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US congressional leaders vow to block Cuba embassy and ambassador US congressional leaders vow to block Cuba embassy and ambassador
(about 1 hour later)
Congressional critics of Barack Obama’s deal to end US isolation of Cuba are threatening to frustrate key elements of his plan by withholding funding for a new embassy and blocking the appointment of an American ambassador to Havana.Congressional critics of Barack Obama’s deal to end US isolation of Cuba are threatening to frustrate key elements of his plan by withholding funding for a new embassy and blocking the appointment of an American ambassador to Havana.
Democratic senator Bob Menendez, a leading US critic of the Castro regime and outgoing chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, also insisted there was little chance that Congress would agree to a formal repeal of the legislation behind the current trade embargo.Democratic senator Bob Menendez, a leading US critic of the Castro regime and outgoing chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, also insisted there was little chance that Congress would agree to a formal repeal of the legislation behind the current trade embargo.
“There are certain things where the president has prerogatives; there are others like the codification of the embargo I don’t see being lifted by Congress,” Menendez told MSNBC on Thursday. “There are certain things where the president has prerogatives; there are others – like the codification of the embargo – I don’t see being lifted by Congress,” Menendez told MSNBC on Thursday.
“The question of having an embassy and an ambassador in Cuba, which would have to be confirmed first by the Senate foreign relations committee and then by the full Senate, that’s a difficult proposition. I think the funding for some of these initiatives is going to be an issue of fierce debate.”“The question of having an embassy and an ambassador in Cuba, which would have to be confirmed first by the Senate foreign relations committee and then by the full Senate, that’s a difficult proposition. I think the funding for some of these initiatives is going to be an issue of fierce debate.”
But independent US foreign affairs experts insist much of the administration’s plan is beyond the reach of political opponents and say it is being well received in Cuba, where government officials believe Obama’s steps toward removing anti-terrorist restrictions on commerce and banking will prove most significant. But independent US foreign affairs experts insist much of the administration’s plan is beyond the reach of political opponents and say it has been well-received in Cuba, where government officials believe Obama’s steps toward removing anti-terrorist restrictions on commerce and banking will prove most significant.
“That is why the broad scope of the Obama announcements and the revised regulations still to come are so important,” said Ted Piccone of the Brookings Institution, who is in Cuba this week. “They will effectively hollow out the embargo. It’s a whole new ball game. It is being very well received here in Havana.”“That is why the broad scope of the Obama announcements and the revised regulations still to come are so important,” said Ted Piccone of the Brookings Institution, who is in Cuba this week. “They will effectively hollow out the embargo. It’s a whole new ball game. It is being very well received here in Havana.”
That sentiment was confirmed by people in the streets of Havana, where the mood is palpably optimistic as people gather to chat over the significance of an improvement in relations that many had long hoped for but dared not expect so soon.That sentiment was confirmed by people in the streets of Havana, where the mood is palpably optimistic as people gather to chat over the significance of an improvement in relations that many had long hoped for but dared not expect so soon.
“It’s all everyone’s been talking about. It’s wonderful news,” beamed Maria Isabel, a maid. “I don’t think I will be personally affected, but it will be good for families that have been separated for many years and it will be good for the country to share in the best of the world’s technology and medicine.”“It’s all everyone’s been talking about. It’s wonderful news,” beamed Maria Isabel, a maid. “I don’t think I will be personally affected, but it will be good for families that have been separated for many years and it will be good for the country to share in the best of the world’s technology and medicine.”
Fabian Reyes, a Havana resident, said that since the announcement, he had been inundated with phone calls from friends and family in the United States who want to buy Cuban real estate or win the right to trade in cigars and rum.Fabian Reyes, a Havana resident, said that since the announcement, he had been inundated with phone calls from friends and family in the United States who want to buy Cuban real estate or win the right to trade in cigars and rum.
“There’s a lot of excitement about the opportunities,” he said, though he was cautious about how quickly change might come.“There’s a lot of excitement about the opportunities,” he said, though he was cautious about how quickly change might come.
Carl Meacham of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, another influential Washington think-tank, echoed the belief in US policy-making circles that Congressional opposition will be limited to frustrating parts of the deal rather than undermining its central achievements in normalising diplomatic and commercial relations.Carl Meacham of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, another influential Washington think-tank, echoed the belief in US policy-making circles that Congressional opposition will be limited to frustrating parts of the deal rather than undermining its central achievements in normalising diplomatic and commercial relations.
“Republicans are divided on this issue and there is a consensus among most Democrats that the president is doing the right thing,” said Meacham. “There are people like Senator Menendez who feel very strongly about it, and that can still carry a lot of weight in Congress... but I think we saw the biggest changes yesterday.” “Republicans are divided on this issue and there is a consensus among most Democrats that the president is doing the right thing,” said Meacham. “There are people like Senator Menendez who feel very strongly about it, and that can still carry a lot of weight in Congress ... but I think we saw the biggest changes yesterday.”
