Trump expected to unveil new Cuba policy as early as next Friday - sources

[rooster59]

Trump expected to unveil new Cuba policy as early as next Friday - sources

By Matt Spetalnick

 

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Newark International airport in Newark, NJ U.S., to spend a weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminister, New Jersey, June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is expected to visit Miami as early as next Friday to announce a new Cuba policy that could tighten rules on trade and travel, rolling back parts of former President Barack Obama’s opening to the island, according to a U.S. official and people familiar with the matter.

 

Trump’s aides are nearing completion of a review of relations with Cuba and are expected to send recommendations to his national security team and then to the president in coming days, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

 

Plans are in the works for Trump to roll out his new approach on June 16 in a speech in Miami, where he is expected to claim fulfillment of a campaign promise and justify it, at least in part, on human rights grounds, the sources said.

 

But they cautioned that a delay in the announcement is still possible if it takes longer for Trump to make a final decision.

 

While specific changes have not yet been finalized, the sources say Trump is likely to unveil a partial rather than complete rollback of Obama’s actions, which included restoration of relations and reopening of embassies after a diplomatic breakthrough in 2014 with America’s former Cold War foe.

 

Among the options under consideration are banning U.S. companies from doing business with Cuban enterprises tied to the military – which controls a large part of the communist-ruled island’s economy – and tightening rules on Americans traveling there, according to people familiar with the discussions.

 

With the Cuba review approaching its final stages, both sides of the issue have recently stepped up lobbying to sway Trump’s decision.

 

In the letter sent to Trump on Friday, seven of his fellow Republicans warned that rescinding Obama’s policies would “incentivize Cuba to once again become dependent on countries like Russia and China.”

 

Senior officials at the National Security Council met on Friday to begin finalizing a list of recommendations, the sources said.

 

Trump's changes are expected to stop short of breaking diplomatic relations restored two years ago after more than five decades of hostility, administration officials say.

 

But divisions remain within the Trump administration over how far to go, especially given that rapprochement with Cuba has created opportunities for American companies.

 

INTERNAL DEBATE

 

Some aides have argued that Trump, a former real estate magnate who won the presidency promising to unleash U.S. business and create jobs, would have a hard time defending any moves that close off the Cuban market.

 

But other advisers have contended that it is important to make good on a promise to Cuban-Americans whose support they considered significant winning Florida in the 2016 election. Miami is home to the largest Cuban-American community.

 

The U.S. airline and travel industries have made clear they do not want to see reinstatement of Cuba restrictions.

 

"Imposing new regulations on travel to and trade with Cuba would be bad politics, bad policy, and bad for U.S. business,” said James Williams, president of Engage Cuba, a Washingon-based lobbying group.

 

But Trump has come under heavy pressure from Cuban-American lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, to roll back Obama’s rapprochement.

 

Rubio, a member of the Senate foreign relations and intelligence committees, is seen by Trump’s aides as an important figure to cultivate at a time when the members of his administration are under investigation over contacts with Russian officials.

 

Rubio and other Obama critics have argued that he gave away too much to Cuban President Raul Castro for too little in return, especially on human rights.

 

Trump’s aides are considering ways to make future engagement moves contingent on the Cuban government’s improvement on human rights and political freedoms, U.S. officials say.

 

Such an emphasis would contrast sharply with Trump’s approach in other parts of the world where he has insisted the United States would stop lecturing other countries on the issue.

 

“Trump - friend of Putin, Sissi, Salman, Duterte, Erdogan - will cite human rights to justify hurting the Cuban people,” tweeted Ben Rhodes, Obama’s former deputy national security adviser and an architect of his Cuba détente policy.

 

Trump threatened shortly after his election in November to “terminate” Obama’s approach unless Cuba made significant concessions, something it is unlikely to do.

 

Obama implemented his normalization measures through executive actions, and Trump has the power to undo much of it.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-10

[darksidedog]

Well, I don't know what he has planned, but you can pretty much rely on it being something utterly stupid, that will be bad for him, bad for America, bad for Cuba, but which will keep his pea brained supporters happy. And when the dust has settled, he will deny any of the resulting disaster being his fault.

