BACKGROUND
The United States no longer wants to list Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House has announced. Its removal is a key step in President Barack Obama’s plan to normalize relations between the US and Cuba.The move to clear Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list comes just two days after a historic meeting between Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama. It was the first meeting of leaders from the the two countries in over 50 years ‒ since before the Cuban Revolution, in which Castro’s brother Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government in 1959. Read more >>
THE CARTOON
The cartoon by Chappatte from the International New York Times shows President Obama shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro. Obama says that Cuba will be "removed from our terrorism list", then adds "and put on the tourism list".
COMMENTARY
The thaw in relations with the US has already led to a tourism boom in Cuba. It seems that many people are rushing to see Cuba now before the inevitable invasion of US brands such as McDonald's and Starbucks changes the unique character of one of the world's last remaining bastions of communism.
GRAMMAR
Note the future passive 'will be removed'. For more on this construction, see here.
