Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Two friends from Havana watch President Obama's speech to the Cuban people in a house in Old Havana, just blocks away from the theater where Obama spoke. Jack Gruber
Obama and President of Cuba Raul Castro attend a Major League Baseball exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team at the Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba Tuesday.(Photo: MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA)
HAVANA<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— To quote one of his fiercest Cuban-American critics, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, President Obama knew exactly what he was doing.
The White House had negotiated for weeks with the Cuban government to allow a press conference following his meeting with Cuban President Raúl Castro in Havana on Monday. Such question-and-answer sessions are routine for Obama after meetings with foreign leaders, less so in communist Cuba.
Finally, just before the meeting, they agreed to a compromise: President Obama would take two questions. Castro would take one.
But Obama knew what Castro apparently didn't: White House reporters don't ask just one question. And then Obama called on CNN's Jim Acosta, a second-generation<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Cuban American whose last question at such an event was about the Islamic State: "Why can't we just take out the bastards?"
"Why you have Cuban political prisoners?<span style="color: Red;">*</span> And why don’t you release them?" Acosta asked Castro.
Castro appeared taken aback, both by the questioner and the question. An aide appeared from behind a curtain and whispered in his ear.
"I was asking if his question was directed to me or to President Obama," Castro explained. "Did you ask if we had political prisoners?<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Give me the list of political prisoners and I will release them immediately.<span style="color: Red;">*</span> Just mention a list.<span style="color: Red;">*</span> What political prisoners?<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Give me a name or names.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>After this meeting is over, you can give me a list of political prisoners.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>And if we have those political prisoners, they will be released before tonight ends."
Cuba does, of course, have political prisoners<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— thousands of them, according to human rights groups. They just don't call them that.
In a state visit that was tightly scheduled and intricately choreographed<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— and then overshadowed by the terrorist attacks in Belgium on Tuesday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>it was an unpredictable and revealing moment.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The White House was delighted with the exchange. It put Castro on the defensive, forcing him to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>talk<span style="color: Red;">*</span>about an issue he has to address if he ever hopes to have the U.S. Congress lift the embargo during his presidency, which is expected to end in 2018.
Obama knows it won't happen during his presidency. "The embargo is going to end.<span style="color: Red;">*</span> When, I can't be entirely sure, but I believe it will end," Obama told NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who had asked Castro another two questions.
Cubans know history at least as well as Americans do, and there was a palpable sense in Havana this week that it<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was happening before their eyes<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— for better or for worse. Some, knowing how U.S. business interests dominated their country in the pre-Castro era, worry about the effect of market forces. Others worry that engaging with Castro<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— one of the revolution's most ruthless enforcers<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— will only enable his repression.
USA TODAY
Obama brings baseball diplomacy to Havana
Obama has used almost every executive tool at his disposal to lower the sanctions on Cuba, "But I’ll be honest with you that the list of things that we can do administratively is growing shorter, and the bulk of changes that have to be made with respect to the embargo are now going to rely on Congress making changes," Obama said.
In a speech to the Cuban people Tuesday, Obama outlined some of the things Castro needs to do to make the next step: Abolish the inequitable two-currency system, allow free access to the Internet across the island, and guarantee the rights of speech, press, religion and voting.
"You are asking too many questions to me," Castro complained at the press conference. "I think questions should be directed to President Obama."
As Obama leaves Cuba, Castro is the only one who can answer those questions.
[h=2]More coverage of Obama's Cuba visit:[/h]USA TODAY
In meeting with dissidents, Obama praises 'courage' of political prisoners
USA TODAY
In speech to Cubans, Obama seeks to bury Cold War rivalry
USA TODAY
Obama says world must unite against terror after Brussels attack
USA TODAY
Cubans ruminate on past and future while listening to Obama speech
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed