OPINION: It's time we open up travel to Cuba

BY MARTIN L. PETERSON (Idaho Statesman)

Former President Bill Clinton's recent trip to North Korea helps to underscore one of the major inconsistencies with U.S. foreign policy. It is perfectly legal for a U.S. citizen to travel 6,400 miles to visit North Korea, but generally illegal for that same person to travel 95 miles from the United States to Cuba.

Travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba is, at best, extremely difficult and, at worst, impossible. First, a license must be obtained from the Treasury Department, often requiring a review and approval by the State Department as well. Since the U.S. forbids most interaction between Cuban and U.S. businesses, your credit cards and traveler's checks won't do you any good in Cuba. All transactions by U.S. citizens must be in cash. And then there are the limits on what you can and cannot bring back from Cuba. Unless it's something printed on paper, such as books or artwork, forget it. Get caught trying to bring Cuban cigars through customs in Miami and they will be destroyed.

It's time we open up travel to Cuba continues at idahostatesman.com...