Hillary Clinton favors easing US economic embargo on Cuba

Monday, June 9th 2014 - 07:45 UTC

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The former First Lady and Secretary of State is seen as the early favorite for 2016 Democratic presidential nomination

While secretary of state, Hillary Clinton urged President Barack Obama to ease the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, according to excerpts from her memoir due out next week.

The embargo “wasn't achieving its goals and it was holding back our broader agenda across Latin America,” Clinton says in “Hard Choices.”

The past and possibly future presidential hopeful said she reached that conclusion late in her 2009-2013 tenure as secretary of state.

“I thought we should shift the onus onto the Castros to explain why they remained undemocratic and abusive,” Clinton says in a leaked excerpt from the memoir.

Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, is seen as the early favorite for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, though she has yet to say whether she plans to run.

CubaNow, a group that favors improved ties between Washington and Havana, welcomed Clinton's comments.

“This is a game-changing development because it shows that there is serious acknowledgement at the highest levels of our government that hard-line Cuba policies have failed,” the organization's executive director, Ric Herrero, said in a statement.

Washington imposed the economic embargo on Cuba in late 1962.

“The steps Secretary Clinton and President Obama took during his first term to expand travel and remittances have already had a greater impact in Cuba over the last five years than a policy of isolation had in the previous 50,” Herrero said.

Categories: Economy, Politics, Latin America, United States.

Tags: Cuba, CubaNow, Hard Choices - Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, Ric Herrero, US embargo.

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ChrisR
This harridan is touted as the Democratic favourite for the 2016 nomination!

The yanks, like the Brits have had some real lulus as the President / Prime Minister but can you imagine this women: it will be like TMBOA on speed!

I just cannot understand why the US want to get into Cuba except for security reason but does that take a full blown reversal of policy?
Jun 09th, 2014 - 12:20 pm 0
Trunce!
@1
“I just cannot understand why the US want to get into Cuba except for security reason but does that take a full blown reversal of policy?”

Not only does the mighty US bow to Kicillof - but it capitulates to the OAS and warning from Timerman

“It would be a step backwards, a sad decision, if the next summit is again affected by the ... absence of many presidents because it has been decided to exclude Cuba,” said Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Hector Timerman.
In the interest of regional unity, “the best thing that can happen ... is for Cuba to participate,” he said, adding that it would make it “very difficult” for Argentina to take part in the summit if Havana is snubbed again.”

Or at least some may think ; )

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140605/oas-members-demand-cubas-inclusion-next-summit
Jun 09th, 2014 - 02:42 pm 0
Pugol-H
Cuba included vs Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela staying away.

Bit of a no brainer for the Hawks at the State Department, that one.

No Argentina, no resolution to support colonising the Falklands.

They might even get some serious work done!
Jun 09th, 2014 - 05:22 pm 0

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