That view was echoed by the White House, which insisted on Thursday that it was not particularly worried about attempts to roll back the president’s deal with Cuba and reiterated its appeal for Congress to overturn a 1996 act that strengthened the trade embargo.That view was echoed by the White House, which insisted on Thursday that it was not particularly worried about attempts to roll back the president’s deal with Cuba and reiterated its appeal for Congress to overturn a 1996 act that strengthened the trade embargo.
“These steps are well within his authority,” said press secretary Josh Earnest. “That said, we certainly would welcome legislative action specifically repealing the Helms-Burton act that would roll back more of the restrictions.”“These steps are well within his authority,” said press secretary Josh Earnest. “That said, we certainly would welcome legislative action specifically repealing the Helms-Burton act that would roll back more of the restrictions.”
Earnest also said he would not rule out a visit to the White House by Cuban president Raul Castro, a symbolic gesture that would make any delays in appointing a new US ambassador or approving funding for an embassy building appear relatively trivial stumbling blocks in comparison.Earnest also said he would not rule out a visit to the White House by Cuban president Raul Castro, a symbolic gesture that would make any delays in appointing a new US ambassador or approving funding for an embassy building appear relatively trivial stumbling blocks in comparison.
It is thought that supporters of the rapprochement, including Republican senators such as Jeff Flake of Arizona and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, might even help sponsor supportive legislation when the new Congress is sworn in next year, although it is likely to be a long way down the list of priorities for what limited bipartisan spirit remains on Capitol Hill. It is thought that supporters of the rapprochement, including Republican senators such as Jeff Flake of Arizona and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, might even help sponsor supportive legislation when the new Congress is sworn in next year, although it is likely to be a long way down the list of priorities amid what limited bipartisan spirit remains on Capitol Hill.
“I think you will see some bipartisan bills in January or February to lift the travel ban in both houses but they are likely to not get far in the short term,” predicted Piccone of Brookings. “I think you will see some bipartisan bills in January or February to lift the travel ban in both houses, but they are likely to not get far in the short term,” predicted Piccone, of Brookings.
More likely the issue will become a key feature of jostling for 2016 presidential nominations. Hillary Clinton, the likely lead Democratic contender, was quick to endorse Obama’s plan yesterday in a statement also distributed unusually by the White House. Jeb Bush, a former Republican governor of Florida, who declared his interest in “exploring” a presidential bid on Monday, claimed the Cuban deal was the “latest foreign policy misstep by this President, and another dramatic overreach of his executive authority.” More likely the issue will feature prominently during the jostling for 2016 presidential nominations. Hillary Clinton, likely to be the leading Democratic contender, was quick to endorse Obama’s plan yesterday in a statement also distributed – unusually – by the White House. Jeb Bush, a former Republican governor of Florida, who declared his interest in “exploring” a presidential bid on Monday, claimed the Cuban deal was the “latest foreign policy misstep by this president, and another dramatic overreach of his executive authority”.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Representative Paul Ryan have also been vocal in their opposition to the deal, but the less-hawkish Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has come out in favour of it.Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Representative Paul Ryan have also been vocal in their opposition to the deal, but the less-hawkish Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has come out in favour of it.
The most vehement opposition has come from Florida politicians, where the issue remains a touchstone among many Republicans even though demographic change has softened its impact among voters according to recent opinion polls in the state and nationally. The most vehement opposition has come from politicians in Florida, where the issue remains a touchstone among many Republicans even though demographic change has softened its impact among voters, according to recent opinion polls in the state and nationally.
Senator Marco Rubio and Miami congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, both children of Cuban exiles, have been particularly scathing of what they argue is a one-sided bargain. Senator Marco Rubio and Miami congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, both children of Cuban exiles, have been particularly scathing regarding what they argue is a one-sided bargain.
“The problem in Cuba is not the United States. The problem that Cuba has is a regime for half a century that is a totalitarian Marxist regime that violates human rights, that oppresses its people, that murders its own people, particular those who are freedom-seeking opposition leaders dissidents,” Díaz-Balart said on Wednesday. “And what the president has done is given everything that the Castro dictatorship has been asking for, begging for, pleading for.” “The problem in Cuba is not the United States. The problem that Cuba has is a regime for half a century that is a totalitarian Marxist regime that violates human rights, that oppresses its people, that murders its own people, particularly those who are freedom-seeking opposition leaders, dissidents,” Díaz-Balart said on Wednesday. “And what the president has done is given everything that the Castro dictatorship has been asking for, begging for, pleading for.”