Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after the United States abstained from a United Nations vote condemning the trade embargo on Cuba:
"Instead of enabling a vote against the U.S. embargo on Cuba, why didn't the Obama Administration offer its own UN resolution condemning the brutal kleptocracy of the Castro regime that keeps the Cuban people in poverty? Instead of spreading the Castros' propaganda that the U.S. embargo is at fault for Cuba's social and economic ills, why didn't Samantha Power point the finger at the Cuban police state that hoards all the spoils of the island's tourism industry and fails to leave even scraps for everyday Cuban men, women, and children? Instead of once again apologizing for America, why doesn't President Obama begin to stand up for American values, speak on behalf of the scores of political prisoners in Cuba's gulags, and demand an end to the Castro regime? Gone are the days when the United States acted as a beacon of principle at the United Nations that shed light on the hypocrisies, double-speak, and lies of that institution's rogues' gallery of dictatorships. We now have a UN ambassador and a president who actively-and shamefully-cheer them on."
"Instead of enabling a vote against the U.S. embargo on Cuba, why didn't the Obama Administration offer its own UN resolution condemning the brutal kleptocracy of the Castro regime that keeps the Cuban people in poverty? Instead of spreading the Castros' propaganda that the U.S. embargo is at fault for Cuba's social and economic ills, why didn't Samantha Power point the finger at the Cuban police state that hoards all the spoils of the island's tourism industry and fails to leave even scraps for everyday Cuban men, women, and children? Instead of once again apologizing for America, why doesn't President Obama begin to stand up for American values, speak on behalf of the scores of political prisoners in Cuba's gulags, and demand an end to the Castro regime? Gone are the days when the United States acted as a beacon of principle at the United Nations that shed light on the hypocrisies, double-speak, and lies of that institution's rogues' gallery of dictatorships. We now have a UN ambassador and a president who actively-and shamefully-cheer them on."
Must-Read: Obama’s Shameless Display in the UN
By Noah Rothman in Commentary Magazine:
Obama’s Shameless Display in the UN
In a body as reflexively anti-Western as the United Nations, it is no surprise that the United States often finds itself under attack. Previously, American representatives had the stomach to defend their country against those assaults. Apparently, those days are over.
Beginning in 2014, the Obama administration began to make good on that perennial liberal objective of normalizing U.S. relations with Cuba for no reason other than the perceived backwardness of its Cold War-era posture. Unilaterally and without reciprocity from Havana, Obama has spent the better part of the last two years unwinding American restrictions on trade and travel with the Communist island nation, insofar as he could without the consent of Congress.
There is, however, only so much Obama could do by himself. There are six active laws affirming restrictions on U.S. relations with Cuba, even including the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act (which allows for expedited refugee status for Cubans who make it to U.S. soil even though air travel between the two nations has resumed). Surely, much of these laws no longer make sense in light of the new realities of Cuban-American relations ushered in by Obama, whether congressional Republicans like those realities or not.
Obama has leveraged Congress to bend to his will in a variety of ways, but the opposition-led legislature has so far refused to normalize relations with the repressive Cuban regime. Now, Obama is using a new tool to force the GOP to accept his new status quo: the United Nations.
In a radical reversal of policy, the United States abstained on Wednesday during a vote on a UN resolution calling for an end to the Cuban embargo. Israel, America’s stalwart ally in that body of autocrats and human rights abusers, joined with the United State in abstaining in a vote censuring it. The final tally was 191 with two abstentions in favor of condemning the United States of America.
In the eyes of the administration, this was no vote to condemn the United States; it was a vote to condemn the United States Congress and, specifically, the Republicans who run it. The White House couldn’t muster up the spirit to support the legitimacy of the co-equal legislative branch from denunciation by an unrepresentative global body, but only because the White House agrees with this rogues gallery more than it does its domestic GOP opponents. That is truly shameful.
