This step to move toward more normal travel is unquestionably positive and in the interest of both countries. However, it is puzzling why the Obama Administration did less than was reported in August to enable non-tourist travel and humanitarian assistance. It would not have gotten any more grief from the extremists, received more enthusiasm from its friends and had a greater impact inside Cuba and the US. John McAuliff Fund for Reconciliation and Development

This step to move toward more normal travel is unquestionably positive and in the interest of both countries. However, it is puzzling why the Obama Administration did less than was reported in August to enable non-tourist travel and humanitarian assistance. It would not have gotten any more grief from the extremists, received more enthusiasm from its friends and had a greater impact inside Cuba and the US. John McAuliff Fund for Reconciliation and Development

No surprise that Marco Rubio reiterates the hard line anti-travel position which is only held by a diminishing minority of Cuban Americans. It is encouraging that the White House may finally be moving toward announcement of regulatory reform of non-tourist travel that was agreed upon in August. This step will be widely welcomed by the two-thirds of Americans who favor the end of all travel restrictions. Alan Gross should be released but he is not a political prisoner. He clearly violated well established Cuban laws by using repeated tourist visas to undertake a program funded by USAID to distribute high tech satellite link equipment. John McAuliff Fund for Reconciliation and Development