embassy - Page 3

JERUSALEM – U.S. Congressman Dave Brat and Congressman-elect Scott Taylor affirmed their belief that President-elect Donald Trump will make good on his promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. “[Trump’s] priority in moving the embassy is a huge symbol,”

A Taliban siege of Kabul’s diplomatic quarter ended Saturday with explosions and gunfire, leaving four Afghan police, two Spanish nationals, and four of the Taliban attackers dead.

Rockets flying out of an Islamist neighborhood hit Russia’s embassy in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Russia has declared the attack “obvious terrorism.”

Today the Obama administration raised the American flag above the U.S. embassy in Cuba. It is unclear what, if anything, the U.S. has won in exchange for normalizing relations with the Castro regime–one of the world’s most oppressive tyrannies. It is clearer what we have lost.

In a speech announcing the reestablishment of an American embassy in Havana, President Obama implored those in Congress who opposed his unilateral concessions to the communist Castro regime to “listen to the Cuban people” before taking a stance. Multiple reports citing Cuban nationals in Havana and throughout the island find that many are extremely apprehensive about the legitimacy a new embassy will give the Castro regime and are disappointed to see the United States support communist oppression.

Obama reminded critics that there were only 90 miles between the U.S. and Cuba, and that our countries are united with “deep bonds of family and friendship between our people.” He insisted there is “enormous enthusiasm” for his changes on Cuba policy, including in public opinion polls and from Americans who want to travel to the communist country.

President Barack Obama’s administration has aggressively pushed for normalizing relations with the island nation. In April the State Department removed Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, despite ongoing concerns about its support for terrorism and human rights violations. This decision was heavily criticized by both Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rubio’s fellow Republican in the Senate and competitor for the GOP presidential nomination.

President Obama is expected to announce a decision to remove Cuba from the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism and meet with Raul Castro during his upcoming visit to Panama.

(Reuters) – The United States has pulled more staff out of its embassy in Yemen, U.S. officials said on Thursday as Washington scrambled to cope with the collapse of a government that had been a key ally in the fight against al Qaeda.