Republicans have not held fast to the Cuban embargo out of some misplaced sense of nostalgia, as Obama glibly insists on the endless campaign tour that has been his second term in office. Much like the vaunted rapprochement with Iran has failed to compel the Mullahs to moderate their radicalism and join the community of nations, the Castro brothers have only responded to Obama’s overtures by cracking down on the Cuban people.
The Cuban Commission on Human Rights noted that Havana made 8,616 politically-motivated arrests in 2015, an increase of nearly 1,200 from the year prior. This is not despite but because of the sudden influx of American tourism dollars and direct cultural exchanges with this prison nation’s northern neighbors. There has been no progress on repatriating fugitives from U.S. justice still living in Cuba and no effort to force Havana to back down from its demand of reparations from the U.S.
There is a case to be made that Congress believes it is standing up for the Cuban people in keeping the screws on the Castros as tight as possible, but it’s a case the Obama administration resents. And for Obama, politics never stopped at the waters’ edge. If Republicans can be embarrassed by the UN, then so be it.
It is lamentable that the Obama administration does not see that it has a responsibility to defend Americans with whom they disagree. It is not, however, surprising. That kind of divisiveness has characterized the entire Obama presidency. Here’s hoping his successor will not emulate behavior so unbecoming in an American commander-in-chief.
Obama’s Shameless Display in the UN
In a body as reflexively anti-Western as the United Nations, it is no surprise that the United States often finds itself under attack. Previously, American representatives had the stomach to defend their country against those assaults. Apparently, those days are over.
Beginning in 2014, the Obama administration began to make good on that perennial liberal objective of normalizing U.S. relations with Cuba for no reason other than the perceived backwardness of its Cold War-era posture. Unilaterally and without reciprocity from Havana, Obama has spent the better part of the last two years unwinding American restrictions on trade and travel with the Communist island nation, insofar as he could without the consent of Congress.
There is, however, only so much Obama could do by himself. There are six active laws affirming restrictions on U.S. relations with Cuba, even including the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act (which allows for expedited refugee status for Cubans who make it to U.S. soil even though air travel between the two nations has resumed). Surely, much of these laws no longer make sense in light of the new realities of Cuban-American relations ushered in by Obama, whether congressional Republicans like those realities or not.
Obama has leveraged Congress to bend to his will in a variety of ways, but the opposition-led legislature has so far refused to normalize relations with the repressive Cuban regime. Now, Obama is using a new tool to force the GOP to accept his new status quo: the United Nations.
In a radical reversal of policy, the United States abstained on Wednesday during a vote on a UN resolution calling for an end to the Cuban embargo. Israel, America’s stalwart ally in that body of autocrats and human rights abusers, joined with the United State in abstaining in a vote censuring it. The final tally was 191 with two abstentions in favor of condemning the United States of America.
In the eyes of the administration, this was no vote to condemn the United States; it was a vote to condemn the United States Congress and, specifically, the Republicans who run it. The White House couldn’t muster up the spirit to support the legitimacy of the co-equal legislative branch from denunciation by an unrepresentative global body, but only because the White House agrees with this rogues gallery more than it does its domestic GOP opponents. That is truly shameful.
Republicans have not held fast to the Cuban embargo out of some misplaced sense of nostalgia, as Obama glibly insists on the endless campaign tour that has been his second term in office. Much like the vaunted rapprochement with Iran has failed to compel the Mullahs to moderate their radicalism and join the community of nations, the Castro brothers have only responded to Obama’s overtures by cracking down on the Cuban people.
The Cuban Commission on Human Rights noted that Havana made 8,616 politically-motivated arrests in 2015, an increase of nearly 1,200 from the year prior. This is not despite but because of the sudden influx of American tourism dollars and direct cultural exchanges with this prison nation’s northern neighbors. There has been no progress on repatriating fugitives from U.S. justice still living in Cuba and no effort to force Havana to back down from its demand of reparations from the U.S.
