Change With Cuba in President Obama's Hands

[Judi Lynn]

Change With Cuba in President Obama's Hands
Posted: 12/23/2013 3:38 pm

How then can we expect to be the prime mover in the complex affairs of the world, if we lack the courage here at home to redefine U.S.-Cuban relations? Change is in the hands of the president -- and Cuban Americans. In his eulogy Obama said, "Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done." --Vicki Huddleston, former chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana (1999-2002), former deputy assistant secretary for Africa at State and at Defense, Miami Herald op-ed

Some Republicans and Cuban-American lawmakers are criticizing President Obama for shaking President Raúl Castro's hand at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Their reaction to a gesture of common courtesy should come as no surprise given Washington's senseless commitment to a failed 50-year policy toward Cuba. --The Editorial Board of the New York Times

The handshake between President Obama and Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service would have made the South African leader smile. It was the latest sign of a gradual thawing in relations between Washington and Havana after a frozen half-century. It hasn't been easy. Obama favored diplomatic recognition and lifting the embargo as far back as when he was a state legislator in Illinois, and he has steadily eased restrictions on travel since taking office. But many on the American right, especially octogenarian Cuban immigrants from the Bay of Pigs generation, have stubbornly resisted normalizing relations with Cuba. Now, though, it seems as if the process is developing a momentum of its own. --Tom Hayden, a founder of the new left and former member of the California State Senate, Los Angeles Times op-ed

~snip~
A major obstacle has been Senator Robert Menendez, until recently on issues other than Cuba, a progressive non-interventionist Democrat. He reportedly has threatened to use his position as Chair of the Foreign Relations committee to block consideration of all State Department appointments if the President dares to reform Cuba policy.

If that is true, Menendez has either dramatically diminished his leverage with the President or upped the blackmail ante by supporting the Netanyahu line on Iran:

On December 19, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez introduced new sanctions on Iran in open defiance of the Obama Administration's demand that Congress hold off on new sanctions on Iran while the Administration works to negotiate a comprehensive final agreement restricting Iran's nuclear program to transparently peaceful purposes. The Administration has argued that new sanctions now would tank diplomatic negotiations with Iran and leave military force as the only option for restricting Iran's nuclear program. Thus, the Menendez bill is a recipe for war.

--Robert Naiman, Policy Director, Just Foreign Policy

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-mcauliff/change-with-cuba-obama_b_4494310.html