On September 17 Cuba’s new Ambassador to the U.S., Jose Ramon Cabanas Rodriguez, presented his credentials to President Obama.[1] Afterwards, Cabanas said he would be continuing to spread the truth about Cuba, promote new relationships and explain all remaining obstacles to normal relations between the two countries. “In … Continue reading New Cuban Ambassador to U.S. Presents Credentials to President Obama
Today, September 18, the United States announced new regulations to improve U.S. trade and travel with Cuba. Additional positive changes also are expected over the next several months.[1] New Trade and Travel Regulations The U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Commerce on Friday announced new regulations, to be effective on September 21 upon their publication … Continue reading U.S. Announces Concrete Improvements in Relations with Cuba
A group of nearly 50 prominent U.S. citizens has issued an open letter to President Obama urging him to take executive action to expand U.S. involvement with Cuba. Here are the specific recommendations from this group: Expand and safeguard travel to Cuba for all Americans Expand general licensed travel to include exchanges by professional organizations, … Continue reading Former U.S. Diplomats and Government Officials Urge President Obama To Expand U.S. Involvement with Cuba
A prior post discussed preliminary information about U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s August 14 meeting with Cuban dissidents and others at the official Havana residence of the U.S. charge d’affaires. The other attendees included representatives of the Engage Cuba coalition for normalization; its members (the Center for Democracy in the Americas, #CubaNow, Procter & … Continue reading Kerry’s Meeting with Cuban Dissidents Gets Rave Reviews
# Date Title 456 01/01/14 Annual Report on dwkcommentaries (2013) 457 01/25/14 Bipartisan Call for Reform of U.S. Elections 458 01/27/14 What Are the Determinants of Individual Success? 459 … Continue reading List of Posts to dwkcommentaries–Chronological (2014)
On April 8th a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on the upcoming funding of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). One of the subjects of the hearing was the agency’s social media program for Cuba.[1] Dr. Rahiv Shah, the USAID Administrator, testified that the program was “an attempt to … Continue reading U.S. Senate Hearing Discusses USAID’s Social Media Program for Cuba
On August 14, 2015, the U.S. formally opened its Embassy in Havana, Cuba with the raising of the American flag and a program featuring remarks by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that were telecast and broadcast live throughout the island.[1] Thus, his message, in one sense, was directed to the Cuban people, and the words … Continue reading U.S. Secretary of State Speaks to the Cuban People
On the morning of July 20, 2015, Cuba officially opened its Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the United States did likewise in Havana although the ceremonial opening of the latter will be on August 14 when Secretary of State John Kerry goes to Havana to preside that event. Prior posts discussed the ceremonial opening of … Continue reading Comments About Cuba by White House Press Secretary
U.S. citizen Alan Gross is being held in a Cuban prison after having been tried and convicted by a Cuban court for violating Cuban law while three Cuban citizens are being held in U.S. federal prisons after having been tried and convicted by U.S. federal courts for violating U.S. law. There has been much public … Continue reading New York Times Recommends U.S.-Cuba Prisoner Exchange
In light of President Barack Obama’s historic December 17, 2014, announcement of rapprochement with Cuba, it is interesting to examine Obama’s earlier statements about Cuba. Prior posts examined his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2007-2008 and his campaign for the presidency as the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2008. Now we discuss his first … Continue reading President Barack Obama’s First-Term Record Regarding Cuba, 2009-2013