There is a case to be made that Congress believes it is standing up for the Cuban people in keeping the screws on the Castros as tight as possible, but it’s a case the Obama administration resents. And for Obama, politics never stopped at the waters’ edge. If Republicans can be embarrassed by the UN, then so be it.
It is lamentable that the Obama administration does not see that it has a responsibility to defend Americans with whom they disagree. It is not, however, surprising. That kind of divisiveness has characterized the entire Obama presidency. Here’s hoping his successor will not emulate behavior so unbecoming in an American commander-in-chief.
Statement on Obama's Failure to Defend U.S. Law at United Nations #Cuba
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Today, the Obama Administration has chosen to abstain from a resolution presented by the Cuban dictatorship at the United Nations General Assembly condemning the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 ("Libertad Act"), which codified the embargo into U.S. law.
Regardless of the Obama Administration's views on sanctions towards Cuba, the Libertad Act was passed by the United States Congress pursuant to Article I of the Constitution of the United States. It is the law of the land.
This unprecedented failure by President Obama to defend U.S. law at the United Nations General Assembly marks perhaps the most egregious breach of his Constitutional responsibilities and oath of office.
We call on both presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to condemn this affront on the rule of law.
Regardless of the Obama Administration's views on sanctions towards Cuba, the Libertad Act was passed by the United States Congress pursuant to Article I of the Constitution of the United States. It is the law of the land.
This unprecedented failure by President Obama to defend U.S. law at the United Nations General Assembly marks perhaps the most egregious breach of his Constitutional responsibilities and oath of office.
We call on both presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to condemn this affront on the rule of law.
Must-Read: Cuba, Iran's Island in the Sun
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
By Emanuele Ottolenghi in The Hill:
Cuba, Iran's island in the sun
The Obama administration thinks Iran's influence in Latin America is waning. That means it does not view the 80 or so cultural centers Iran has established across Central and South America as a threat.
Tehran begs to differ. It views these centers as a vehicle for the spread of its revolutionary ideology to America's backyard. Iran's official state visits, diplomatic agreements, commercial relations and volume of trade with the region do not come out to much. Far more important to the ayatollahs are the thousands of Latin American converts who, thanks to the centers' missionary work, flock to the regime-run Al Mostafa International University in Qom each year for indoctrination.
Cuba is the most recent and unlikely addition to Iran's growing network of missionary centers. In the last three years, Iran has established a Shiite cultural center and a mosque in Havana that is actively recruiting and converting Cubans. Many of its converts have already traveled to Iran, including one who is training as the first Cuban-born Shiite cleric.
Iran wants to preserve and expand this operation, especially now that Havana has relations with the United States.
So far, Iran has only won over a handful of people: Havana's Shiite community amounts to no more than 70 members so far. But far more important than the numbers is the fact that the community exists at all: Communist Cuba is not exactly a haven for religious freedom and proselytism is forbidden.
Regardless, Iran says that the Shiite center on the island was established with the full knowledge and blessings of Cuban authorities. Given that there was no Shiite community on the island before Iran began proselytizing, Iran could not have made inroads with the communist regime in Havana under the pretext of serving local Muslims.
Iran came in to proselytize and the Castro government let them in.
The importance Iran attaches to Cuba explains Iran's high-profile visits there in recent months — its foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, travelled there in August, and President Hassan Rouhani in September.
Moreover, the man in charge of guiding the island's small Shiite community is the Argentinian-born Shiite Edgardo Ruben (aka Soheil) Assad. According to Joseph Humire, an expert of Iran's Latin America activities, Assad is reportedly Iran's "informal ambassador" to the whole Latin American region.
At a February 2015 congressional hearing, Humire described Assad as Iran's "primary agent of influence in Latin America" and as a "disciple" of Mohsen Rabbani, the Iranian Shiite cleric implicated in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
Rabbani, who at the time served as cultural attache at the local Iranian embassy, originally moved to Argentina in 1983 to serve as a cleric to Argentina's Shiite community. He began Iran's proselytizing mission to Latin America while in Buenos Aires, recruiting individuals who today are deeply involved with Iran's missionary spread in the region.
