Neither the public, nor the Cuban refugee community in the states, nor Congress knows the names of the 53 political prisoners the White House wants Cuba to release from its jails. As the communist government in Cuba said it doesn’t plan on relinquishing its power, some worry the Cuban commies will go back on their word and keep the political prisoners in jail. The “most transparent administration in history” said keeping the names a secret from the public helps in negotiations – as if keeping secrets with an oppressive regime is ever becoming of United States. Granted, there is some indication that Cuba may keep its end of the bargain. Reuters reports, “Cuba has freed six more detainees, dissidents said on Thursday, as Havana begins to release 53 people the United States considers political prisoners as part of an agreement aimed at ending decades of hostility between the two nations. Including three detainees released on Wednesday, there have been nine detainees liberated over the past 24 hours, political opposition groups on the communist-led island said. All but one of the nine are members of the dissident Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU).” But an earlier Reuters report quotes an anonymous congressional aide who says Cuba may keep “several” prisoners detained. Remember: The administration that is bartering with Cuba is the same administration that touted the Bowe Bergdahl trade, chilled the relationship with Israel, worked toward a deal with Iran and waffled as Russia bullied Ukraine.

Update: Cuba has released the prisoners.