U.S. - Cuba Foreign Policy Looking Up

Americans are one step closer to being able to travel to Cuba. Obama is making small but progressive moves, along with Fidel and Raul Castro, to settle the bitter feud that has been going on for half a century.

Today in Washington, Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson )D-MN), Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS), and at least 31 of their House colleagues introduced new legislation HR 4645 that would finally restore diplomacy between the two countries allowing for travel, telecommunications and agricultural sales to the island.

“U.S. producers are the closest suppliers that can help meet the food and agriculture needs of the Cuban people. Opportunities to sell to paying customers in Cuba have been hindered by bureaucratic red tape and by arbitrary prohibitions on the ability of U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. This bill cuts the red tape and allows that trade and travel to happen,” Chairman Peterson said.

Although Cuba is benefitting from tourism and farming it is still an isolated island that struggles to feed its population. Communist Cuba is known to have reputable health and education systems and the embargo has hindered American students from using its educational institutions.

After the Cuban revolution the US placed an embargo that would last until Cuba moved toward “democratization and greater respect for human rights.” It didn’t help that in 1996 the Cuban military struck down and killed the passengers of an unarmed U.S. civilian aircraft in international airspace north of Cuba.

Since then, there has been a National Emergency Act placed between the two countries denying monetary and material support to the Cuban government.

Many say that the full embargo will be lifted by the end of the 2010.

What is still left for interpretation is the fact that the U.S. leases Gauntanamo Bay land from Cuba. Castro says that he hasn’t cashed any of the checks since the 50s when the Cuban Revolution took place.