The Allan Gross story took a strange turn today.

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson made the following statement:  

"Former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson has admitted to Newsmax that he "screwed up" in his 2011 bid to free American Alan Gross, who has been held in a Cuban prison for four years.

He spoke to the press when it would have been better for him to keep quiet, he said on Newsmax TV's "Steve Malzberg Show."..."I screwed that one up," Richardson said.

"I thought we had a deal. I went in and talked to the Cubans. The Cubans were changing their policy at the last minute."

OK so Gov Richardson thought that we had a deal!

How about this deal?  

President Obama should cancel any pending talks, especially visits to Cuba by US businessmen or public officials. 

He should make it very clear that everything is on hold until Mr Gross is released unconditionally.  

We must make it very clear that there is a price for jailing US citizens for no reason at all.

P.S. You can hear CANTO TALK here & follow me on Twitter @ scantojr.