Trump aides say Cuban government will have to change

[webfact]

Trump aides say Cuban government will have to change

By ANNE FLAHERTY

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cuban government must move toward enacting greater freedoms for its people and giving Americans something in return if it wants to keep warmer U.S. relations initiated by President Barack Obama, top aides to President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday.

 

The comments by Trump advisers Kellyanne Conway and Reince Priebus followed the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro's younger brother, 85-year-old Raul Castro, took control in 2006, and later negotiated with Obama to restore diplomatic relations.

 

Priebus, Trump's incoming chief of staff, said Trump would "absolutely" reverse Obama's opening to Cuba unless there is "some movement" from the Cuban government.

 

"Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships, and that's what President-elect Trump believes, and that's where he's going to head, " Priebus told "Fox News Sunday."

 

Conway made similar remarks and noted that any diplomatic deal will have to benefit American workers.

 

"To the extent that President Trump can open up new conversations with Cuba, it would have to be a very different Cuba," she told ABC's "This Week."

 

She added: "He wants to make sure that when the United States of America, when he's president, engages in any type of diplomatic relations or trade agreements ... that we as America are being protected and we as America are getting something in return."

 

Conway said nothing on Cuba has been decided. But she noted that the U.S. is allowing commercial aircraft to do business with a repressive Cuban government and Cuban military. And she said the "first order of business" is to rally the international community around trying to free political prisoners.

 

While Obama opened some U.S. investment and travel to Cuba through executive order, vast restrictions tied up in the trade embargo remain at the insistence of Republican lawmakers.

 

Separate memorial services have been scheduled for Tuesday and later in the week in Cuba for Castro, and some world leaders and celebrities were expected to attend. As of Sunday, though, the White House had not said whether anyone from the U.S. government would attend.

 

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, whose parents were born in Cuba, says he is heartened by Trump's past hard-line rhetoric on Cuba.

 

Rubio told CNN's "State of the Union" that the U.S. focus must be its own security and other interests and encouraging a Cuban democracy.

 

"We should examine our policy toward Cuba through those lenses," he said. "And if there's a policy that helps that, it remains in place. And if it's a policy that doesn't, it's removed."

 

During the campaign, Trump said he would reverse "concessions" to the Cuban government by Obama unless the Castro government meets his demands. On Saturday, while Obama offered condolences to Castro's family and said the U.S. extends "a hand of friendship to the Cuban people," Trump tweeted: "Fidel Castro is dead!"

 

Trump later released a statement noting his administration "will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-11-28

[boomerangutang]

So much for being isolationist.  Yet, it's keeping with Trump's incessant flip-flopping.  I listened to an interview with Chomsky yesterday.  The interviewer asked questions about Trump's proposed policies.  Several times, Chomsky said, in effect; "I can't answer that. Trump changes his stances daily.  He's all over the map."  Trump has no moral core, except; amassing money for himself.

[DoctorG]

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

So much for being isolationist.  Yet, it's keeping with Trump's incessant flip-flopping.  I listened to an interview with Chomsky yesterday.  The interviewer asked questions about Trump's proposed policies.  Several times, Chomsky said, in effect; "I can't answer that. Trump changes his stances daily.  He's all over the map."  Trump has no moral core, except; amassing money for himself.

Perhaps, for clarity, you could have added that Chomsky is a socialist that is vehemently opposed to everything Trump does.

[Emster23]

"Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships, and that's what President-elect Trump believes...."

 Unless of course he can get an exclusive deal for a Trump Casino..... "make Cuba great again", like when the mob ran it in the 50's...

[chilli42]

I just don't understand the US.  Why do they feel the need to dictate how other countries manage themselves?   With so many problems in the US it would be time better spent solving their own social problems.  

[bark]

Here is where the job of President and Trumps family business conflict.

If he wasn't president ; there would be a Trump Hotel in Havana within two years.

[bark]

21 minutes ago, chilli42 said:

I just don't understand the US.  Why do they feel the need to dictate how other countries manage themselves?   With so many problems in the US it would be time better spent solving their own social problems.  

If you go to Miami Florida there are a few hundred thousand people who had to flee Cuba, because of the Cuban Government's treatment of it's people. Many of them died in small boats traveling across the ocean. For the past 40-50 years the USA has had to feed and house these people; until they were able to stand on their own two feet.

Also many of the people selling drugs in Florida are the Cuban gangs.

The the word Dictate is from the word Dictator and vice versa.  Cuba has had a Dictator from over 50 years.

So really Cuba has caused some of the social problem; which you speak of !

But thanks for your comments. Nice try.

 

 

[Kiwiken]

Why would Cuba change. Now Trump is in He made the assertion he supported water boarding, torture etc. The USA will seem a lot worse than Cuba by the end of the Trump era.

Any Leader that endorses extreme measures cannot claim the moral high ground.

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, chilli42 said:

I just don't understand the US.  Why do they feel the need to dictate how other countries manage themselves?   With so many problems in the US it would be time better spent solving their own social problems.  

The US has significant business interests and investments in most countries around the world.  So I guess that means they are interested in what happens in them.  If it was your money, I assume you'd be concerned also?

[craigt3365]

31 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

Why would Cuba change. Now Trump is in He made the assertion he supported water boarding, torture etc. The USA will seem a lot worse than Cuba by the end of the Trump era.

Any Leader that endorses extreme measures cannot claim the moral high ground.

I've never heard Trump say he cared about claiming the moral high ground.

[Morch]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

I've never heard Trump say he cared about claiming the moral high ground.

 

I disagree, Trump got the best moral high ground.

[anotheruser]

9 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

The US has significant business interests and investments in most countries around the world.  So I guess that means they are interested in what happens in them.  If it was your money, I assume you'd be concerned also?

 

If Trump started "meddling" in Thailand's affairs by demanding reciprocal rights from Thailand instead of Cuba many people would change their tune.

[gemini81]

It's Cuba's business how to manage their country.

[Andaman Al]

12 hours ago, bark said:

Here is where the job of President and Trumps family business conflict.

If he wasn't president ; there would be a Trump Hotel in Havana within two years.

I think you will find that despite being President there will be a Trump Hotel in Havana within the next 2 years  

[Nerone]

Here we go again...

[craigt3365]

5 hours ago, gemini81 said:

It's Cuba's business how to manage their country.

 

Agreed!  Just don't expect business investments unless you listen to your investors.

 

From the article above:

Quote

"Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships, and that's what President-elect Trump believes, and that's where he's going to head, " Priebus told "Fox News Sunday."

 

Luckily, many around the world feel these things are important.

[otherstuff1957]

17 hours ago, bark said:

Here is where the job of President and Trumps family business conflict.

If he wasn't president ; there would be a Trump Hotel in Havana within two years.

 

I'm fairly certain that there will be a Trump Havana in a few years.  That, of course, will signal a new era in US-Cuban relations!

[derator01]

An inappropriate post has been removed from view.  Along with a few appropriate replies.  Apologies to the members with the appropriate replies.