Trade managed by communist oligarchs can hardly be defined as free trade

The Cuba Deal: 

Coexisting And Profiting With Tyrants

by Alejandro Chafuen

Free trade also works wonders to bring people and countries together. But trade managed by communist oligarchs can hardly be defined as free trade.

We all celebrate when an innocent person is released from prison. The freedom of Alan Gross is welcome news. But the release of three convicted Cuban spies and operatives (who were directly responsible for the killing of other innocents), the continued lack of consultation by the administration with other branches of government and Congress, and the disregard for the unrelenting oppression of political freedoms are a high cost to pay.

The leading Cuban-Americans in the legislature, Sen.Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Robert Menéndez (D-NJ), and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) released statements with scathing criticisms. Sen. Rubio stated that the deal was “disgraceful for a president who claims to treasure human rights and human freedom. This president is the single worst negotiator we have had in the White House in my lifetime.” The statement by Ros-Lehtinen complements Rubio’s criticism: “This misguided action by President Obama will embolden the Castro regime to continue its illicit activities, trample on fundamental freedoms, and disregard democratic principles.”

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