Secretary Clinton on Cuba

This is an interesting discussion between Secretary Clinton and Rep. David Rivera at the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday.  She views the release of political prisoners as “positive” and acknowledges that recent economic policy changes in Cuba have resulted in an increase in economic freedom.  Rep. Rivera dismisses the economic policies that have created about 200,000 new licensed entrepreneurs in Cuba and argues that the released prisoners have all been “banished,” ignoring the fact that a dozen chose to remain in Cuba rather than go to Spain.

Not in the video, the Secretary said there is “no basis and no intention” for Cuba to be invited to next month’s Summit of the Americas in Cartagena; see Xinhua story. 

Regarding the case of jailed USAID contractor Alan Gross, she said, “We’ve made no deals, we’ve offered no concessions, and we don’t intend to do so.” (AP)  Which can’t make Mr. Gross feel very good at all.