The Alan Gross story: How its affecting cuban and american relations

As I mentioned in my previous blog, relations between Cuba and the United States have been rather with no real improvement. Barrack Obama has said to try and improve the relationship and maybe one day remove the embargo between the US and Cuba. For anything like this to happen there is currently a roadblock for any more improvement and that is Alan Gross. Alan Gross is currently serving a 15 year imprisonment on charges for illegally setting up internet networks in Cuba under a US program that promotes political change on the communist island.
 For Alan Gross to reach freedom Cuba has hinted  that in exchange for him they would have to  receive five Cuban members who are currently imprisoned in the United States from a 2001 trial in Miami. Barack Obama has stated that this trade off is out of the question. This problem in relations with these two countries has created a letter sent to cuban president Raul Castro urging his release. This letter has been signed by 44 senators making it the strongest appeal yet by congress in the case of Alan Gross. If this Alan Gross situation doesn`t get resolved soon it will create a major obstacle in the improvement of this already un friendly relationship.