Cruz on Cuba: Another Obama 'Very, Very Bad Deal'

Cruz on Cuba: Another Obama 'Very, Very Bad Deal'

While the release of U.S. aid worker Alan Gross is a welcome news, the Obama administration has made the underlying issues with the Castro regime in Cuba “worse,” according to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). 

“Fidel and Raul Castro have just received both international legitimacy and a badly-needed economic lifeline from President Obama,” Cruz — whose father immigrated to the United States from Cuba — said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. 

“But they remain in control of a totalitarian police state modeled on their old state sponsor, the Soviet Union. Their government can continue to detain individuals like Alan Gross indefinitely without process–as the many political prisoners still languishing in the Castros’ prisons can attest,” he continued, noting the regime has close ties with “hostile” nation including Russia, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela as well as support terrorist groups including FARC, Hezbollah and Hamas.

Earlier in the day, in conjunction with Gross’ release, President Obama announced moves to begin normalizing relations with Cuba. According to Cruz, while Obama spoke of a “new era” for American and Cuban people the plan does “not bode well for either.”

“We have seen how previous Obama administration attempts at rapprochement with rogue regimes like Russia and Iran have worked out, with our influence diminished and our enemies emboldened,” Cruz said. “Now they are revisiting this same disastrous policy with the Castros, blind to the fact that they are being played by brutal dictators whose only goal is maintaining power.”

The Texas lawmaker predicted that, like regimes before them, the Castro regime will manipulate the newly offered olive branch to the detriment of America and the Cuban people. 

“[I]f history be our guide, the Castros will exploit that power to undermine America and oppress the Cuban people. First Russia, then Iran, now Cuba – this is one more very, very bad deal brokered by the Obama Administration.”

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