President to start normalizing relations with Cuba

[BillyBobtx]

Business pages reporting the President and Raul Castrol are going to speak at the same time today (from different places), about normalizing relations including the use of American credit cards.

According to CNBC-
"The U.S. is starting talks with Cuba to normalize full diplomatic relations and open an embassy, according to U.S. officials. The expanded relationship would also open imports of Cuban cigars somewhat, according to a CNN report.
U.S. President Obama, Cuba's Raul Castro plan to speak separately at noon ET about relations between the two countries.
Obama plans to overhaul Cuba's policy while Cuba plans to free 53 political prisoners and to allow U.S. debit and credit cards, Dow Jones reported. This follows Cuba's release of American Alan Gross from a Cuban prison where he spent five years on espionage charges, NBC reported."

According to the business pages, this move was started by the Vatican.

I will be following this closely.

[pete33458]

I guess you have to be happy (in some ways at least) for the people of Cuba if relations can be improved. On the other hand, how long until it becomes the new Cancun? TGI Fridays and The Gap and McDonalds where beautiful coastal habitat used to exist? I've been ambivalent about the embargo for a long time for these reasons... Pete

[HappyMdRSailor]

How 'bout that Pope eh???

Never figured he would be the motivating force for legal Cuban cigars!

[avb3]

Closed. Not related to cruising and political.