as particular profitable Cubans.
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:21PM (12 children)
Azuma's technique of "arguing" is just calling people idiots as loudly, rudely, and often as possible, so don't read too much into it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Friday June 16 2017, @11:45PM
Actually, it seems to be the new norm that we're aspiring to, here on the red site.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by Azuma Hazuki on Saturday June 17 2017, @01:06AM (8 children)
Oh cry harder. I've learned not to engage in substantive discussion with the worst degenerates because they don't have anything to say and can't stay on topic, so all that's left to do is insult them. Got a problem with me? De-lurk and use your real name and we can discuss things, assuming you're capable of it. Otherwise lie down and cry about it.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday June 17 2017, @04:22PM (7 children)
Just so you know, I'm not the AC above. But, I am highly amused by this whole discussion. ☺
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday June 18 2017, @02:12AM (6 children)
You're the kind of guy who's highly amused by his own toejam, so that's not really a reliable metric. Don't you have some Duplo to be playing with somewhere? Or was that taken away from you after you tried to eat one?
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday June 18 2017, @05:18AM (5 children)
It's good that springtime is past. At least you're not inquiring about my anatomy any more.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday June 18 2017, @04:35PM (4 children)
There's not much to inquire about, I'm told :D
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday June 18 2017, @05:15PM (3 children)
It doesn't take much, is what I hear.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Sunday June 18 2017, @07:22PM (2 children)
Hate to say this, but she's telling you that to spare your feelings, such as they are.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday June 19 2017, @01:14AM (1 child)
Not "she", but YOU!
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday June 19 2017, @03:12AM
Okay, we're done here. You're so far out in left field you've somehow ended up by the concession stand. Wake me up when you're capable of coherent thought again (in other words, never).
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday June 17 2017, @06:00AM (1 child)
But you know, if they actually are idiots, and they refuse to pay attention to that fact, rude and loud protestations are emphatically called for. I do not see a problem here. Other than the idiots do not see that they are idiots. I commend Azuma's concern for the less intellectually gifted of the Soylentils, and support her further efforts to raise them out of total ignorance into the dawning realization that they are really, really, stupid and ignorant. Anyone should be thankful for such a service! I hope this is what you meant by "don't read too much into it." Or are you one of the idiots?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by fido_dogstoyevsky on Saturday June 17 2017, @11:00AM
I see two possible problems:
(1) if you go down to their level they might beat you by experience*;
(2) the sight of a philosopher starting a battle of wits against an unarmed opponent is... not edifying.
*Not mine, I wish it was, but I saw it somewhere on the interweb.
It's NOT a conspiracy... it's a plot.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by julian on Friday June 16 2017, @08:27PM (8 children)
How many more decades do we have to try this before the jingoists admit it doesn't work? Instead they've maintained a hate-boner for the Castros so long it's turned into priapism. At this point the Republican party hardliners are insisting we stick to the old policy out of nothing more than spite. The rest of the world has moved on and are getting down to profitable business while we're shut out.
What went wrong with the world that left-wingers like me have to lecture "conservatives" about the benefits and liberalizing effects of free trade and open markets? This is mad.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by RamiK on Friday June 16 2017, @08:47PM
As long as Trump, Phil Ruffin, Carl Icahn and Sheldon Adelson stay in the casino business.
compiling...
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:03PM (4 children)
They went full retard in their quest to fight the PC culture. Guess they should have paid more attention to the memes!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by julian on Friday June 16 2017, @09:13PM (3 children)
Some liberal college students 1000 miles away have silly ideas about gender so I have to vote for a corrupt, incompetent, game show host to save Western Civilization! Also have I mentioned we're the party of Lincoln? Care to buy a water filter?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @10:05PM
Hey man, their brave actions have prevented me from getting raped in public restrooms at least 138 times. Now if only they could make headway on the other issue... those damn gays destroying my marriage! Every time the gays marry at least 20 kittens get divorced. And don't get me started on those people sitting near me on the bus.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 17 2017, @01:06AM (1 child)
You are being disingenuous as fuck and you know it. The last presidential election had nothing to do with SJWs and everything to do with the fact that Trump was running against the corrupt as fuck and ruthlessly competent Darth Clinton. Hillary is so rotten that even Donald Duck could have won against her.
(Score: 2) by julian on Saturday June 17 2017, @01:09AM
Absolutely, and I hear she's a serial killer, too. Smells like sulfur! We really dodged a bullet, I tell ya.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 16 2017, @09:15PM
Pretty much the party in a nutshell.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 17 2017, @12:01AM
What do you propose? Give them more money?
Oh no, don't mistake it for hate. Why is Cuba even getting free money anyway?
Lol, I'm not even left leaning, but lay off the coolaid will you?