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Colombia detains Cuba-bound Chinese ship carrying arms

Menendez Remarks at Senate Hearing on Cuba
Capitol Hill Cubans: Menendez Remarks at Senate Hearing on Cuba

at 12:02 PM Thursday, May 21, 2015
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Menendez Remarks at Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Cuba

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez delivered the following remarks at today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled: “U.S. Cuba Relations – The Way Forward.”

Below are his beginning remarks, as prepared for delivery:

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing at such a critical time. Today is 113th anniversary of Cuban Independence Day, a bittersweet date given that the island – after more than fifty long years – has lived under the totalitarian reign of the Castro regime.

As Assistant Secretary Jacobson re-opens negotiations between Cuba and the United States tomorrow, let me be frank. Not one member of this Committee has ever said the U.S. should never talk with the regime. But I have deep concerns that the more these talks progress, the more the Administration continues to entertain unilateral concessions without – in return – getting agreement on fundamental issues that are in our national interest.

I have not seen any movement toward greater freedom for the Cuban people. I have not seen movement toward greater tolerance, democracy, or the rule of law. Human rights abuses continue unabated with more than 1,600 cases of arbitrary political rests this year. And, today, only days before the Administration’s recommendation to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism goes into effect, known terrorists continue to enjoy safe haven in Cuba. Joanne Chesimard, on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list for murdering New Jersey State Trooper, Werner Foerster, and Charles Hill, wanted for killing a New Mexico State trooper and hijacking a U.S. civilian plane – are both living in Cuba, protected by the regime.

Negotiations aside, hopes aside, this administration’s desire to move Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list aside – Cuba’s actions have not changed. Nothing has changed. The real change will come when the Cuban people are finally free.”

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Great remarks by the Democratic Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez. The Obama administration Justice Department indictment on corruption charges is politically motivated to smear and silence him, but it is not working. He has been a staunch supporter of Cuba all his life and is fighting back.
 
Ros-Lehtinen Questions Administration on FARC Terrorist Talks, Cuban and Venezuelan Involvement
https://www.youtube.com/user/IleanaRosLehtinen

Published on Jun 25, 2015

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If the peace talks are about the FARC, and the FARC, according to the Colombian defense minister says the weapons found are for FARC, and FARC is supposedly negotiating a peace deal in Cuba, what are they doing smuggling 100 tons of gunpowder and other weapons?
 
One of the arguments to remove the Castroit regime from the list of States Sponsor of Terrorism, was that it was hosting the peace talks between Colombia and the FARC. Yet, just hours after the announcement of the delisting, FARC terrorists killed three Colombian soldiers.
 
Dem senator: Obama’s Cuba decision ‘dangerous and misguided’
Dem senator: Obama’s Cuba decision ‘dangerous and misguided’ | TheHill

By Jordain Carney

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Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) slammed the Obama administration on Friday for removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, calling the decision “dangerous and misguided.”

“This dangerous and misguided policy is resulting in the U.S. conceding on bedrock values, while Cuba is only more intransigent and uncompromising in its disrespect for universal values and freedoms,” Menendez said in a statement. “It is terribly disconcerting that the list of unilateral concessions by the Obama Administration continues to grow without any signs of reciprocity from a despotic and reinvigorated Castro regime.”

The Obama administration on Friday formally dropped Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list after more than three decades, paving the way for normalized relations between Cuba and the United States.

The president’s move was long expected, with the administration required to give Congress a 45-day review period.
Menendez is a leading critic of the administration’s Cuba policy, including its decision to try to normalize relations. Until earlier this year, the New Jersey Democrat was the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he temporarily stepped aside as he battles charges of bribery and fraud.

He added that Cuba “has not shown one iota of change in its actions that earned it a spot on the State Sponsorship of Terrorism list.”

Menendez’s statement underscores the differences between him and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), who took over the Foreign Relations Committee’s ranking member spot when Menendez stepped down amid an ethics investigation.
“This decision is a necessary step forward in establishing a more constructive relationship with Cuba,” Cardin said in a statement about Friday’s announcement.

