Gunner Asch
2014-12-17 17:33:26 UTC
Breaking: Cuba frees Gross in spy swap
and promised new look at US
policy? Update: Castro to make announcement; Update: US to offer full
diplomatic relations; Update: 53 political prisoners released?
posted at 9:31 am on December 17, 2014 by Ed Morrissey
Alan Gross will return to the US today after spending years in a Cuban
prison for espionage. The Obama administration cut a deal for his
release that may prompt the most significant change in American policy
towards the Castro regime in decades:
Held for five years in Cuba, 65-year-old American contractor Alan
Gross has been released from prison and is en route to U.S. soil, ABC
News has learned exclusively.
In a landmark humanitarian prisoner exchange to be announced by
President Obama shortly at the White House, the agreement was reached
following more than a year of secret back channel talks at the highest
levels of both governments.
Todays release of Gross, who is said to be in poor physical
condition, represents a first step toward normalizing relations with
the neighbor just 90-miles off the Florida coast.
So what what the trade for Gross? Three Cuban spies and an embargo to
be named later, it seems:
In return for Gross, the United States has agreed to the
humanitarian release of three Cuban agents convicted of espionage in a
controversial trial that found them guilty of spying on anti-Castro
groups in Miami, but not the U.S. government. All three were most
recently held in North Carolina at a federal medical facility for the
U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The humanitarian release is just the beginning of a promised new
relationship with Cuba. The White House is indicating the beginning of
new talks on everything from travel restrictions to eventual lifting
of the Cuban embargo in place since John F. Kennedy was President.
This is not a new position, or a secret either. The White House made
it clear two weeks ago that it would review policy toward Cuba if a
deal could be reached to free Gross:
More ABC News Videos | ABC World News
Q Today the administration noted the six-year anniversary of Alan
Grosss imprisonment in Cuba with a statement that said his release
would quote remove an impediment to more constructive relations
between the U.S. and Cuba.Given President Obamas previous statements
on the embargo, what is on the table if Alan Gross is released
soon?Would the U.S. consider removing Cuba from the terrorist list,
increase trade, fully lift the embargo?Please help us parse what this
important sentence means.
MR. EARNEST:Well, Jim, I dont think I can get into as much detail
as you may like me to, because there are the President has been
clear about his interest in strengthening the relationship between the
United States and Cuba.Its very difficult for us to do that, though,
when you have remove the impediment to more constructive relations
between the U.S. and Cuba.Its very difficult for us to do that,
though, when you have the Cuban government holding this individual.We
believe that Mr. Gross should be released on humanitarian grounds and
that the case for that is clear.And we continue to be concerned about
his health and his safety.And youve seen statements from Mr. Grosss
wife to this effect as well.
But were going to continue to work with the Cuban government.But
the fact is, Jim, its going to be very difficult for us to make
progress in that relationship as long as the Cuban government doesnt
take the kinds of steps that we believe are necessary to secure Mr.
Grosss humanitarian release.
Q But is his captivity, or imprisonment now, is that the only
thing the administration or the primary thing the administration sees
as the impediment to a better relationship with Cuba, a more
normalization?
MR. EARNEST:Well, there are a range of concerns that we have with
the Cuban governments refusal to respect some basic human
rights.There is a pretty long track record of the Castro regime
trampling on the basic human and political rights of people who live
in that country.Thats been the source of significant concern in this
country for quite some time.But there is a desire to try to strengthen
the relationship that exists between the United States and Cuba, but
we need to address I guess more directly, the Castro regime needs to
address some of the humanitarian concerns that weve raised.
But were not going to be able to make much progress as long as Mr.
Gross remains in captivity.He is someone who is an international
development worker, and thats why he was in Cuba; he was trying to
open up Internet access for more people in Cuba.And we believe that
his release is necessary on humanitarian grounds.
So it wont be a clear swap, a Gross-for-embargo-end deal, but it will
almost demand some kind of quid pro quo now that Gross is on his way
home. Thats not a big reach for Barack Obama, who has been skeptical
of the Cuba embargo for years but hamstrung by Gross imprisonment
from doing much about it. ABC News is replaying Obamas handshake with
Raul Castro a year ago almost to the day, an event which Cuban media
ignored at the time, and to which Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio two
Senators of Cuban descent objected at the time.
If this prompts a move to scuttle the embargo, which has done almost
nothing to rattle the Castros and their grip on power and has few
international supporters, expect to hear more of these objections from
Republicans. Gross may be free, but thousands of Cuban political
dissidents still languish behind bars. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen warned
against showing weakness last year on behalf of those political
prisoners in a hearing with John Kerry:
Mr. Secretary, sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, but
when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless
dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the
tyrant, Ros-Lehtinen said. Castro uses that hand to sign the orders
to repress and jail democracy advocates.
