Obama’s Moves Insufficient for Change

By Circles Robinson

HAVANA TIMES, Sept 16 – Lifting the travel restrictions on Cuban-Americans and their ability to send remittances or packages to Cuba repairs “a grave injustice” to that population but has “a very limited reach” as far as rapprochement between the United States and Cuba, noted Cuban representatives at the United Nations.

From Cuba’s perspective, what’s top on the list for change in US-Cuba relations is the economic blockade that has caused it more than US $90 billion dollars in damage over the last half century.

However, on Monday, President Obama signed an order maintaining the blockade for another year, “in the national interest of the United States.”

Recent polls show that a majority of US citizens disagree with that appraisal and would like to see the Cold War policy finally come to end.

In October, the UN General Assembly will once again consider Cuba’s demand that the blockade be lifted.  Last year 185 countries voted for the resolution telling Washington to end its time-worn policy against Cuba and only 2 countries supported the US position.

Another unresolved internal US issue being discussed on Capitol Hill is the travel ban prohibiting ordinary US citizens from visiting Cuba.