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Obama administration faces criticism on US-Cuba ties
奧巴馬政府因古巴關系被批
The Obama administration has faced months of criticism in the US over its decision to normalize relations with the Castro government.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is now back in the US after his brief visit to Havana. There, of course, he oversaw the reopening of the US Embassy. He also met with Cuban political dissidents living on the island. The move, appearing to be in line with Kerry's comments at the embassy ceremony, that Washington will continue to support quote "democratic reforms" in Cuba.
The Obama administration has faced months of criticism here in the US over its decision to normalize relations with the Castro government. Much of the criticism, coming from Republican lawmakers in both houses of congress? who, said that US President Barack Obama was ignoring what they've called injustices on the island nation.
Marco Rubio, Republican US Senator & Presidential Candidate said:"The same President who visited a U.S. prison to talk about inequities in our criminal justice system is silent about the fact that minor offenses in Iran and Cuba are punishable by indefinite detention, torture, or even death - and these offenses often include nothing more than speaking out with the wrong political opinion."
Rubio, of course, is of Cuban descent, and one of the most vocal critics of the administration's moves. Like many other Republicans, he note that decades of US policies and efforts to bring about a change in Cuban leadership, failed to materialize, but shouldn't be abandoned. Those arguments were also echoed by some in other places around the country, like Miami, Florida, where the issue is a very personal one.
The city is known for its large Cuban-American population, and has an area called Little Havana. And minor scuffles broke out there just as the embassy in Havana was being opened.
Supporters of normalization were confronted by anti-Castro activists, and police had to step in to break up the brawl.
In other parts of the US, however, there's been growing support for renewed cooperation. And, at the very least, an increase in curiosity. Few Americans have travelled to Cuba, despite the close proximity as US laws for decades have prohibited visiting. Many Americans are now eager to see what they've been missing.
And some of the people said they are ready to go. But they may have to wait a little while longer. Congressionally-imposed economic sanctions on Cuba remain in place, and only the US congress can lift those. At the moment, both house of the US congress are led by Republicans so that seems unlikely. But that hasn't stopped US President Barack Obama from urging them to do so. A call his administration and other democrats may take up, even louder, in the coming months, as presidential elections in the US kick into full swing.