Could you please tell the Cuban people living under that
repressive regime that, a handshake notwithstanding, the U.S. policy
toward the cruel and sadistic Cuban dictatorship has not weakened?
she asked.
Ladies and gentlemen, today is about honoring Nelson Mandela,
Kerry later responded. He added that Obama urged all of the worlds
leaders to honor Mandelas legacy by upholding basic human rights.
And would you say Raul Castro is upholding basic human rights?
Ros-Lehtinen interjected.
No, Kerry replied. Absolutely not.
That hasnt changed at all over the last twelve months. Cutting a deal
that takes the pressure off of the Castros will only be seen as an
abandonment after decades of determined policy toward Cuba about
political reform and freedom. No matter whether one thinks the embargo
works or not, it will be seen as throwing in the towel to shrug it
off, in essence rewarding the Castros for outliving American resolve.
Given our recent exit from Iraq and pending exit from Afghanistan, it
might have the appearance of an overall retreat of American power and
influence on behalf of liberty, a bad trend considering whats
happening in Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine at the moment.
Update: Hmmmmmmm:
Cuban President Raul Castro will speak to his nation at noon on
Wednesday about relations with the United States, Cuban state
television reported.
That sounds like more of a quid pro quo than just a few spies.
Update: Obama will announce a major change in American policy today,
not just the swap:
President Barack Obama is also set to announce a broad range of
diplomatic and regulatory measures in what officials called the most
sweeping change in U.S. policy toward Cuba since the 1961 embargo was
imposed.
For a President who took office promising to engage Cuba, the move
could help shape Obamas foreign policy legacy.
We are charting a new course toward Cuba, a senior
administration official said. The President understood the time was
right to attempt a new approach, both because of the beginnings of
changes in Cuba and because of the impediment this was causing for our
regional policy.
This abrupt change will make Florida a very interesting place for
Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Cuban exile community has been firm about
playing tough against the Castros, but the younger generation may be
moving away from that policy. Well see.
Update: Not just an end to the embargo, but full diplomatic relations
(via Allahpundit):
Oh, my. That will have the ex-pat community steaming in Florida.
Update: The US and Havana will open embassies in both countries in
this deal, of course:
But it appears that the Obama administration did succeed in getting
another US intel agent and dozens of political prisoners released as
part of the deal, too:
Well see how long they stay free.
"At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child,
miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied,
demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless.
Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats."
PJ O'Rourke
policy? Update: Castro to make announcement; Update: US to offer full
diplomatic relations; Update: 53 political prisoners released?
posted at 9:31 am on December 17, 2014 by Ed Morrissey
Alan Gross will return to the US today after spending years in a Cuban
prison for espionage. The Obama administration cut a deal for his
release that may prompt the most significant change in American policy
towards the Castro regime in decades:
Held for five years in Cuba, 65-year-old American contractor Alan
Gross has been released from prison and is en route to U.S. soil, ABC
News has learned exclusively.
In a landmark humanitarian prisoner exchange to be announced by
President Obama shortly at the White House, the agreement was reached
following more than a year of secret back channel talks at the highest
levels of both governments.
Todays release of Gross, who is said to be in poor physical
condition, represents a first step toward normalizing relations with
the neighbor just 90-miles off the Florida coast.
So what what the trade for Gross? Three Cuban spies and an embargo to
be named later, it seems:
In return for Gross, the United States has agreed to the
humanitarian release of three Cuban agents convicted of espionage in a
controversial trial that found them guilty of spying on anti-Castro
groups in Miami, but not the U.S. government. All three were most
recently held in North Carolina at a federal medical facility for the
U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The humanitarian release is just the beginning of a promised new
relationship with Cuba. The White House is indicating the beginning of
new talks on everything from travel restrictions to eventual lifting
of the Cuban embargo in place since John F. Kennedy was President.
This is not a new position, or a secret either. The White House made
it clear two weeks ago that it would review policy toward Cuba if a
deal could be reached to free Gross:
More ABC News Videos | ABC World News
Q Today the administration noted the six-year anniversary of Alan
Grosss imprisonment in Cuba with a statement that said his release
would quote remove an impediment to more constructive relations
between the U.S. and Cuba.Given President Obamas previous statements
on the embargo, what is on the table if Alan Gross is released
soon?Would the U.S. consider removing Cuba from the terrorist list,
increase trade, fully lift the embargo?Please help us parse what this
important sentence means.
MR. EARNEST:Well, Jim, I dont think I can get into as much detail
as you may like me to, because there are the President has been
clear about his interest in strengthening the relationship between the
United States and Cuba.Its very difficult for us to do that, though,
when you have remove the impediment to more constructive relations
between the U.S. and Cuba.Its very difficult for us to do that,
though, when you have the Cuban government holding this individual.We
believe that Mr. Gross should be released on humanitarian grounds and
that the case for that is clear.And we continue to be concerned about
his health and his safety.And youve seen statements from Mr. Grosss
wife to this effect as well.
