Cuba Eager to Explore Possibilities with Obama

Fidel Castro has described Barack Obama using such words as "intelligent" and "humanitarian" and he seems eager to open communications between Cuba and the incoming administration. Fidel's brother Raul Castro has been the leader of Cuba since Fidel stepped down in February, following a long bout with an undisclosed illness in 2006. And although Castro seems hopeful that Obama's administration will present opportunities to improve U.S.-Cuban relations, he was measured in his statements regarding that possibility.

Fidel noted that "carrot-and-stick" diplomacy will not work with the Cuban people, citing that approach as the most regularly employed by previous U.S. Presidents and their administrations. With Obama and < a href=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hillary-rodham-clinton/>Hillary Rodham Clinton working diligently to improve the image of the United States around the world, it will be most interesting to see how they handle our Communist island neighbor.

Obama has stated that he would like to ease some of the travel restrictions that are currently in place, preventing Cuban-Americans from returning home to visit family and loved ones. He also would like to allow Cuban-Americans to send money to their families still in Cuba, a practice that is currently prohibited under U.S. law.

If nothing else, there is at least some hope at this point that Cuba and the U.S. may find some common ground and perhaps find mutually beneficial ways to open contact between the two nations. There would almost certainly be an opportunity for an immediate influx of U.S. tourists to Cuba, should the countries agree to easing travel restrictions.