IS CUBA MELLOWING, OR ARE WE?

Cuban president Raul Castro met Monday with six members of the Congressional Black Caucus,his first face-to-face discussions with the U.S. since he became Cuba's president last year.

Cuban State television provided no details of what was discussed or how long the meeting lasted.It added that the group also spoke in recent days with the head of parliament and the country's foreign minister.

The U.S. lawmakers came to talk about improving U.S.-Cuba relations amid speculation that Washington is ready to loosen some facets of its 49-year trade embargo against the communist nation.

I have very mixed feelings about this situation. The idea of improving relations with a long time enemy in an era when we have way too many enemies is encouraging. But, to lift the embargo and travel restrictions to Cuba, without  significant concessions in policy from Castro, would only benefit Cuba. 

Of course Obama has decided he will, at the very least,  lift the travel ban for Cuban-Americans to come and go as they please, and to send unlimited money to their native home. Once again, looking out for the immigrants is a priority. I noticed there is no issue with the agreement we have with Cuba, since 1994, to allow 20,000 Cuban immigrants into the country legally every year. Unbelievable!!!

Our aggressive efforts to launch a new era in relations with Cuba was first attempted by the Bush administration. In December 2006, a 10-member bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to Havana but was denied a meeting with Castro. 

Obama, who has vowed to "negotiate" with rogue dictators, is trying his best to "play nice" with our many enemies. As i've said over and over, it shows WEAKNESS. And in this particular case with Cuba, it's not hard to see that the lifting of the trade embargo and travel restrictions hugely benefits the Castro's more than it does the U.S.

As much as i wouldn't mind smoking a "REAL" Cuban cigar, these improved relations would just fund their communist military with millions of U.S. dollars through tourism and trade.

Lets also not forget that Cuba is "best friends" with our "NEW ERA" enemy Hugo Chavez and Venezuela.

This meeting came coincidentally as 82-year old Fidel Castro said,"Cuba is not afraid of dialogue with the United States, and does not thrive on confrontation as its detractors have long claimed." Of course it(Cuba) doesn't when they're looking for a flow of American money.

As i said, i don't think this is a change in Cuban ideology at all. They have no intentions of bringing about a democratic society to the island nation. 

It was  no coincidence they didn't want to talk with the Bush delegation, they simply see the WEAKNESS that the Obama administration oozes.