Washington – Negotiations for the release of ailing U.S. aid worker Alan Gross lasted for about a year, with significant involvement by the Vatican, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin told Reuters on Wednesday.
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Durbin said the White House called him on Tuesday night with the news of Gross’ pending release. “I was overjoyed by this news,” Durbin told Reuters by telephone from Joint Base Andrews, a military base outside of Washington, where Gross was expected to land within hours.
But there were already quick objections to the news from some U.S. lawmakers. Robert Menendez, the current head of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, denounced President Barack Obama’s actions on Cuba, saying they “vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government.”
Menendez, in a statement, said trading Gross for “convicted criminals” from Cuba “sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”
What wonderful news….it shows that consistent pressure applied in the name of legitimate pidyon shivuiim will show returns. May the family of Alan Gross have much nachas from being reunited with him and may he be quickly restored to good health.
It’s quite clear that Frank from Buenos Aires is a closet Yidden. Now if he would only open the Wartime Archives.