Today, Rabbani is no longer able to travel due to the Interpol red notice against him for his involvement in the 1994 terror attack. But he still pulls strings from Qom, where he serves as personal representative of Iran's supreme leader to Latin America and teacher at Al Mostafa. Assad also does his bidding. When not in Latin America on his missionary trips, Assad trains Latin American students at Al Mostafa — likely under Rabbani's guidance.
The younger and the older clerics share the view that Latin America is fertile ground for the penetration of Iran's revolutionary message. And the regime gives them full political cover and financial resources to pursue this mission.
Iran is openly bragging about its missionary work in Cuba. In February 2014, Iran's Spanish-language Latin American network, Hispan TV, produced a short clip about a group of local converts visiting Iran under the auspices of a cultural institute run by Rabbani for the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. One of them was a Cuban.
In May of this year, Iran's state TV aired a documentary on Assad's life and missionary work. The 45-minute documentary revealed the existence of a Shiite center based in Havana and showed Assad in Havana and with his Cuban students in Qom.
Hispan TV is also broadcasting a documentary series featuring Assad and his work in Latin America. Two chapters are devoted to Cuba.
And in August, state TV again featured Assad in a 40-minute interview, which included a lengthy discussion of the challenges of spreading Islam in Cuba.
Cuban converts interviewed by Hispan TV are circumspect about the center's goals. They tread dangerous ground, having to reckon with Cuban intelligence while also doing Tehran's bidding. Assad addressed this challenge when he acknowledged the recent decision by Cuban authorities to deny him entry, when his most recent trip coincided with President Obama's brief visit to Cuba in March.
Assad and his TV host subsequently said that the denial may have come at Washington's request, and with Havana's approval. But that is unlikely: Iranian-backed Islamic centers flourish across the region, no obstacles from local authorities and barely a word of concern from the Department of State.
That's a mistake. Iran's converts are as radical in their version of Islam and their hatred for the West as those radicalized by Sunni extremists like al Qaeda or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Tehran sees them as the vanguard of its Islamic revolution in America's own backyard.
Washington, for once, should take Iran at its words.
Ottolenghi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Cuba, Iran's island in the sun
The Obama administration thinks Iran's influence in Latin America is waning. That means it does not view the 80 or so cultural centers Iran has established across Central and South America as a threat.
Tehran begs to differ. It views these centers as a vehicle for the spread of its revolutionary ideology to America's backyard. Iran's official state visits, diplomatic agreements, commercial relations and volume of trade with the region do not come out to much. Far more important to the ayatollahs are the thousands of Latin American converts who, thanks to the centers' missionary work, flock to the regime-run Al Mostafa International University in Qom each year for indoctrination.
Cuba is the most recent and unlikely addition to Iran's growing network of missionary centers. In the last three years, Iran has established a Shiite cultural center and a mosque in Havana that is actively recruiting and converting Cubans. Many of its converts have already traveled to Iran, including one who is training as the first Cuban-born Shiite cleric.
Iran wants to preserve and expand this operation, especially now that Havana has relations with the United States.
So far, Iran has only won over a handful of people: Havana's Shiite community amounts to no more than 70 members so far. But far more important than the numbers is the fact that the community exists at all: Communist Cuba is not exactly a haven for religious freedom and proselytism is forbidden.
Regardless, Iran says that the Shiite center on the island was established with the full knowledge and blessings of Cuban authorities. Given that there was no Shiite community on the island before Iran began proselytizing, Iran could not have made inroads with the communist regime in Havana under the pretext of serving local Muslims.
Iran came in to proselytize and the Castro government let them in.
The importance Iran attaches to Cuba explains Iran's high-profile visits there in recent months — its foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, travelled there in August, and President Hassan Rouhani in September.
