President Obama is headed for Panama this evening for an historic meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, on the sidelines of a major regional summit.
Looming large in the meeting is the ongoing review of Cuba’s inclusion on US lists of “international sponsors of terrorism,” with President Obama saying he will soon decide on the issue. Reports are that the State Department has recommended removing them.
Obama offered an upbeat assessment on the likely removal of Cuba from the list, saying the US would need “strong evidence” to support putting nations on that list.
Which historically has not been the case. The US traditionally has used terror listings to bludgeon international rivals. There was never much justification for Cuba to be on the list beyond long-standing US acrimony toward them.
Even with the removal seemingly imminent, US officials are indicating that they’re holding off while trying to get certain guarantees from Cuba about their access to diplomatic facilities. This underscores the reality that the terror list has little to do with terrorism, and Cuba’s presence or removal from the list will have nothing to do with terrorism.
Many Latin American countries stand with Cuba. Obama wants Peace he must negotiate with Cuba. He wants ME Peace he must placate Iran and stop supporting the 'Chosenite' warmonger ie BiBi
Being a friend with and trust the great Satan and Uncle Shmuely`s ailing evil empire comes with a price, ask 50 million genocided Indians, ask Gaddafi & the Libyans. it´s often much much better to stay on the light side and remain an enemy.
A peace deal could be a death warrant…
Guarantees from Cuba about U.S. access to diplomatic facilities? That's just a code word for a U.S. demand to be given facilities to foment regime change.
The list of what is known to USG as "terrorists" is a long one, many on the list are very well known by USG and even have a cooperation with, it seams that state department needs to keep certain number as their statistics, now the question is who they are going to ad balancing their numbers now that they have removed Cuba!
slow learners – they just finished their dick and jane books, of course I mean the US
US expects to make money…as usual…
Jamaica Gleaner: US to unveil energy deal as Obama meets Portia
Petroleumworld.com quotes Ted Piccone, a former adviser to Bill Clinton, as saying that with Venezuela cutting its supply of oil under the PetroCaribe programme, "the goal of the United States now is to try to break up PetroCaribe"… http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/2…
Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaica signs energy agreement with US
Jamaica could finally get the long-touted liquefied natural gas (LNG) project off the ground with the signing of an energy cooperation agreement with the United States Government…
Speaking with The Gleaner after the signing, Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell said the Government is optimistic particularly at the prospect of becoming a hub for distribution of LNG from the US to the rest of the region… http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150409/…
Cuba should never have been on that list in the 1st place. They've neither bombed Pearl Harbor, nor caused 9/11 nor committed any other terrorist acts against the US nor anyone else.