Moments ago, President Bush announced a landmark policy change with regard to Cuba. Americans will now be able to send cell phones to Cubans. It's a change that Bush hopes will encourage the new regime of Raul Castro to increase freedom of expression for Cuban citizens
The announcement was made in a speech intended to mark Cuba's 106th anniversary of independence. I'm a political speech aficionado, and don't usually cotton to the simpler prose preferred by Bush — but this one had the prints of a new scribe all over it. To see what he said, read more.
Bush said (and I'm paraphrasing closely, the text isn't online yet):
Now that Cubans can have cell phones, let's make sure they have the freedom to express themselves. Now that Cubans can buy DVD players, let's make sure they can watch movies made by Cuban artists who are allowed to speak freely. Now that Cubans can buy computers, let's give them unrestricted access to the Internet. Now that they can buy toasters, let's make sure they don't have to worry about being able to afford bread to put in it.
I thought it summed up the dichotomy of the advancing freedoms and the work left nicely. Now that the change has been announced, the administration is waiting to see if Cuba will allow the phones to enter. The White House was careful to say that the change is not a loosening of the US economic embargo against Cuba, but a change in regulations. Is this a step in the right direction? Are cell phones the answer to building a new relationship with Cuba?
McQ by Alexander McQueen
Giuseppe Zanotti
Julia Cocco'
He is trying his hardest to leave a "good" legacy, sorry buddy your only legacy will be that horrible Iraq war!
1It's a start. I honestly don't see how it could HURT relations.
2I'm glad to see diplomacy being used. I can't see it changing anything while a Castro is in power.
3I agree monday.
'Now that Cubans can have cell phones, let's make sure they have the freedom to express themselves. Now that Cubans can buy DVD players, let's make sure they can watch movies made by Cuban artists who are allowed to speak freely. Now that Cubans can buy computers, let's give them unrestricted access to the internet. Now that they can buy toasters, let's make sure they don't have to worry about being able to afford bread to put in it.'
I completely agree with this statement.
4hotstuff, I'm interested in knowing what you think of this plan, since that's what the post is on.
5As stated on the post it's up to the Cuban gov't to allow cellphones in the island. Could you imagine how expensive it would be for the Cubans if cellphones are allowed?
6I think that's why they're allowing Americans to send cell phones to Cuba. They'd be significantly cheaper here... and possibly just be added to the senders' pre-existing plan.
7This policy was brought to you by the fine people at Verizon.
8I believe that sending the phones to Cuba is a good thing! I'm Cuban and to call my family to see how they are doing can rank up any house phone in the 500+ mark, Its easy for him to say no to the cellphones. Because he has his family here. What does he care. All he is doing is intervening with the Cuban- Americans that live in this country. Cuba is trying to become a free nation but it will take time. Its never going to happen over night. Bush needs to be impeached one way or another. That man has no idea what is going on in the world. He is the root cause for all the destruction happening everywhere~~!!
9Can the Cubans hear me now?
10so you like his new plan but still want him impeached? or did I read all this wrong?
11
m3
12It is easy for who to say no to the cell phones?
13He is the root cause for all the destruction happening everywhere~~!!
Wow. I didn't realize all the destrucion could be blamed on a single person. Does this mean that if we get rid of Bush, the destruction would stop? I really hope you don't believe that.
14Hmm.. yadiet... I think perhaps you should read the article before going on an anti-bush rant... The man is APPROVING sending cell phones over. Goodness.
15Just refer all diplomacy matters to marketing.
16Hehe...exactly stephley.
17What about Cigars ... can we get those yet? .. I want a schmoke
lol
18Mm... cuban cigars. I'm such a hypocrite. I brag all the time to my fast-food, boozin', smokin' friend about how I only have one vice (ahh... beer. How I love thee...) but I love cigars for special occasions.
19Im sorry but I think throwing around words like impeachment and root of all destruction are tad harsh myself.
Sorry but this is no place for thin skin.
20I think small steps are what Cuba needs right now, and this is positive. I think Raul Castro does seem to have a vision of bring Cuba up in the world, but he's making small, incremental changes which will make the transition easier in the long run.
21I think that this is a unique choice to make...overall I think it is a step in the right direction. Not so sure why they chose cell phones over all other routes, but I can't really complain.
22From that snippet, it doesn't sound like he's wanting to send cell phones or anything to Cuba. It just sounds like he's trying to 'encourage' Castro to allow the citizens more freedoms. Nice, but it's talk.
I also don't understand about the cell phones. It sounds like individuals can mail cell phones to Cuba. Were they not allowed to do this before, or were cell phones illegal in Cuba? I can understand that American cell phone companies aren't allowed to send phones down there (embargo and all that), but what about everyone else? Is there a world embargo on cell phones to Cuba?
What a weird news story . . .
23Ah . . . CNN explained everything to me
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/21/bush.cuba/index.html?eref=rss_us
New Castro decided to let people use cell phones
But cell phones are too expensive for most people
So Bush says now we can send them cell phones, because apparently we couldn't before.
Cool. Sounds good to me.
24The new Castro government is a lot more open than the former. Hell they even celebrated a gay pride of sorts that shocked the hell out of me.
25Since we give them cell phones, can we get prescription drugs from them?
26wasnt one of the first things he did as president was restrict travel to cuba and strengthen the trade embargo? interesting
27Well, now that Fidel is gone, maybe he's making a gesture of goodwill with the new leader.
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