Anyone who assumes that Cuba plays a pivotal role in international politics and the international balance of power is laboring under a delusion. Not since the missile crisis in 1962 has Cuba played that role. To argue that the issue is one of "freedom" is also a red herring, since freedom under the Batista regime was hardly better than under Castro and the plight of the average citizen was probably worse. Our relationship with Vietnam is a model of a different course our government can take with a Communist government (and one that killed American soldiers). Despite opposition from many Vietnamese-Americans, we have normalilzed relations with Vietnam. That is because no one seems afraid of alienating Vietmanese-America voters regarding the issue, despite feelings among the old guard within this population, which are just as zealous as those among Cuban-Americans. the embargo is first and foremost inhumane and a major factor in keeping the average Cuban in poverty. Not normalizing relations keeps Cuba from receiving the Western influences which have liberalized many former Communist countries. During the decades in which we shunned Castro and embargoed his island, we have supported dictatorial regimes in El Salvador, Chile, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Spain, South Africa and backed a chemical warfare wielding Saddam against Iran. Our Cuban policy is a unique one fostered by vote-hungry politicians who are blinkered by their allegiance to a minority of zealots.
Russia did'nt "invade"Crimea.They had since Plm 1800 legally some m[litary basis there.To call that bluntly"ïnvasion" in an article about Cuba is unfair.
HK
Our Policy on Cuba has been wrong starting with the Bay of Pigs. (That was what Eisenhower was talking about when he warned against the "Military-Industrial Complex.") The Missile crisis resulted from that. We need to respect other people's rights of self-determination. Certainly Cuba today reflects greater economic and social equality than our own country.
We should recognize Cuba immediately and end all embargoes and boycotts.
On an educational visit to Cuba in 2010 every Cuban I spoke with- from he official ones who guided us around to the waitresses, cab drivers and artisans brave and curious enough to speak with us quietly, all said they wanted trade, tourism and travel between Cuba and the US to open.
The good of the American people and the good of the Cuban people should count much more than the ambitions of a few reactionary politicians and bitter exiles who are stuck in 1959.
