“At present the U.S. State Department says the biggest obstacle to improving relations between the two countries is the imprisonment of an American aid worker Alan Gross. Gross was arrested in December 2009 and sentenced last March [2010] to 15 years in prison for bringing illegal communications equipment into Cuba as part of a program subcontracted to his employer by USAID [United States Agency for International Development]. The Cubans say this program and others like it are intended to overthrow their government.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
Portia Siegelbaum, “Cuba: U.S. embargo causes $1 trillion in losses,” CBSNews.com, September 14, 2011