Peter Welch: “last Friday, President Trump was quoted saying that Cuba ``is going to fall pretty soon . . . They want to make a deal…”

“last Friday, President Trump was quoted saying that Cuba ``is going to fall pretty soon . . . They want to make a deal so badly . . . and we'll see how that works out.'' I agree that it is absolutely in the best interest of both countries to negotiate an agreement--a ``deal'' as the President calls them--but it needs to be a deal that puts the national interest of the United States and the national interest of the people of Cuba first. To do that, we urgently need to do what the Vatican has called for, and that is a ``dialogue-based solution to the problems that exist'' between our two countries. It has got to be a solution that stands the test of time, and it should, at a minimum, include the following: One, President Trump can end all restrictions on the right of Americans to freely travel to Cuba. The American and Cuban people should be able to freely interact with one another. The President should offer maximum support for Cuba's private sector by allowing direct foreign investment and development financing for Cuba's struggling, but really essential, small businesses. The President must remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. That designation has no legal basis. No other country agrees that it applies. And the President must call on Congress to repeal the failed United States' embargo of Cuba so that Cuba's economic reconstruction can begin.”