The U.S.-Cuba talks remind us that there are huge differences between the countries, from resolving the issue of the assets stolen from U.S. citizens to the case of Joanne Chesimard, who killed a New Jersey law enforcement officer years ago.

Add to this another ship full of weapons bound for Cuba, and you have a good reason for putting these talks on hold until further notice.

I cannot believe that this is what President Obama envisioned in mid-December when he called for a new approach toward Cuba.  It looks like the only one with a new approach in this relationship is the U.S.!

Over the last few days, the Obama administration confused us once again.

On one hand, President Obama issued another executive order regarding Venezuela (via Fausta's Blog):

This new authority is aimed at persons involved in or responsible for the erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to anti government protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of anti-government protesters, as well as the significant public corruption by senior government officials in Venezuela.  The E.O. does not target the people or the economy of Venezuela.

At first glance, we say: good job!  It's about time that the Obama administration stood with people in the streets fighting for more freedom and democracy.  They didn't in Iran in 2009, but we are happy that someone is telling the president that citizens are being crushed in the streets by government authorities.  One boy was even killed recently.

On second thought, we are puzzled:

Why not declare something similar about Cuba?  Don't they know at the Obama White House that Cuba and Venezuela are the same?  After all, who has provided the island with subsidized oil for some time?  Who has trained the Venezuelan military?  Whom does Maduro call when he has a problem?  

He calls Raúl Castro!

As we single out Venezuela, the Obama administration continues to push for Cuba to be removed from the State Department list of terrorist nations.  The Obama administration has apparently not heard that another ship full of weapons was intercepted bound for Cuba:

The Chinese captain of a freighter stopped by the Colombian authorities is under house arrest in Cartagena for allegedly carrying unregistered weapons and military equipment bound for Cuba.

The Hong Kong-registered Da Dan Xia has been impounded for a week after local authorities claim 100 tonnes of gunpowder, 99 projectile bases and 3,000 artillery cartridge cases were discovered aboard, reports AFP.

Of course, maybe President Obama has not read the Latin America section of his favorite newspaper.  After all, doesn't he find out everything from the papers?

We understand that each country is different and you have to act accordingly.  However, Cuba and Venezuela are the same.  The leaders are the same and should be treated as anti-American thugs who need someone to bail them out from their misguided socialist policies.

It's time to push them back and work on regime change, the only solution that will really help the people in these countries.   

P.S. You can hear my show (CantoTalk) or follow me on Twitter.