Working in Ottawa today --Miami's new suburb!

Good morning folks,

I will be working in Ottawa today.

Hey, Miami has a new suburb!

That's right folks, true to Obamarama's promise, the U.S. is taking some steps forward to normalizing relations with Cuba.  Yesterday, in a negotiation brokered by Canada and Pope Francis, the U.S. announced that John Kerry, Secretary of State, will pay a visit to the island nation on July 20.

For an extremely short recap of history, Cuba was ruled by the U.S. backed Fulgencio Batista regime until Jan. 1, 1959 when Fidel Castro over-through Batista and nationalized the farms and hotel-resorts and after failing to gain any U.S. aid for his nation, Fidel turned to the USSR.  The USSR agreed to give Cuba aid, in exchange for military installations in Cuba.  The Soviets parked some nuclear missiles there in 1962 and U.S. President Kennedy implemented a naval embargo around Cuba to block further Soviet aid and Soviet military equipment.  There was a tense several days while many thought the standoff would result in a first strike by the Soviets against the U.S.  But.. the Soviets capitulated and agreed to removal of the nuclear missiles.  Since that time, the U.S. has maintained a Cuban trade and travel embargo.

So why now?

I suggest it may have something to do with another news item from yesterday which I doubt anyone read.  Yesterday, General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, produced a study that singles out Russia and China as aggressive countries and a threat to US security interests.

"Russia's military actions are undermining regional security directly and through proxy forces," it says.

The study points to the alleged presence of Russian troops in Ukraine as a source of tension between Washington and Moscow.

Relations between the United States and Russia are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War in 1991, largely due to the crisis in Ukraine.

So this new spirit of cooperation by the U.S. towards Cuba could be to ward off any new strategic use of Cuba by Russia in its cat and mouse game with the U.S. and avoid Cuban Missile Crisis Part Deux, just sayin'.

Meanwhile, back in Miami, U.S. presidential contender Marco Rubio is not impressed with the Obama announcement, he does not want to restore relations with Cuba until all issues are resolved.  This includes 'legal claims' for property seized when Castro nationalize property, has U.S. diplomats meet with dissidents in Cuba and secure greater freedom for the Cuban people.

Huh.. he wants this before diplomatic relations are restored?  How does his believe that such discussions take place?  And as for property claims, give it up guy, just not going to happen.  Other people have been living in your apartment for the last 50 odd years.

Anyway, out of typing time, plane is landing.

Have a good day, Buenos Dias!