But, he added, that "in no way does it ignore the ongoing violations of human rights in Cuba, the detentions of political dissidents, and the Cuban government’s harboring of American fugitives wanted for crimes.”
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Opening the door to the Castroit regime by the Obama Administration is the wrong way. This administration is treating the Castroit regime better than Israel. It has thrown a lifeline to the regime when its benefactor Venezuela is approaching an economic disaster due to their socialist policies.
 
Sandokan said:
Opening the door to the Castroit regime by the Obama Administration is the wrong way. This administration is treating the Castroit regime better than Israel. It has thrown a lifeline to the regime when its benefactor Venezuela is approaching an economic disaster due to their socialist policies.
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You know Castroit isn't a word, and Los Angels isn't a city, don't you? What's with the random dropping of letters? They're not typos because they are repeated mistakes.
 
Many Americans under 50 don’t realize that the Castroit regime came very closed to provoke a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1962. The regime hasn’t stopped sponsoring terrorism but the Obama administration took it from the states sponsors of terrorism list. This is one of the regime key demands that the administration has gave in without getting anything in return.
 
Sandokan said:
Many Americans under 50 don’t realize that the Castroit regime came very closed to provoke a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in 1962. The regime hasn’t stopped sponsoring terrorism but the Obama administration took it from the states sponsors of terrorism list. This is one of the regime key demands that the administration has gave in without getting anything in return.
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And a Sunni dictatorship that sponsors terrorism, even supported AQ while they were killing American soldiers is our ally. There's been little sound reasoning to USFP. There's nothing new here. As for Cuba, they're no threat to us.
 
Montecresto said:
And a Sunni dictatorship that sponsors terrorism, even supported AQ while they were killing American soldiers is our ally. There's been little sound reasoning to USFP. There's nothing new here. As for Cuba, they're no threat to us.
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TBH they never have been. It has always been politics rather than security driving USFP on Cuba. Cuba was once quite repressive, but hasn't been for some time, and was never amongst the worst offenders, even in just the Latin American region. Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador and Honduras have all seen far more violently repressive régimes than Cuba has ever been. The fact that many of those régimes were installed or supported by the US is what makes the difference in how they are viewed from a hawkish, American perspective.
 
Andalublue said:
TBH they never have been. It has always been politics rather than security driving USFP on Cuba. Cuba was once quite repressive, but hasn't been for some time, and was never amongst the worst offenders, even in just the Latin American region. Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador and Honduras have all seen far more violently repressive régimes than Cuba has ever been. The fact that many of those régimes were installed or supported by the US is what makes the difference in how they are viewed from a hawkish, American perspective.
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Indeed. I was about to add that those left leaning democratically elected governments in those countries you mentioned were toppled and replaced with right wing dictatorships by the US. But then I saw you got that in at the end. I agree with your assessment.
 
In another 17 month the Obama administration hopefully would be replace by a republican administration, and many of Obama executive orders will be reverted. Once again the Castroit regime could be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and sanctions reintroduce. The regime continues to support the terrorist organizations of ETA and FARC and still allowed terrorists to hide on the island, no withstanding the administration claims to the contrary.
 
Sandokan said:
In another 17 month the Obama administration hopefully would be replace by a republican administration, and many of Obama executive orders will be reverted. Once again the Castroit regime could be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and sanctions reintroduce. The regime continues to support the terrorist organizations of ETA and FARC and still allowed terrorists to hide on the island, no withstanding the administration claims to the contrary.
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Lol. Yep, the next GOPer pres will revert (sic) Obama's EO's just like Obama reverted Bush's.
 
Sandokan said:
In another 17 month the Obama administration hopefully would be replace by a republican administration, and many of Obama executive orders will be reverted. Once again the Castroit regime could be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and sanctions reintroduce. The regime continues to support the terrorist organizations of ETA and FARC and still allowed terrorists to hide on the island, no withstanding the administration claims to the contrary.
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If so that would be terrible my rights to free association are being trampled. I want to cool my heels of the tropical beaches of Cuba whenever I want. Sure I can get around the travel restrictions but why should I have to? Would also love to get an authentic Cuba liber and some good cigars.
 
I've a feeling Sandokan comes from a long line of Cuban oligarchs and/or mafiosi. They probably lost a bundle of bribe money betting on Batista back in the Fifties. I can't think of any other reason to explain his psychotic obsessions.
 
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