Tag Archives: Alan Gross

May 11, 2012

CUBA CENTRAL News Blast: On Mother’s Day in Havana and Washington

In the U.S., Mother’s Day is a hallmark of our spring calendar, so we wanted to wish a happy holiday to every mother who reads and enjoys the weekly blast. As you will read below, the organization called Save the Children has released its annual Mothers Index Rating and has… read more »

March 31, 2012

‘Cuban Five’ spy convicted in US visits Cuba

AFP-  Cuban agent Rene Gonzalez, who is on probation in the United States after serving a 13 year prison sentence for espionage, arrived in Cuba on Friday for a two-week visit to see an ailing brother, state television reported. Gonzalez, described on the news as a “hero of the Cuban… read more »

March 23, 2012

CUBA CENTRAL News Blast: Benedict and the Balancing Act; Googling the Heritage Foundation; U.S. Ponders Oil Crisis Response Plans

As old saying goes, where you stand depends on where you sit.  As the New York Times reported this week, Cuba’s Cardinal Ortega, the priests, the faithful, the protestors in Cuba, the diaspora in Miami, official Washington, and many others have assigned great expectations to the visit of Pope Benedict… read more »

March 16, 2012

CUBA CENTRAL News Blast: A Tale of Two Popes

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba is ten days away. But it is already easy to discern disquiet among the hardest of the hardliners that history could repeat itself. They’re busy creating expectations for the visit to fail. Why are they so grim? What makes them nervous is… read more »

March 9, 2012

CUBA CENTRAL News Blast: This is news: U.S. Says Something Nice about Cuba (but it still can’t attend the Summit of the Americas)

The U.S. rarely has a kind word for Cuba or its government.  So, it was noteworthy this week when our State Department released its 2011 annual reports on drug trafficking and money laundering and Cuba received good marks for its counter-narcotic efforts. The brief section on Cuba in the report,… read more »

March 2, 2012

CUBA CENTRAL News Blast:Diplomacy and Double Standards; Rene Gonzalez’s Humanitarian Request

If you needed another reminder about the double standards of U.S. diplomacy relating to all issues Cuba, this week provided another powerful example. After weeks of conflict with Egypt, and tormenting days of impasse for the families of 16 Americans held in that country as part of a crackdown on… read more »

March 1, 2012

Clinton: No concessions to free American in Cuba

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States has made no deal or concessions with Cuba to free imprisoned American Alan Gross. Clinton called the continued imprisonment of Gross “deplorable” and a violation of human rights. She told a House committee Wednesday that the United States raises… read more »

February 24, 2012

US senators meet Cuba’s Castro about contractor

Paul Haven, the Associated Press - A senior U.S. senator met with imprisoned American Alan Gross and discussed the man’s case in a long sit-down with Cuban President Raul Castro, but told The Associated Press on Friday that Gross was not likely to be released any time soon. Sen. Patrick Leahy,… read more »

February 13, 2012

New information arises in the case of Alan Gross

According to the Associated Press, newly-obtained documents about the activities of Alan Gross, the USAID contractor, prior to his arrest offer information that challenges a key element of his story.  Though Mr. Gross and his attorneys have insisted that he was not aware of the covert nature of his actions,… read more »

January 26, 2012

Durbin calls for more diplomacy after trip to Cuba

Peoria Journal Star-Fresh off his first trip to Cuba, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for more constructive engagement with the nation that has been under an American trade embargo for more than half a century – something that could bring big benefits to Illinois agriculture and manufacturing. “New diplomacy… read more »