US flag raised over reopened Cuba embassy in Havana

[JohnS]

The US has reopened its embassy in Cuba more than 54 years after it was closed, in a symbolic step signalling the warming of ties between both countries.

John Kerry, the first US Secretary of State to visit Cuba in 70 years, presided over the ceremony in Havana.

The US flag was presented by the same US marines who brought it down in 1961.

Mr Kerry said the US administration wanted to lift the trade embargo on the island - something that the Republican-controlled US Congress has blocked.

In an open letter on Thursday, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said the US owed Cuba millions of dollars because of its 53-year-long embargo.

Mr Kerry described the hoisting of the flag as a "historic moment" speaking during the ceremony on Friday.

But he also warned that the US would not stop pressing for political change in Cuba.

"The people of Cuba would be best served by a genuine democracy, where people are free to choose their leaders," he told a crowd of hundreds gathered outside the embassy building.

Mr Kerry said Congress will not lift the economic embargo if there is no movement on issues of freedom of conscience.

Full story and source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33919484

[Smallclub]

Obama made another great mistake in opening relations with Cuba.

Do you realize that the USA are the 3rd or 4th supplier of Cuba with more than 10% of imports, despite the embargo?

[mash]

Obama made another great mistake in opening relations with Cuba. In desperate need to burnish his reputation (as with Iran) he has repudiated the efforts of JFK and all Presidents since 1963 to fight the scourge of South American dictators. The Castros' are bandits who have raped and pillaged a beautiful island and have amassed a multi billion dollar empire. The winners will be the Cuban military and intelligence services who will grow rich on the back of the people who Fidel promised to rescue from the evil Batista.

If Cuba had oil or they made cheap **** for Walmart the embargo would have ended a long time ago. Your governments have no problem dealing with Iran, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia etc. There are far more despodic regimes in the world. Cuba is just unlucky enough to have nothing to offer you.

[Homebrew]

Obama made another great mistake in opening relations with Cuba. In desperate need to burnish his reputation (as with Iran) he has repudiated the efforts of JFK and all Presidents since 1963 to fight the scourge of South American dictators. The Castros' are bandits who have raped and pillaged a beautiful island and have amassed a multi billion dollar empire. The winners will be the Cuban military and intelligence services who will grow rich on the back of the people who Fidel promised to rescue from the evil Batista.

Bro, this could devolve, into a political argument, which is verboten here on FOH. Just celebrate the historical moment, or ignore.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

[Maplepie]

Bro, this could devolve, into a political argument, which is verboten here on FOH. Just celebrate the historical moment, or ignore.

Yeah! You even brought MASH out of hiding!!

[cigcars]

*Plus, despite what you say, sarkozy, there was supposedly papers on JFK's desk (some days before he died) whereby he was in the process of ending the Embargo pretty soon, anyway. This is what was reported by insiders in his employ about what Mr. Kennedy wanted and was in the process of doing in 1963. And - don't forget he had Pierre Salinger, his personal assistant at the time, to go out and round up over 1,100 H Upmann PC's (his favorite Cuban smoke) the night before he signed the Embargo into place. He was gonna make sure HE wouldn't have to go without his prized Havana smokes.

[AussieCanuck]

Just got back from Havana last week. Wish I could have been there for this. What an historical occasion. The resumption of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S is fantastic. The end result....well, we'll see....

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[perkinke]

Just because something existed for 54 years does not make it a good thing. And if nothing else, the Cuban people have shown they can and will shake off colonial powers and despots when they have a will to.