Changes To Cuba Policy Met With Mixed Reactions

Changes To Cuba Policy Met With Mixed Reactions
JULIEGRACE BRUFKE
Capitol Hill Reporter
3:52 PM 06/19/2017

President Donald Trump's changes to the United State's policy on Cuba,
which tightens restrictions on travel and business transactions between
countries, has been met with mixed reactions by congressional Republicans.

Proponents of the adjustments argue it's necessary for the U.S. to take
a stand against the Castro regimes' humanitarian violations. But critics
argue it will have a negative impact on the people of Cuba and the U.S.
economy.

an people are starting to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and
recognize capitalism — which he feels could be hindered once the new
policy is implemented, according to GOP Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas,
who recently traveled to Cuba. He noted the U.S. has relations with
multiple other countries with military-controlled regimes, adding he
believes the policy changes are reflective of a dated viewpoint.

"I think it's in our strategic interest long-term, what we have there
now is a void of leadership, a void of economic direction that's being
killed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran and other nations,"
Crawford told The Daily Caller News Foundation. "They don't have the
interest of the United States or our well-being — in fact, they have an
invested interest in undermining the United States. So why would we
allow them to carve out a stronger niche every day in the absence of
U.S. economic engagement? We just can't sit back and watch from the
beach in Key West."

Crawford said while he wished former President Barack Obama has involved
Congress more while implementing his administration's Cuba policy, it
largely had a positive impact on both countries.

"I think this [Trump's changes] probably kind of built on the opinion of
a small minority — a very vocal small minority, but a small minority
nonetheless," he said. "You know we feel like we've made some great
progress and building up support, making a pretty compelling case about
what our objectives were why, and so this seems a little obtuse."

Supporters of the new policy say the change will have a positive impact
on the Cuban people since it's aimed at preventing funds from going to
the Cuban military.

Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida dismissed the argument the
U.S. should continue to strengthen relations with Cuba due to its
business dealings with other repressive countries.

"It's a dramatic change dramatic change from a policy that frankly was
helping to fund the Castro dictatorship's military and intelligence
services to a policy that helps support the Cuban people and stops the
funding to those entities," he told TheDCNF."But here's the interesting
thing, we have sanctions against North Korea, we have sanctions against
Iran — even though they were greatly weakened by the previous
administration — we have sanctions used in specific cases," Diaz-Balart
continued.

Diaz-Balart said it's "ludicrous" to have policies in place that fund a
government that is repressing its people.

"Here's the interesting thing, we have sanctions against North Korea, we
have sanctions against Iran — even though they were greatly weakened by
the previous administration — we have sanctions used in specific cases,"
he continued. "In the case of this hemisphere, where democracy is the
only legitimate form of government according to the OAS [Organization of
American States], in this hemisphere it's in our national security
interest not to fund what the Obama administration called the fourth
most aggressive, most-effective espionage network on the entire planet."

Source: Changes To Cuba Policy Met With Mixed Reactions | The Daily
Caller -
http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/19/changes-to-cuba-policy-met-with-mixed-reactions/