Focus: Cuba - Nov 27, 2016

I hope that Trump will reject regime change policies advocated by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio regarding Cuba. It seems that they have not learned the tragic lessons of history: Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc. Cubans are poor but at least they are alive. The country’s literacy rate is at 100% and life expectancy parallels first world nations. There may be some limited food shortages but not famine. The two senators oppose the thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations which is a most positive legacy of Obama. At stake it is not only the normalization of the relations between US and Cuba opening economic and diplomatic ties with Havana. More important at stake it is the relations between US and Latin America where the left is influential whether it governs in countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, El Salvador and Nicaragua or is the opposition such as in Argentina or Brazil.

Note on the Secretary of State candidates: I hope that Trump will launch a new era in US foreign policy by selecting a Secretary of State that will chart a real new course. In my opinion Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are not a good fit. Least of all, war-hawks John Bolton and David Petraeus. 

Cruz, Rubio want Trump to dial back U.S.-Cuba relations, say Obama's recent ties with the island should be reevaluated - POLITICO

VIDEO: Ted Cruz: U.S. foreign policy -- not just to Cuba -- should no longer be a policy of weakness, but instead using U.S. strength to force and press for change - YouTube

Ted Cruz op-ed: Change can come to Cuba, but only if America prevents Fidel’s successor from playing the same old tricks - National Review

Marco Rubio: Donald Trump's Cuba policy should 'pave the way' for democracy - CNNPolitics.com

VIDEO: Sen. Rubio calls for "democratic opening" in Cuba - YouTube

Rubio Statement: History will remember Fidel Castro as an evil, murderous dictator - U.S. Senator for Florida, Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz slam politicians for praising Fidel Castro, go after Trudeau and Obama - inquisitr.com

Statement by President Obama on the passing of Fidel Castro - whitehouse.gov

U.S. State Dept reaffirms its support for deepening engagement with Cuba - Business Standard News

President-Elect Trump statement on the passing of Fidel Castro - Capitol Hill Cubans

Priebus: Trump will void Cuba deal unless Castro regime moves to concessions - Fox News

VIDEO: Priebus: Trump will void Cuba deal unless Castro regime moves to concessions - YouTube

VIDEO: Sanders on Cuba: "Of Course their economy is terrible," but they have health care and education - RealClearPolitics

Trudeau defends comments on death of Fidel Castro, He referred to him as a 'legendary revolutionary' who made significant improvements to the education and health-care systems - coastreporter.net

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro - Prime Minister of Canada

Cuba embargo must be lifted immediately after death of 'great figure' Fidel Castro, says French president - The Independent

On Fidel's death, Cuba and Puerto Rico, two paths intertwined - NBC News

Cuba's most prominent dissident group called off its weekly protest march for the first time in 13 years to avoid creating tensions: 'We respect the mourning of others' - Reuters

Castro's legacy and the envy of many nations: social care in Cuba, The country's literacy rate is at 100% and life expectancy parallels first world nations - The Guardian

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