The Bulletin Board:(Please SCROLL DOWN this page to find the article titled on this post in LARGE CAPITAL LETTERS. Thank you.)
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
"Q&A on Obama’s Policy Changes Toward Cuba" - Ana Quintana/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/q-presidents-recent-policy-changes-toward-cuba/ [AS I SEE IT: Here is another example of the President's making sweeping changes in American policy without consulting with Congress or the American people beforehand. As someone noted, these kind of actions by a President set precedent for future Presidents, and in this case for future ones to also act despotically outside the purview of Constitutional restrictions. Praise God, there are at least some limits on these actions (as noted below) but its still action that should greatly concern all Americans. - Stan]
Yesterday afternoon, President Obama announced a series of drastic policy changes toward Cuba.What many now view as concessions to the Castro regime following a prisoner swap was in fact the White House ending the U.S.’s long tradition of supporting human rights and democratic reforms on the island.
The new policy approach follows the release of Alan Gross, a U.S. aid contractor who was kept hostage for more than five years by the Cuban government. In exchange, the Obama administration freed three convicted Cuban spies who were sent to the U.S. more than 20 years ago to infiltrate U.S. military facilities. Their spying led to the deaths of Americans after their aircraft was shot down by Cuban military jets.
There are three questions the Obama administration needs to answer about its recent policy changes toward Cuba.
1. Does this mean the trade embargo is over?
No, according to the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act, also known as the Helms–Burton Act of 1996, congressional authorization is required to lift the trade embargo. Seeing as all the Cuban-American congressmen on both sides of the aisle support the embargo, it is unlikely the policy will be overturned anytime soon.
2. How has U.S. policy changed?
For the first time since 1961, diplomatic relations will now be established. For decades, the U.S. and Cuba have not had embassies in each other’s countries but rather “Interests Sections.” Caps on remittances have been lifted from $500 to $2,000 quarterly. Commercial sales of certain exports from the U.S. will now be allowed. Limited commercial transactions with “private entrepreneurs” on the island are now allowed. Also, the U.S. will assist in increasing “Cubans’ access to communications and their ability to communicate freely.”
These reforms highlight the administration’s ignorance of the Castro regime. Providing the regime with additional sources of income seriously undermines the probability of democratic reforms. The Cuban government charges 20 percent of all remittances sent to the island, and these new reforms have now increased their potential revenue fourfold. Commercial transactions with these private entrepreneurs mainly will benefit the regime’s military and political leadership. The vast majority of state businesses are in the hands of the military, including tourism.
3. How will this affect the United States?
Following the Obama administration’s feckless policy with Russia and concessions to Iran and now Cuba, the president’s foreign policy calls into question his understanding of world affairs. The Cuban embargo is not based solely on what happened in 1961 but what continues to happen today. It was only last year that the regime was caught trafficking weapons onto a North Korean vessel, in clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Despite the Cuban government’s history of sponsoring terrorism directly and now via its proxy Venezuela, the president has instructed the State Department to review Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terror.
Expanding commercial exchanges also will expand the danger to U.S. businesses foolish enough to believe they are protected. Just three years ago, Cy Tokmakjian, a Canadian businessman, was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison and more than $100 million of his company’s assets were confiscated. Despite the fact that Canada and Cuba have enjoyed warm relations, the Canadian government has been unable to help.Unfortunately, Tokmakjian is not the only one. Seeing as the Castros’ still-uncompensated seizure of U.S. property is considered to be the “largest uncompensated taking of American property by a foreign government in history,” what protections can the president guarantee Americans?
Normalizing relations with a country whose prime export has been an aggressive anti-American foreign policy does not advance U.S. interests. Rapprochement with the Cuban government has always ended badly for the U.S. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton tried extending an olive branch, the Castros responded by shooting down U.S. aircraft and killing four Americans in international waters. Like Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said, “I would love for there to be normal relations with Cuba. But for that to happen, Cuba has to be normal, and it’s not. It is a brutal dictatorship.”
[bold, italics, and underline emphasis mine]
Ana Quintana is a research associate in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. She specializes in U.S. policy toward Latin America.
"Why We Isolated Cuba for 53 Years" - Lee Edwards/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/isolated-cuba-53-years/
"Obama Does Not Have the Authority to Lift Embargo on Cuba" - Mike Gonzalez / Dec. 17, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/17/obama-not-authority-lift-embargo-cuba/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
"A Really Bad Day for Freedom" - Steven Bucci/ December 18, 2014; http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/really-bad-day-freedom/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailydigest&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6vKZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMRnI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER:1) Let's be praying that God showed us grace in giving us representatives who will sincerely work to DO NO HARM to us and future generations. Let's also be praying that should He have chosen to give us those who WILL do us harm, that He extends mercy to us now and for the years ahead. His will is now done as far as the results we have. Now it's up to us to be diligent to hold those elected accountable!, and 2) Let's be praying that the present lame-duck session in Congress will not be allowed to pass legislation that will do harm to our country as they can easily do. (See post #1051 - 'Return of the Zombie).
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST: Save Christian Mom Asia Bibi from Execution - A Christian mom has been sentenced to death in Pakistan for her faith. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” – speaking against the prophet Muhammad. Now this wife and mother of five will hang for her Christian faith.She would be the first woman executed under Pakistan’s Shariah blasphemy law.This is the ultimate human rights violation. We’re mobilizing our international affiliate – the European Centre for Law and Justice – and its partner in Pakistan to stop this atrocity. Add your name to our letter to the government of Pakistan demanding Asia Bibi’s freedom.Go to http://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-christian-mom-asia-bibi-from-execution; please add your signature to mine and over 35,000 others AND pray for Asia Bibi.