Moreover, the man in charge of guiding the island's small Shiite community is the Argentinian-born Shiite Edgardo Ruben (aka Soheil) Assad. According to Joseph Humire, an expert of Iran's Latin America activities, Assad is reportedly Iran's "informal ambassador" to the whole Latin American region.
At a February 2015 congressional hearing, Humire described Assad as Iran's "primary agent of influence in Latin America" and as a "disciple" of Mohsen Rabbani, the Iranian Shiite cleric implicated in the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
Rabbani, who at the time served as cultural attache at the local Iranian embassy, originally moved to Argentina in 1983 to serve as a cleric to Argentina's Shiite community. He began Iran's proselytizing mission to Latin America while in Buenos Aires, recruiting individuals who today are deeply involved with Iran's missionary spread in the region.
Today, Rabbani is no longer able to travel due to the Interpol red notice against him for his involvement in the 1994 terror attack. But he still pulls strings from Qom, where he serves as personal representative of Iran's supreme leader to Latin America and teacher at Al Mostafa. Assad also does his bidding. When not in Latin America on his missionary trips, Assad trains Latin American students at Al Mostafa — likely under Rabbani's guidance.
The younger and the older clerics share the view that Latin America is fertile ground for the penetration of Iran's revolutionary message. And the regime gives them full political cover and financial resources to pursue this mission.
Iran is openly bragging about its missionary work in Cuba. In February 2014, Iran's Spanish-language Latin American network, Hispan TV, produced a short clip about a group of local converts visiting Iran under the auspices of a cultural institute run by Rabbani for the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. One of them was a Cuban.
In May of this year, Iran's state TV aired a documentary on Assad's life and missionary work. The 45-minute documentary revealed the existence of a Shiite center based in Havana and showed Assad in Havana and with his Cuban students in Qom.
Hispan TV is also broadcasting a documentary series featuring Assad and his work in Latin America. Two chapters are devoted to Cuba.
And in August, state TV again featured Assad in a 40-minute interview, which included a lengthy discussion of the challenges of spreading Islam in Cuba.
Cuban converts interviewed by Hispan TV are circumspect about the center's goals. They tread dangerous ground, having to reckon with Cuban intelligence while also doing Tehran's bidding. Assad addressed this challenge when he acknowledged the recent decision by Cuban authorities to deny him entry, when his most recent trip coincided with President Obama's brief visit to Cuba in March.
Assad and his TV host subsequently said that the denial may have come at Washington's request, and with Havana's approval. But that is unlikely: Iranian-backed Islamic centers flourish across the region, no obstacles from local authorities and barely a word of concern from the Department of State.
That's a mistake. Iran's converts are as radical in their version of Islam and their hatred for the West as those radicalized by Sunni extremists like al Qaeda or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Tehran sees them as the vanguard of its Islamic revolution in America's own backyard.
Washington, for once, should take Iran at its words.
Ottolenghi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
After Podesta Revelation, Cuba's MCL Renews Call for Investigation of Paya's Death
Statement from Cuba's Christian Liberation Movement ('MCL'), pursuant to an email revelation by former White House official and Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, John Podesta, that its leader, Oswaldo Paya, was indeed murdered by the Castro regime.
MCL Statement on Email of John Podesta, Campaign Manager for Hillary Clinton
"The truth will set them in solidarity with our freedom"
In a July 2015 email disseminated by Wikileaks, John Podesta, campaign manager for Hillary Clinton states that, "Yes. Oswaldo Paya. The Cuban government forced him off the road and killed him almost certainly."
For this very important person, also linked to the administration of President Obama and now the Democratic presidential nominee, to make this statement indicates that in the upper echelons of power in the United States they have evidence or details to affirm it.
The Christian Liberation Movement from the outset revealed a text message that read, "Angel says that a vehicle forced us off the road," sent by Aron Modig, who was traveling with Paya and Angel Carromero, as a passenger in the vehicle that suffered the attack.
