Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver says it’s time the United States dropped its travel and trade ban with Cuba. Cleaver is one of six members of the Congressional Black Caucus to go to Cuba and meet with President Raul Castro. They are the first members of Congress to meet with Raul Castro since he took over for his ailing brother 14 months ago.

Cleaver refers to United States policy toward Cuba as being a “sea of delusion.” He says the policies intended to cause the collapse of Fidel Castro’s government clearly have not worked.

He says all of the other countries in this hemisphere and all of the countries in the European Union have diplomatic relations with Cuba. Cleaver says the result is that the United States is the isolated country, not Cuba.

President Obama has indicated this country will soften financial regulations and travel restrictions affecting Cuba, although not immediately.

 

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