The Washington Post reported on Saturday:
Restrictive U.S. policies toward Cuba are ineffective, have failed to achieve their stated purpose of promoting democracy and should be reevaluated to take advantage of recent political changes on the island, according to the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The views of Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) are appended to a report by minority committee staffers that calls for lifting Bush administration restrictions on travel and remittances to Cuba, reinstituting formal bilateral cooperation on drug interdiction and migration, and allowing Cuba to buy U.S. agricultural products on credit. Scheduled for release Monday, the report stops short of proposing that the 47-year-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba be lifted.
The Cuban Government is so happy with Senator Lugar's staff report calling for unilateral measures on the embargo, that the Cuban diplomatic mission in DC is circulating it. A friend sends over this note from Michelle Abdo, a Cuban diplomat stationed in Washington:
Hi [redacted]:
I am the Second Secretary of Cuban Interests Section attending the American business sector dealing with Cuba.
I would like to up date you on the current US Cuba policy where [redacted]Â is an important State. Hereby I am attaching you news on the Cuba issue. I will be pleased to meet with you, if it is possible. Please confirm me your Office location.
Best regards,
Michelle Abdo
Second Secretary
Cuban Interests Section
