[arista]

The President
has set up big exchange deals with Cuba

http://news.sky.com/story/1393992/us...-historic-deal

[kirklancaster]

Long overdue and very welcome news Arista. Communism is no threat to Western democracies and we have real threats to worry about. As for adverse reaction - Feck 'em- you can't please everybody.

[the truth]

the idiot communists will be ecstatic

[Toy Soldier]

Now call me skeptical, but one wonders if this might not be because when there were previous "tensions" with Russia, and the US and Cuba were not on good terms, Cuba played a not so small role in the drama by allowing Russia to station missiles there.

Seems like coincidental timing for the Americans to be getting Cuba on-side... Just sayin'...

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Now call me skeptical, but one wonders if this might not be because when there were previous "tensions" with Russia, and the US and Cuba were not on good terms, Cuba played a not so small role in the drama by allowing Russia to station missiles there.

Seems like coincidental timing for the Americans to be getting Cuba on-side... Just sayin'...

I think you could be on the money there.It's all posturing imo.Just like Russia sending military aircraft into European airspace,Just to say 'look we're here'.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Now call me skeptical, but one wonders if this might not be because when there were previous "tensions" with Russia, and the US and Cuba were not on good terms, Cuba played a not so small role in the drama by allowing Russia to station missiles there.

Seems like coincidental timing for the Americans to be getting Cuba on-side... Just sayin'...

Russia now though is as ideologically distant from Cuba as the USA is. And the agreement concluded the other day was the product of 18 months of secret negotiations. It's a sensible and long overdue move imo, decades of tensions and attempts to freeze Cuba out of the international community don't seem to have borne too much fruit.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by The Geordie Jesus

Russia now though is as ideologically distant from Cuba as the USA is. And the agreement concluded the other day was the product of 18 months of secret negotiations. It's a sensible and long overdue move imo, decades of tensions and attempts to freeze Cuba out of the international community don't seem to have borne too much fruit.

Excellent post and I agree. It is sensible and long overdue. Very welcome news. Even the Pope played a part in making this happen.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Now call me skeptical, but one wonders if this might not be because when there were previous "tensions" with Russia, and the US and Cuba were not on good terms, Cuba played a not so small role in the drama by allowing Russia to station missiles there.

Seems like coincidental timing for the Americans to be getting Cuba on-side... Just sayin'...

I agree.

i think a small part of this is to send a message to Russia because of the Ukraine situation.

Russia tried to use Cuba decades ago as a staging area for weapons on America's doorstep. The same claims Russia uses against the US having NATO at Russia's doorstep. This is partly another slap in the face for Putin.

Also i think Obama is looking for a lasting legacy. He wants be known as the president that fixed the Cuba situation in the history books. He knows that next year the race to the white house will begin, and he will become a lame duck, especially with a republican held congress, he is trying to ensure some kind of place in history for himself before he is overshadowed by the next election.

[Livia]

Havana cigars all round this Christmas then.

[lostalex]

I welcome all cuban immigrants to America. Cuban guys are hot.