S And Cuba Inch Closer As Obama Supports The Reopening Of Embassies In Both Countries
Close at the heels of the decision of the US government to remove Cuba from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, US President Barack Obama faces opposition within the Democrats and the Republicans to the move to reopen embassies in both countries. Most US Senators are against normalizing relations between the two nations. A presidential candidate says he would make closing all communication lines between Cuba and the US as his priority if he were elected.
Obama needs Congressional approval of the renewal of relations between the two nations before anything concrete can be done in this direction. The Congress should appoint an ambassador to the country. There should be a unanimous decision to waver the sanctions operative on Cuba. All funds required for the embassy to function are to be approved by the US.
Senator Tom Cotton is doing all he can to block moves for the appointment of an ambassador. He is against the reopening of the embassy or funding it in any manner. The regime in Cuba is devoid of any kind of sympathy for the Cubans.
There has been a growing dissonance against the dictatorial regime in Cuba even as restrictions on Americans to travel to Cuba are in place. There is an overwhelming majority in the US Congress in support of these restrictions. A bill passed by the House restricts using any money to set up an American embassy in Cuba.
There is a mixed reaction to the move by Obama among the Republicans. The details of the proposed plan to reopen embassies are yet to be chalked out.