[Lupatria]

That's like an invitation to trash and destroy his golf resorts in Florida...

[Jingthing]

Yep, totally expecting something very idiotic and regressive from the clown president.

Such a shame.

Obama really moved the relations (finally) in a productive direction. 

Elections have consequences. Thanks a bunch to the deplorables and despicables. 

Edited June 10, 2017 by Jingthing

[dutchisaan]

Now I understand why Trump don't want to support the Paris climate change agreement.

The world will not warm up, he will just bring back the cold war!

But than, the trumpeteers will support this, so they can live there life again as it was in the fifties and sixties.

[stevenl]

So far human rights grounds have not played a role in any of his decisions. Now they suddenly do?

 

Hypocrite.

[Thaidream]

Absolute nonsensical for him to push back any of the Obama agenda on Cubs. Instead he should be pushing the Us Congress to life the outdated embargo on Cuba so full trade relations are restored and US business can make money in Cuba.  This is the same guy who states he will bring jobs and investment opportunities to America. He is pandering to wealthy Cuban expats living in Miami who are still fighting the Cuban revolution. Guess what- Castro won. Get over it.

Every day, Trump either says or does something that  makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Worst President ever.....by far.

[Gecko123]

It's like he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would a reasonable, rational person do…. and then he does the opposite.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

It's like he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would a reasonable, rational person do…. and then he does the opposite.

Just comes naturally to him. You're suggesting he has a thinking process like a normal person.

[BAMBOO13]

There has to be one of the Trumpsters personalities ( out of the many in his head) that would be close to rational, or is that the one all the others fight!

[darksidedog]

38 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

It's like he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would a reasonable, rational person do…. and then he does the opposite.

I think he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would Putin like me to do this morning and then acts on that. Based upon this reasoning, much of his logic, insane speeches, Tweets and actions become much clearer. Hmm! Make Cuba dependent on Russia again? Ooo! I Know! Put sanctions there for no apparent reason.

[Deez]

Wow! Lots of lefties on TV

[Ramen087]

4 minutes ago, Deez said:

Wow! Lots of lefties on TV

Welcome to the board... it rotates counter clockwise for sure. 

[dutchisaan]

1 minute ago, Ramen087 said:

Welcome to the board... it rotates counter clockwise for sure. 

Thank you for your great input, and thank you for sharing your knowledge about looking at the clock.

BTW, that clock is ticking for your hero and it doesn't matter what way it turns!

[Ramen087]

10 minutes ago, dutchisaan said:

Thank you for your great input, and thank you for sharing your knowledge about looking at the clock.

BTW, that clock is ticking for your hero and it doesn't matter what way it turns!

I guess you haven't read the posts where I have repeatedly stated I didn't vote for Mr. Trump nor Ms. Clinton in the recent election. If you're going to personally insult someone, at least make better inferences going forward; you're showing bad form.

Edited June 10, 2017 by Ramen087

[JHolmesJr]

47 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I think he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would Putin like me to do this morning and then acts on that. Based upon this reasoning, much of his logic, insane speeches, Tweets and actions become much clearer. Hmm! Make Cuba dependent on Russia again? Ooo! I Know! Put sanctions there for no apparent reason.

 

really? sounds like a very logical process…..lol.

 

interesting how your mind works.

[Deez]

19 minutes ago, dutchisaan said:

Thank you for your great input, and thank you for sharing your knowledge about looking at the clock.

BTW, that clock is ticking for your hero and it doesn't matter what way it turns!

Typical left attitude  "If you don't hate and despise Trump as much as me, I will beat you up or insult you because you must love him"

[darksidedog]

6 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

really? sounds like a very logical process…..lol.

 

interesting how your mind works.

Now earlier today, when I presented you with multiple links that shredded your argument, you vanished from that thread and avoided the questions I asked. I however, will reply. I think you take things too seriously, because many people recognise, I have a deep sense of humour, and while I confess to not being Donald's number one fan, I do try to look at things from a way of making light, but a the same time criticising things, I feel are not right. And this is just a forum for expressing views.