Since then, we have divulged all of the details that we have about this tragedy and have called for an independent investigation to clarify what happened. Not only the United States government, but the governments of Spain, Sweden and many foreign ministries have information about what occurred on July 22nd, 2012 on the road from Bayamo.
We hope that whoever wins the election will demand and directly support an independent investigation into the death of Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero and to support our platform, "One Cuban, One Vote," so that the pursuit for freedom that Oswaldo and Harold lived and died for can reach Cuba through the sovereign will of the people. That is how democracies can have a relationship of total solidarity with Cuba, which also includes all of us Cubans who do not have rights.
MCL Statement on Email of John Podesta, Campaign Manager for Hillary Clinton
"The truth will set them in solidarity with our freedom"
In a July 2015 email disseminated by Wikileaks, John Podesta, campaign manager for Hillary Clinton states that, "Yes. Oswaldo Paya. The Cuban government forced him off the road and killed him almost certainly."
For this very important person, also linked to the administration of President Obama and now the Democratic presidential nominee, to make this statement indicates that in the upper echelons of power in the United States they have evidence or details to affirm it.
The Christian Liberation Movement from the outset revealed a text message that read, "Angel says that a vehicle forced us off the road," sent by Aron Modig, who was traveling with Paya and Angel Carromero, as a passenger in the vehicle that suffered the attack.
Since then, we have divulged all of the details that we have about this tragedy and have called for an independent investigation to clarify what happened. Not only the United States government, but the governments of Spain, Sweden and many foreign ministries have information about what occurred on July 22nd, 2012 on the road from Bayamo.
We hope that whoever wins the election will demand and directly support an independent investigation into the death of Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero and to support our platform, "One Cuban, One Vote," so that the pursuit for freedom that Oswaldo and Harold lived and died for can reach Cuba through the sovereign will of the people. That is how democracies can have a relationship of total solidarity with Cuba, which also includes all of us Cubans who do not have rights.
Rubio: Past 24 Hours Reveal New Dangers Of Obama's Cuba Concessions
Rubio: Past 24 Hours Have Revealed New Dangers Of Obama's Cuba Concessions
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement regarding new, previously unannounced revelations involving President Obama's concessions to the Cuban regime:
"Over the past 24 hours, we've learned the Obama Administration has entered into an intelligence-sharing agreement with the Castro regime. This makes absolutely no sense, considering Cuba's intelligence agencies actively work to endanger American lives by stealing our military and national security secrets and selling them to Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. At a time when Russia is actively trying to influence elections in the U.S. the Obama Administration is saying it's going to make nice with the very same Cuban intelligence agencies whose number one mission is to steal classified information from our government and recruit spies in the U.S. This is one more piece of the sad, dangerous legacy of President Obama’s appeasement-based foreign policy, which is likely to ensure the longstanding survival of one-party communist rule in Cuba.
Beyond that, we've also learned the Obama Administration is extending its economic concessions and giving new opportunities to practically every member of the Cuban regime – even if they’re one of the official neighborhood informants that intimidates and reports on the activities of ordinary Cuban citizens; even if they get paid to participate in organized mobs and intimidate and physically assault Cuban dissidents, including the Ladies in White; even if they’re a rank and file member of the Cuban police and security forces that carry out the beatings and arbitrary arrests of government opponents; and even if they work in Cuba's state-run media, where publishing character assassinations and libel and colluding in government cover-ups like the state-sponsored murder of Oswaldo Paya are all a routine part of the job.
When the Obama Administration announced these new regulations last week, the media and the American public were led to believe this was all about Cuban cigars and rum. Yes, this is about the trafficking of products derived from properties stolen from Americans, but it's much more than that. The Obama Administration did not include some of the most significant changes in its public or private descriptions of the announcement, suggesting a deliberate attempt to hide them from the American people. These Obama concessions to the Cuban regime jeopardize America's national security and are demoralizing to the Cuban people on the island who fight daily for freedom and a better future. They are demoralizing to people of Cuban descent residing in the U.S. who have been victims of the Cuban regime and are now learning the Obama Administration is legitimizing and essentially pardoning their tormentors."
