Cuba receives first US shipment since 1962, under special permit from US government - Polidicks

[url]http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/07/20127147196482238.html[/url] [quote=Al Jazeera]For the first time in 50 years, Havana Bay has received a shipment of humanitarian aid from Miami in the United States. The Ana Cecilia sailed into the Cuban harbour shortly after 11:00 GMT or 7am local time on Friday, carrying family goods, food, medicine and clothing, as well as medical equipment such as orthopedic mattresses and electric wheelchairs. Shipper International Port Corp. hopes to make this a weekly service between the US and Cuba, who have been at ideological odds for years, with a ship leaving Miami every Wednesday for the 16-hour trip to Havana. The US had imposed a trade embargo on the Communist-run island since 1962, but International Port Corp. says it has been granted a special permit from the US to begin trading. "This is so wonderful," said company spokesman Leonardo Sanchez-Adega, after the ship finally docked following a delay of several hours due to an error in customs paperwork submitted to the Cuban authorities. There has been no official response from Cuba, however, the Cuban community in Florida, were "positive" about the shipments, according to International Port Corp. [B]Initiative welcomed[/B] Oscar Espinosa Chepe, an opposition economist told AFP news agency that he welcomed the initiative. "I welcome this initiative and hope we will continue on a path to normalise ties between Cuba and the United States." The company's clients include charitable, religious and humanitarian groups, as well as relatives of people living in Cuba, which the US considers humanitarian aid from family members and sanctioned groups. The Ana Cecilia, a small cargo ship, can hold 16 containers of supplies. US President Barack Obama has somewhat eased the embargo, lifting some travel restrictions and allowing Cuban Americans to send unlimited remittances back home, a significant move as 80 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million members of the Cuban diaspora live in the US. But the increased flexibility has its limits. In December 2009 US contractor Alan Gross was arrested for distributing laptops and communications equipment to members of Cuba's small Jewish community under a US State Department contract.[/quote]

The GOP is going to try and spin this against Obama, just watch. They'll be calling him a Commie Socialist and a Traitor for trying to help Cuba.

I view Cuba and a precious fruit. I would love to travel their as a vacation. Especially compared to what's going on in Mexico right now. Alas US still has "beef" with Cuba. At least Obama has started a path of reforms so one day I can without going threw another country.

This is wonderful news!

the embargo is still fucking childish and retarded

[QUOTE=Aide;36767005]I view Cuba and a precious fruit. I would love to travel their as a vacation. Especially compared to what's going on in Mexico right now. Alas US still has "beef" with Cuba. At least Obama has started a path of reforms so one day I can without going threw another country.[/QUOTE] I enjoyed reading this comment. The embargo is a useless relic of the cold war. I don't understand why it's still in place.

[QUOTE=DrBreen;36767030]the embargo is still fucking childish and retarded[/QUOTE] Was it childish when they parked missiles on our doorstep?

[QUOTE=SteelReal;36767496]Was it childish when they parked missiles on our doorstep?[/QUOTE] Uh yes

[QUOTE=SteelReal;36767496]Was it childish when they parked missiles on our doorstep?[/QUOTE] That was nearly half a century ago. I think we can move on now.

[QUOTE=SteelReal;36767496]Was it childish when they parked missiles on our doorstep?[/QUOTE] Was it childish when America parked missiles in turkey but cried like a baby when Soviet Union parked missiles in Cuba?

My father's been to Cuba. He says it has the systems in place to be a great tourist destination for Americans. It's only 50 miles away from the US, and Havana already has the infrastructure for massive tourism. He also mentioned how sad the situation was over there. Very poor villages alongside large social problems. The bellhop at his hotel had just finished med school, but since there wasn't a demand for doctors, he's had to find low level work just to survive. I hope the embargo ends within the next decade.

we r all human bengs and are shud put ower diffrences aside and haved embargos gone

[QUOTE=Brickhead;36768223]we r all human bengs and are shud put ower diffrences aside and haved embargos gone[/QUOTE] that's cute [editline]14th July 2012[/editline] wait what the fuck [quote=Brickhead]we r all human bengs and are deservd to have chips with no chirld ponorgrafry[/quote]

[QUOTE=Brickhead;36768223]we r all human bengs and are shud put ower diffrences aside and haved embargos gone[/QUOTE] i agre

Progress :) [editline]14th July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Edthefirst;36767902]My father's been to Cuba. He says it has the systems in place to be a great tourist destination for Americans. It's only 50 miles away from the US, and Havana already has the infrastructure for massive tourism. He also mentioned how sad the situation was over there. Very poor villages alongside large social problems. The bellhop at his hotel had just finished med school, but since there wasn't a demand for doctors, he's had to find low level work just to survive. I hope the embargo ends within the next decade.[/QUOTE] I remember watching a documentary where someone was able to tour and film cuba. I remember thinking how beautiful the country was, even in Havana, and how i'd absolutely love to visit such a place.

[QUOTE=Edthefirst;36767902]My father's been to Cuba. He says it has the systems in place to be a great tourist destination for Americans. It's only 50 miles away from the US, and Havana already has the infrastructure for massive tourism. He also mentioned how sad the situation was over there. Very poor villages alongside large social problems. The bellhop at his hotel had just finished med school, but since there wasn't a demand for doctors, he's had to find low level work just to survive. I hope the embargo ends within the next decade.[/QUOTE]I bet the economy would explode if Americans could easily vacation in Cuba without going though Mexico/Canada.

A majority of the cars there are old GM, Ford, and Dodge from before 1963. It's great

I've heard Cuba is a great place to visit. Would love to travel there one day.

Finally progress. The embargo is well past its time. Time to get rid of it.

Obama already said he's doing nothing about the embargo and the helms burton act. No progress to be found here.

One step closer to getting some damn cigars from there legally.

Let's hope that this embargo finally gets removed.

[QUOTE=Conscript;36769186]Obama already said he's doing nothing about the embargo and the helms burton act. No progress to be found here.[/QUOTE] Did you not read the article at all?

We all knew it was only a matter of time before the embargo ended.

[QUOTE=nothung;36770458]We all knew it was only a matter of time before the embargo ended.[/QUOTE] I personally expected it to go well into the 2100's.

We can't get rid of the embargo until the Soviets are defeated. WAIT, WHAT THE FUCK

[QUOTE=Disotrtion;36770867]We can't take get rid of the embargo until the Soviets are defeated. WAIT, WHAT THE FUCK[/QUOTE] Socialism ain't defeated. It's here in 'merica. That damn muslim won't stop until he drives America into the ground with his death panels and communism.

The embargo must have relaxed since I managed to buy Cuban coffee

[QUOTE=mysteryman;36769616]Did you not read the article at all?[/QUOTE] The US gave special permissions to a single corporation, big fucking deal. Look what it does to all of them with the helms-burton act. Obama hasn't changed shit and he already said so in 2009/2010. At most he'll pursue a 'humanitarian aid' mission for propaganda purposes.

Socialism isn't even bad. Hell a Mix between that and capitalism would probably be the best thing to happen to a country Maybe in 20 years, we'll be able to go to Cuba for vacation, because it has some awesome beaches, and water to dive in