My original post was really saying action on Cuba is not being taken because of recent sins or transgressions by Cuba. It is being done purely to keep certain sections of the GOP happy. Russia was Cubas ally at the time of the missile crisis there in the sixties. Is it wise to make them think about going  back to their old buddies? Things were getting a bit better there. My mind works in thinking there is a better solution to the problem here. Ignore the Putin comment, which was just a joke really for a moment.

Just tell me, What has Cuba done in the last month or two, or six even, to suddenly deserve punishments, without any discussions about supposed differences?

Answer me this question, this time, and I will respect you and your views more.

[stevenl]

41 minutes ago, Deez said:

Wow! Lots of lefties on TV

Strange to come with that conclusion in a thread like this.

[gazza4]

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Well, I don't know what he has planned, but you can pretty much rely on it being something utterly stupid, that will be bad for him, bad for America, bad for Cuba, but which will keep his pea brained supporters happy. And when the dust has settled, he will deny any of the resulting disaster being his fault.

Back in Oz, I had a motorbike to which I had great pleasure in attached a "personalized" number plate - FIDEL- . I think it was the about the time when "DUBYA" was lying to justify his shared, invasion of Iraq. I admired, and still do, Fidel Castro for giving the yanks the middle finger. Yes, of course, I can go back to the "missile crisis" if I think hard.

I still believe that if only America could be moved to Mars, the whole new world could live peacefully. 

[JHolmesJr]

38 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

…..many people recognise, I have a deep sense of humour….

LOL….nice one.

[Dumbastheycome]

Bang  the   drum.

[nasanews]

This man is a real jackass, because of him Qatar is under severe embargo and the next is worse.

[Kiwiken]

16 hours ago, stevenl said:

So far human rights grounds have not played a role in any of his decisions. Now they suddenly do?

 

Hypocrite.

Human Rights to Trump probably mean his right as a Human to exploit anyone and anything to further the Capitalist dream.

[Kiwiken]

13 hours ago, Deez said:

Typical left attitude  "If you don't hate and despise Trump as much as me, I will beat you up or insult you because you must love him"

I think sometimes people mistake Leftist think for what are simply emotive statement. In Life you must Look at things done or muted by Politicians in a Political, economic and emotive way but you must balance . That is what I find many have difficulty with. I do not like trump or the Ult right or the Ult Left. And I have little time for wealthy people who pretend to be Socialists. There is a balance to be found between all that is called Diplomacy

[fish monger]

23 hours ago, darksidedog said:

I think he wakes up in the morning and asks himself what would Putin like me to do this morning and then acts on that. Based upon this reasoning, much of his logic, insane speeches, Tweets and actions become much clearer. Hmm! Make Cuba dependent on Russia again? Ooo! I Know! Put sanctions there for no apparent reason.

 

[Gecko123]

It's also becoming more and more obvious that this a revenge driven president. Scary as hell. Obscene, really.

[Dumbastheycome]

10 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Human Rights to Trump probably mean his right as a Human to exploit anyone and anything to further the Capitalist dream.

Psychopaths have  no real  comprehension  of anything  outside  of  themself.

[funandsuninbangkok]

Excellent decision. Castros are murderers. No reason to loosen up on them. Cubans in Cuba need to take out Casto and demand freedom. Then we can open up. 

[funandsuninbangkok]

On 6/10/2017 at 8:02 PM, gazza4 said:

Back in Oz, I had a motorbike to which I had great pleasure in attached a "personalized" number plate - FIDEL- . I think it was the about the time when "DUBYA" was lying to justify his shared, invasion of Iraq. I admired, and still do, Fidel Castro for giving the yanks the middle finger. Yes, of course, I can go back to the "missile crisis" if I think hard.

I still believe that if only America could be moved to Mars, the whole new world could live peacefully. 

Here's your hero putz

 

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/442491/fidel-castro-death-tyrant-cuba-dictator-justin-trudeau