But were going to continue to work with the Cuban government.But
the fact is, Jim, its going to be very difficult for us to make
progress in that relationship as long as the Cuban government doesnt
take the kinds of steps that we believe are necessary to secure Mr.
Grosss humanitarian release.
Q But is his captivity, or imprisonment now, is that the only
thing the administration or the primary thing the administration sees
as the impediment to a better relationship with Cuba, a more
normalization?
MR. EARNEST:Well, there are a range of concerns that we have with
the Cuban governments refusal to respect some basic human
rights.There is a pretty long track record of the Castro regime
trampling on the basic human and political rights of people who live
in that country.Thats been the source of significant concern in this
country for quite some time.But there is a desire to try to strengthen
the relationship that exists between the United States and Cuba, but
we need to address I guess more directly, the Castro regime needs to
address some of the humanitarian concerns that weve raised.
But were not going to be able to make much progress as long as Mr.
Gross remains in captivity.He is someone who is an international
development worker, and thats why he was in Cuba; he was trying to
open up Internet access for more people in Cuba.And we believe that
his release is necessary on humanitarian grounds.
So it wont be a clear swap, a Gross-for-embargo-end deal, but it will
almost demand some kind of quid pro quo now that Gross is on his way
home. Thats not a big reach for Barack Obama, who has been skeptical
of the Cuba embargo for years but hamstrung by Gross imprisonment
from doing much about it. ABC News is replaying Obamas handshake with
Raul Castro a year ago almost to the day, an event which Cuban media
ignored at the time, and to which Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio two
Senators of Cuban descent objected at the time.
If this prompts a move to scuttle the embargo, which has done almost
nothing to rattle the Castros and their grip on power and has few
international supporters, expect to hear more of these objections from
Republicans. Gross may be free, but thousands of Cuban political
dissidents still languish behind bars. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen warned
against showing weakness last year on behalf of those political
prisoners in a hearing with John Kerry:
Mr. Secretary, sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, but
when the leader of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless
dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the
tyrant, Ros-Lehtinen said. Castro uses that hand to sign the orders
to repress and jail democracy advocates.
Could you please tell the Cuban people living under that
repressive regime that, a handshake notwithstanding, the U.S. policy
toward the cruel and sadistic Cuban dictatorship has not weakened?
she asked.
Ladies and gentlemen, today is about honoring Nelson Mandela,
Kerry later responded. He added that Obama urged all of the worlds
leaders to honor Mandelas legacy by upholding basic human rights.
And would you say Raul Castro is upholding basic human rights?
Ros-Lehtinen interjected.
No, Kerry replied. Absolutely not.
That hasnt changed at all over the last twelve months. Cutting a deal
that takes the pressure off of the Castros will only be seen as an
abandonment after decades of determined policy toward Cuba about
political reform and freedom. No matter whether one thinks the embargo
works or not, it will be seen as throwing in the towel to shrug it
off, in essence rewarding the Castros for outliving American resolve.
Given our recent exit from Iraq and pending exit from Afghanistan, it
might have the appearance of an overall retreat of American power and
influence on behalf of liberty, a bad trend considering whats
happening in Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine at the moment.
Update: Hmmmmmmm:
Cuban President Raul Castro will speak to his nation at noon on
Wednesday about relations with the United States, Cuban state
television reported.
That sounds like more of a quid pro quo than just a few spies.
Update: Obama will announce a major change in American policy today,
not just the swap:
President Barack Obama is also set to announce a broad range of
diplomatic and regulatory measures in what officials called the most
sweeping change in U.S. policy toward Cuba since the 1961 embargo was
imposed.
For a President who took office promising to engage Cuba, the move
could help shape Obamas foreign policy legacy.
We are charting a new course toward Cuba, a senior
administration official said. The President understood the time was
right to attempt a new approach, both because of the beginnings of
changes in Cuba and because of the impediment this was causing for our
regional policy.
This abrupt change will make Florida a very interesting place for
Hillary Clinton in 2016. The Cuban exile community has been firm about
playing tough against the Castros, but the younger generation may be
moving away from that policy. Well see.
Update: Not just an end to the embargo, but full diplomatic relations
(via Allahpundit):
Oh, my. That will have the ex-pat community steaming in Florida.
Update: The US and Havana will open embassies in both countries in
this deal, of course:
But it appears that the Obama administration did succeed in getting
another US intel agent and dozens of political prisoners released as
part of the deal, too:
Well see how long they stay free.
"At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child,
miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied,
demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless.
Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats."
PJ O'Rourke