Video

Ted Cruz: Normalization Of U.S./Cuban Relations ‘A Tragic Mistake’ [VIDEO]

Al Weaver Reporter
Font Size:

Following the return of Alan Gross to the U.S., Sen. Ted Cruz slammed the “Obama, Clinton, Kerry foreign policy,” saying the Castro brothers are “state sponsors of terrorism” and that President Barack Obama “does not understand the difference between our friends and our enemies.”

Cruz, one of three Cuban American members of the upper chamber in Congress, also called the normalization of relations between the two nations “a tragic mistake” made the comments to Fox News’ Neil Cavuto Wednesday afternoon.

TED CRUZ: “This is yet another manifestation of the failures of the Obama, Clinton, Kerry foreign policy. For six years we followed the pattern of alienating and abandoning our friends and allies, and at the same time coddling up to and appeasing to those who are enemies of this country. It’s a consistent pattern. First Russia, then Iran, now Cuba.”

“This announcement today will be remembered as a tragic mistake. You know, Cuba was struggling, it was gasping, gasping for air. It has been relying on Venezuela with oil prices cratering. Venezuela is hurting economically and just like the administration did with Iran right when the administration was feeling the maximum pain it throws them an economic lifeline and continues the brutal repression and dictatorship of the Castro brothers.”

NEIL CAVUTO: “Senator, a lot of folks look at both sides and say what has 60 years of this brought?”

CRUZ: “Well, what it has wrought is limiting the impact and harm of Cuba. There’s a difference between countries that are friends, that are allies, trading partners. in cuba, the Cuban government controls all of the money that comes in. If you bring money the country you have to transfer it to Cuban pesos which enriches and empowers the dictatorship. Cuba is an ally of North Korea. It’s an ally of Iran. It’s an ally of Venezuela. it is an avowed enemy of this country.”

“It was striking the president’s remarks. he talked about the Bay of Pigs invasion but somehow completely omitted the Cuban Missile Crisis. Somehow completely omitted an incredible threat to U.S. national security with nuclear weapons that were almost 90 miles off our shore. It was sad to see both the president and John Kerry essentially blame America first. Blame America for the relation between the United States and Cuba. look, the Castros are the ones who have decided to be brutal, repressive dictators. We should not be taking blame for the fact that we responded to their active acts of war and hostility. They are a leading state sponsor of terrorism and just like President Obama did with Russia, just like President Obama did with Iran he does not understand the difference between our friends and our enemies.”