U.S. Supreme Court has Reconvened: Let's be praying WHENEVER the Court is in session as their decisions can have impact on GENERATIONS to come. The fact that they may have an opportunity this session to actually vote on same-sex "marriage" where it has the same impact on this country that Roe v. Wade did should be motivating enough!
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
Friday, Sept. 26th - Two Year Anniversary of Pastor Saeed Abedini's Imprisonment in Iran! - need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign] For comfort and .\
"Not Everyone Happy with Religious Ambassador Pick," Caitlin Burke,July 29, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/July/Obama-Taps-Rabbi-for-Religious-Freedom-Ambassador/ "..An estimated 76 percent of the world's population live in countries where religious freedom is restricted. SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
Of course, let's CONTINUE PRAYING FOR AN END TO THE EBOLA CRISIS IN WEST AFRICA AND THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED.
PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907) Pray that allied forces will be able to drive the group ISIS back (see post #964)
/PRAYER ALERT- UKRAINE: As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukraine [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
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"Q&A on Obama’s Policy Changes Toward Cuba" - Ana Quintana/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/q-presidents-recent-policy-changes-toward-cuba/ [AS I SEE IT: Here is another example of the President's making sweeping changes in American policy without consulting with Congress or the American people beforehand. As someone noted, these kind of actions by a President set precedent for future Presidents, and in this case for future ones to also act despotically outside the purview of Constitutional restrictions. Praise God, there are at least some limits on these actions (as noted below) but its still action that should greatly concern all Americans. - Stan]
Yesterday afternoon, President Obama announced a series of drastic policy changes toward Cuba.What many now view as concessions to the Castro regime following a prisoner swap was in fact the White House ending the U.S.’s long tradition of supporting human rights and democratic reforms on the island.
The new policy approach follows the release of Alan Gross, a U.S. aid contractor who was kept hostage for more than five years by the Cuban government. In exchange, the Obama administration freed three convicted Cuban spies who were sent to the U.S. more than 20 years ago to infiltrate U.S. military facilities. Their spying led to the deaths of Americans after their aircraft was shot down by Cuban military jets.
There are three questions the Obama administration needs to answer about its recent policy changes toward Cuba.
1. Does this mean the trade embargo is over?
No, according to the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act, also known as the Helms–Burton Act of 1996, congressional authorization is required to lift the trade embargo. Seeing as all the Cuban-American congressmen on both sides of the aisle support the embargo, it is unlikely the policy will be overturned anytime soon.
2. How has U.S. policy changed?
For the first time since 1961, diplomatic relations will now be established. For decades, the U.S. and Cuba have not had embassies in each other’s countries but rather “Interests Sections.” Caps on remittances have been lifted from $500 to $2,000 quarterly. Commercial sales of certain exports from the U.S. will now be allowed. Limited commercial transactions with “private entrepreneurs” on the island are now allowed. Also, the U.S. will assist in increasing “Cubans’ access to communications and their ability to communicate freely.”
These reforms highlight the administration’s ignorance of the Castro regime. Providing the regime with additional sources of income seriously undermines the probability of democratic reforms. The Cuban government charges 20 percent of all remittances sent to the island, and these new reforms have now increased their potential revenue fourfold. Commercial transactions with these private entrepreneurs mainly will benefit the regime’s military and political leadership. The vast majority of state businesses are in the hands of the military, including tourism.
3. How will this affect the United States?
Following the Obama administration’s feckless policy with Russia and concessions to Iran and now Cuba, the president’s foreign policy calls into question his understanding of world affairs. The Cuban embargo is not based solely on what happened in 1961 but what continues to happen today. It was only last year that the regime was caught trafficking weapons onto a North Korean vessel, in clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Despite the Cuban government’s history of sponsoring terrorism directly and now via its proxy Venezuela, the president has instructed the State Department to review Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terror.
Expanding commercial exchanges also will expand the danger to U.S. businesses foolish enough to believe they are protected. Just three years ago, Cy Tokmakjian, a Canadian businessman, was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison and more than $100 million of his company’s assets were confiscated. Despite the fact that Canada and Cuba have enjoyed warm relations, the Canadian government has been unable to help.Unfortunately, Tokmakjian is not the only one. Seeing as the Castros’ still-uncompensated seizure of U.S. property is considered to be the “largest uncompensated taking of American property by a foreign government in history,” what protections can the president guarantee Americans?
Normalizing relations with a country whose prime export has been an aggressive anti-American foreign policy does not advance U.S. interests. Rapprochement with the Cuban government has always ended badly for the U.S. In 1996, when President Bill Clinton tried extending an olive branch, the Castros responded by shooting down U.S. aircraft and killing four Americans in international waters. Like Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said, “I would love for there to be normal relations with Cuba. But for that to happen, Cuba has to be normal, and it’s not. It is a brutal dictatorship.”
[bold, italics, and underline emphasis mine]
Ana Quintana is a research associate in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. She specializes in U.S. policy toward Latin America.
"Why We Isolated Cuba for 53 Years" - Lee Edwards/ December 18, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/isolated-cuba-53-years/
"Obama Does Not Have the Authority to Lift Embargo on Cuba" - Mike Gonzalez / Dec. 17, 2014 / http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/17/obama-not-authority-lift-embargo-cuba/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6jOZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMZrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
"A Really Bad Day for Freedom" - Steven Bucci/ December 18, 2014; http://dailysignal.com/2014/12/18/really-bad-day-freedom/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailydigest&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolu6vKZKXonjHpfsX56eguXa%2B3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FSMRnI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFQrLBMa1ozrgOWxU%3D
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