Barack Obama outlines Cuba policy during speech in Florida

For nearly five decades, the United States has pursued a policy toward Cuba that could be described as incredibly stupid.

It could also be called childish and counterproductive -- and, since the demise of the Soviet Union, even insane. Absent the threat of communist expansionism, the refusal by successive American presidents to engage with Cuba has not even a fig leaf's worth of rationale to cover its naked illogic. Other than providing Fidel Castro with a convenient antagonist to help whip up nationalist fervor on the island -- and prolong his rule -- the U.S. trade embargo and other sanctions have accomplished nothing.

Now, with Fidel ailing and retired, and his brother Raúl acting large and in charge, the United States has its best opportunity in years to influence the course of events on the island. George W. Bush, as one might have expected, won't do the right thing. It will be up to the next president.

Raúl Castro is 76, and since assuming the presidency he has acted as if he knows he doesn't have much time to waste. In short order, he has repealed the prohibition against Cubans buying computers, cellphones and other consumer goods -- items that Fidel feared might facilitate sedition or promote counterrevolutionary comfort and lassitude.

It's true that these measures are largely symbolic -- on an average salary of about $17 a month, most Cubans can't dream of buying computers, and, in any event, the Cuban government still strictly controls access to the Internet. Likewise, any Cuban who owns a cellphone can't use it without paying the astronomical rates demanded by the government cellphone monopoly.

But at the same time, Raúl has encouraged the first stirrings of debate in the government-controlled media (which are the only media) -- something Fidel never would have allowed. Rumors that the government will soon permit widespread private ownership of automobiles, and perhaps even allow an above-board private market in real estate, seem much less implausible than they would have just six months ago.

I've been to Cuba as a journalist 10 times, and friends there -- including some harsh critics of the Castro regime -- say that there is real optimism about the prospects for change.

Bush's response has been a cold shoulder. In remarks a few days ago, the president did little but state the obvious fact that Raúl Castro is not, and never will be, a believer in democracy. He dismissed the recent measures as "empty gestures at reform," and then made an empty gesture of his own: He said he would change U.S. policy to allow Cuban Americans to send cellphones to their relatives on the island, something many families already do.

Raúl Castro is not going to transform Cuba into a free-market democracy. But he gives every indication of moving down the path that China's leadership has taken, toward making his country a free-market, one-party autocracy. That's not a perfect outcome, as shown by recent events in Tibet. But it's impossible to deny that the Chinese people enjoy far greater personal freedom than they did, say, 20 years ago. Why wouldn't Washington want to encourage Havana to become more like Beijing?

That would require actual engagement with the Cuban government, though, and Bush doesn't intend to allow anything of the sort.

Barack Obama appeared before the Cuban American National Foundation -- one of the most powerful and most strident of the Miami-based anti-Castro groups -- May 23 and said that if he were president, he would conduct "direct diplomacy" with Cuba's leadership. Earlier last week, John McCain essentially vowed to continue Bush's hard-line course.

Obama's into-the-lion's-den performance may win him some points for bravery, but it may not get him a lot of votes in South Florida. He has the right idea, however. The United States can attempt to influence any changes that eventually take place in Cuba, or it can harrumph from the sidelines. Several of Cuba's leading dissidents have urged the White House to end the decades-old trade embargo and the draconian restrictions on travel to the island. Bush pays no attention to those on the front lines of this struggle.

Stubbornly sticking with a policy that has achieved nothing in nearly 50 years is a pretty good definition of insanity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/30/AR20080530021...

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[swaggerNskill]

he couldn't outline my d*ck!

[londonscot1]

mindhunter09 -

As for your allegation that "Fidel lives like a millionaire...that's a FACT".... No, it isn't a fact.

That story's been flying around for 50 years and in all that time, don't you find it odd that his numerous well-connected opponents haven't yet uncovered a single incriminating bank statement, let alone a paper trail, revealing Fidel Castro's "hidden treasure".

On the other hand, it's proven that Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba with hundreds of millions of dollars.

[Blackoutpr1]

@Hakkur123 come on man... i support socialism and am extremelly sympathetic towards the cuban regime... but lets not kid ourselves... average pay of $17 is shit.. and no right to challenge government policy is never a good thing... Chavez holds the key <3

[SupremePenguinTone]

He wants to worry about CUBA???

CUBA???

How about enforcing a half good healthcare system first!

[shurednichso]

"communist economic model that ahs FAILED"

Accepted,that you dont know,that there were diffrent "communistic" economic models.

And the economy didnt "fail" in the SU and didnt in Cuba.

[Hakkur123]

ever been in cuba, no? stfu then, btw the only thing poor in cuba is the materials, and that is to blame on the embargo

[mindhunter09]

Amen.

[mindhunter09]

The problem with YOUR analysis and the people who support fidel castro is that they ALL live in a DEMOCRACY and have all the freedoms and economic goods that people in cuba can only DREAM of. WHy? because of a sustem IMPOSED on them by FORCE. Blame it on the Embargo all you want, but that is ridiculous. No embargo can force a man to become a tyrant agaisnt his OWN people.

[mindhunter09]

how about it? that means its a fluctuating economy like every other economy. The problem starts when ONE man singlehandedly (by force of arms) takes a country hostage economically and politically.. and i know the history of latin america too well. Im not saying the US is perfect, but then again cuba's main problem isnt the US, or the embargo. Its a stalin-like dictator who cannot be justified under any circumstance. I suggest YOU look into cuba's history and then talk.

[OTTEN2007]

sure, but the problem is defining democracy

[OTTEN2007]

how about 2 million job loss in our economy, how about the mortgage issue, so dont give me that free-enterprise bull. Name me a politician who is poor. Your analisis is WEAK. I respected though because its your opinion, but it is not untill you analize the history of latin america that you will be able to comprehend beyond what you think you know.

[Frogstomp121]

Well I know that western democracy and capitalism is not perfect or something that every country should have to adopt. I think every country can think for themselves without having any other try to impose their ideals onto them. I also think that Cuba's problems are just that, their own.