• Submitted by: manso
• United States
• Politics and Government
• 08 / 15 / 2010

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Governor Bill Richardson has written an excellent Op Ed on US relations with Latin America. He offers the kind of visible conceptual framework and leadership that has been absent from the Obama Administration to date.

His second point: "As a first step to changing our policy toward Cuba, the president should issue an executive order to lift as much of the travel ban as possible.

The travel ban penalizes U.S. businesses, lowers our credibility in Latin America and fuels anti-U.S. propaganda. Lifting the ban would also be a reciprocal gesture for Cuba's recent agreement, negotiated among the Catholic Church, the Spanish government and President Raul Castro, to release political dissidents.

Obama has taken significant steps to loosen restrictions on family travel, remove limits for remittance and expand cooperation in other areas such as expanding the export of humanitarian goods from the United States into Cuba. Loosening travel restrictions is in U.S. interests and would be a bold move toward normalization of relations with Cuba."

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Washington Post Op Ed http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081304982.\html?hpid=opinionsbox1

The "petition" to the White House supporting non-tourist travel has reached 557 signers in about a week. Each signature results in a personal message to the White House.

A bold move by the President can help overcome resistance in Congress to travel legislation. On a practical level, it is the only way that organizations will have time to put in place programs for the 2010-2011 peak season. (For example,Cross Cultural Solutions: http://www.cubaheadlines.com/2010/08/14/26066/cs_a_leader_in_travel_to_cuba_read\y_if_legal_travel_becomes_available.html )

If the legislation does not make it through the House and Senate this year, dramatically expanded people to people exchanges will bring a much needed expansion of energy and resources for the next round of struggle.

Please sign the letter today and circulate this link to your lists

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/mr_president_dont_wait_for_congress_to_open\ _travel_to_cuba

Governor Richardson demonstrates why and how the President's decision on liberalization of travel must be our priority until Congress returns to Washington.

Source: groups.yahoo.com/