http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2014/12/17/alan-gross-released-from-cuban-prison.html?via=twitter_pageU.S. to Open Embassy in Cuba
The United States will open an embassy in Cuba for the first time in a half century and restore full diplomatic relations, senior administration officials announced Wednesday.
As part of the diplomatic thaw, the U.S. will ease restrictions on remittances, travel, and banking relations regarding Cuba. Meanwhile, Cuba will release 53 prisoners identified as political prisoners by the U.S. The economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. during the Eisenhower administration will remain in place for now.
The news follows Cuba's release of U.S. citizen Alan Gross from prison Wednesday after five years in captivity. (The U.S. also exchanged three alleged Cuban spies in return for a U.S. intelligence agent held in a Cuban prison for nearly 20 years.) The diplomatic breakthrough is the result of 18 months of secret negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba, brokered by the Vatican.
Raul Castro and President Obama will both speak, separately, around noon Eastern time.
]This is fantastic news. It's about time. They should have realized that an embargo was hurting more people than helping!!! If the US could make friends with Vietnam after a fukton of our troops died there..... We certainly should be able to with Cuba
