Report: Hard to ease Cuba embargo

[Billy Burnett]

Report: Hard to ease Cuba embargo
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1262329.html

A U.S. president has limited ways to ease the embargo on Cuba -- unless he or she certifies that Havana is moving toward democracy or Congress overturns U.S. laws on the sanctions, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

``The bottom line is that the president and Congress have done about as much as they can for now'' to ease the sanctions, said a U.S. government official who studied the report. ``So, unless Cuba takes steps the ball is in Congress' court.''

The report comes amid a debate between supporters of the sanctions, who argue that current laws make it all but impossible to change them, and sanctions opponents who argue the president has the power to significantly ease the embargo.

Some have argued, for example, that President Barack Obama could allow all Americans to travel to Cuba by simply allowing tourism under the ``general licenses'' that do not require specific reasons for traveling to Cuba.

The GAO report, which was released Thursday, was requested by three supporters of easing the Cuba sanctions: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. ; Rep. Jeff Flake, R.-Ariz, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.

The report concluded that a U.S. president can nibble around the edges of current restrictions, such as ``further easing restrictions on travel, remittances and gift parcels beyond the changes recently implemented'' by Obama and Congress.

. . . . . . [], the president could end the embargo only if Congress were to amend or repeal (Helms-Burton) and other embargo-related statutes,'' the report said.

The Democrat-controlled House is expected to take up several bills in the next year that would ease U.S. sanctions in Cuba. Embargo opponents have claimed they have the votes to approve some of those bills, including one lifting all restrictions on travel to Cuba.

Embargo supporters say they will fight in the Senate, where the Democratics have a more slender majority, to block any significant easings of the embargo.

[flamingdem]

1. What a bunch of poor excuses

The Obama administration can easily begin by granting Visas for Cubans to come to the USA, including artists, musicians, academics and for godsake RICHARD ALARCON.

Plus, it's easy enough to get rid of the people-to-people and academic exchange limitations imposed by Bush after the Brothers to the Rescue incident.

We are more restricted than we were under Bush pre-2004!!

I wish Farr and company well. I hope they speak to the point as clearly as Grayson speaks to the point.

Spine please.

No more exceptionalism for Cuban Americans.

[Billy Burnett]

2. I think your point clearly demonstrates that it is the US campaign corruption that is the problem.

Just like the ongoing healthcare "reform" machinations. Bought and paid for. Overriding the popular and obvious wisdom.