This comment is a few days old, but I couldn't help but respond... Alton, I certainly respect your opinion, but since I live in a communist country, I though I would respond. Mine is a wee, little gripe. I am not sure why you single out communist/socialist and third world countries. Are you referring to Cuba? I can understand your viewpoint in regards to Cuba because we do not have full diplomatic relations with the country. But if something happens to me in China, where I live legally, where there are full diplomatic relations between the US and China, why shouldn't I be able to ask for help if I have a legitimate need? (Mind you the US Embassy doesn't really provide much assistance anyway, expats know this and don't bother.) I think it is really more an issue of what activities the American is engaged in as opposed to what kind of country they are in. After all, if I were involved in supporting ETA in Spain and got arrested, should I be able to run to the US Embassy because Spain is a first world nation?

It amazes me how Americans often go into communist/socialist or third world countries, and when something happens to them, they cry for help from the good old USA. I have no desire to visit any country inwhich the people do not have the basic rights of freedom.

Loved my visit to Cuba. Loved the people (intelligent, warm, caring), found some of the areas incredibly beautiful, and found it easy to avoid the politics. I hate the oppression that is a constant in these people's lives but cannot see how our restrictions are doing anything but contributing to the problem. IMHO it is the embargo that has kept the Castros in power for so long. They have little fear of opposition from within since the US has kept the Cuban people so very isolated from unfiltered outside information. Open the country, continue to oppose the regime publicly, and let the Cuban people learn about their near neighbors. They are not idiots. They'll figure it out.

If we are restricting our relations and trade with countries that do not value human rights how do you explain China? Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of the Cuba Regime. I had plenty of opportunities to visit Cuba while living in Costa Rica - it was just a quick plane ride and all the Americans living there were going - but I resisted because of Castro. I now have similar qualms about visiting Burma/Myanmar although I have pretty much decided I will go someday and try to support the locals without going through government agencies.

Since I live in a communist country with a dodgy human rights record, I guess I can't tell people not to go to Cuba. It's almost like the embargo is now less about "fighting Communism" than about maintaining some sort of vendetta against Castro. But I know next to nothing about Cuba-US relations so that is a fairly uninformed personal opinion. I had hoped that Raul would be the better Castro, but doesn't sound like it.

I think my Canadian friends will be a little disappointed if Americans are allowed to freely travel to Cuba, since at the moment they pretty much have the resorts all to themselves.

My friends from Cuba are upset with Obama's stance. They say Fidel was the "nice" Castro. His brother was the hatchet man....the evil one, and how can we make deals with this leader?

You have to believe that our relations and trade with countries who do not value human rights has to be limited. Those who know feel that Cuba is close to rejecting Communism. Can you imagine the tourist paradise Cuba would become if people felt save to travel there and it was allowed. Of course that would mean success and wealth for the Cuban people.