Background on these previously undisclosed Obama Administration concessions:
The Obama Administration has narrowed the definition of prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba removing Ministers and Vice-ministers, members of the Council of State; members and employees of the National Assembly of People's Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; Director Generals and sub-Director Generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; and members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional). The new definition now only includes members of the Council of Ministers and flag officers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The Obama Administration has also narrowed the definition of the Cuban Communist Party removing members of the Central Committee, Department Heads of the Central Committee, employees of the Central Committee, and secretaries and first secretaries of the provincial Party central committees. The definition now only includes members of the Politburo.
These changes now allows persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to engage in transactions with these previously prohibited individuals to receive remittances, for telecommunication services and transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of manuscripts, books, journals, and newspapers in paper or electronic format (collectively, “written publications”).
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement regarding new, previously unannounced revelations involving President Obama's concessions to the Cuban regime:
"Over the past 24 hours, we've learned the Obama Administration has entered into an intelligence-sharing agreement with the Castro regime. This makes absolutely no sense, considering Cuba's intelligence agencies actively work to endanger American lives by stealing our military and national security secrets and selling them to Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. At a time when Russia is actively trying to influence elections in the U.S. the Obama Administration is saying it's going to make nice with the very same Cuban intelligence agencies whose number one mission is to steal classified information from our government and recruit spies in the U.S. This is one more piece of the sad, dangerous legacy of President Obama’s appeasement-based foreign policy, which is likely to ensure the longstanding survival of one-party communist rule in Cuba.
Beyond that, we've also learned the Obama Administration is extending its economic concessions and giving new opportunities to practically every member of the Cuban regime – even if they’re one of the official neighborhood informants that intimidates and reports on the activities of ordinary Cuban citizens; even if they get paid to participate in organized mobs and intimidate and physically assault Cuban dissidents, including the Ladies in White; even if they’re a rank and file member of the Cuban police and security forces that carry out the beatings and arbitrary arrests of government opponents; and even if they work in Cuba's state-run media, where publishing character assassinations and libel and colluding in government cover-ups like the state-sponsored murder of Oswaldo Paya are all a routine part of the job.
When the Obama Administration announced these new regulations last week, the media and the American public were led to believe this was all about Cuban cigars and rum. Yes, this is about the trafficking of products derived from properties stolen from Americans, but it's much more than that. The Obama Administration did not include some of the most significant changes in its public or private descriptions of the announcement, suggesting a deliberate attempt to hide them from the American people. These Obama concessions to the Cuban regime jeopardize America's national security and are demoralizing to the Cuban people on the island who fight daily for freedom and a better future. They are demoralizing to people of Cuban descent residing in the U.S. who have been victims of the Cuban regime and are now learning the Obama Administration is legitimizing and essentially pardoning their tormentors."
Background on these previously undisclosed Obama Administration concessions:
The Obama Administration has narrowed the definition of prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba removing Ministers and Vice-ministers, members of the Council of State; members and employees of the National Assembly of People's Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; Director Generals and sub-Director Generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; and members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional). The new definition now only includes members of the Council of Ministers and flag officers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The Obama Administration has also narrowed the definition of the Cuban Communist Party removing members of the Central Committee, Department Heads of the Central Committee, employees of the Central Committee, and secretaries and first secretaries of the provincial Party central committees. The definition now only includes members of the Politburo.
These changes now allows persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to engage in transactions with these previously prohibited individuals to receive remittances, for telecommunication services and transactions necessary and ordinarily incident to the publishing and marketing of manuscripts, books, journals, and newspapers in paper or electronic format (collectively, “written publications”).
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