Fidel Castro Not Returning to the Presidency

OK -- Which of the presidential candidates is prepared to finally break US-Cuba relations out of the anachronistic Cold War cocoon they have been frozen in and initiate a new course that benefits American interests?

Barack Obama has sketched out the initial steps of a changed direction already, while Hillary Clinton in response said that the Bush administration's management of Cuba was just fine with her until something triggered a reason to change.

When Fidel Castro hinted in December that he would be stepping down, I asked the Hillary Clinton campaign if this news was substantial enough for it to stop hugging the Bush line and consider a new groove. I was told by a Clinton adviser that if something significant occurred to justify a rethink, then a "full policy review" would be done by the Clinton team.

Well, the hint Castro gave is now real -- and this seems significant.

The ending punctuation point of Fidel Castro's tenure in office marks the conclusion of the longest serving head of state in power today (except monarchs).

The US embargo against Cuba -- which all nations but three vote against each year in the United Nations -- has utterly failed to generate any positive impact on the Cuban government or people.

Of all the low cost opportunities to demonstrate a new and different US style of engagement with the world, Cuba is at the top of the list. Opening family travel -- and frankly all travel -- between Cuba and the US, and ending the economic embargo will provide new encounters, new impressions, and the kind of people-to-people diplomacy that George W. Bush, John Bolton, Richard Cheney, and Jesse Helms run scared of.

This is a huge potential pivot point in US-Cuba relations. Will Hillary Clinton step up to the plate -- and will Obama move beyond the somewhat timid proposals he offered previously and go to the gold standard in US-Cuba relations articulated by Senator Chris Dodd?

And will John McCain just ignore history's offered up opportunity or will he continue to paw the dirt and blow steam at the island nation just off the Florida coast?

One interesting US presidential race tidbit involves Fidel Castro -- who is know quite dismissive of and sparring with John McCain over McCain's accusations that Cuban agents engaged in torture in Vietnam. However, before this spat, Castro said that the "unbeatable" US presidential ticket would have both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on it.

Something to consider. . .

-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[wrabbitt]

Call Cuba all the bad things you want but, there education system although antiquated shows that education is in the top ten (not like here) and universal health care that may not be as new or organized as it could be, is still better than what we have here! no child left behind? no one without health care? BULLSHIT! How much has our failed policys cost us? in 10 years the vacation spot of the world will be CUBA.

[Troubledgoodangel]

I will not lose sleep because of Fidel Castro's retirement. America should look ahead and make swift overtures to his brother Raul, possibly in secret. The hatchet should be burried regardless what Fidel thinks. Cuba is a natural economic partner for the United States due to its geographic location. It's economy could bloom spectacularly if full relations were restored! It is insane for them to squander the historic capital of Cuba and America being destined for each other! Castro and Che Guevara are history, a bad dream, a glitch that should be laid to rest starting tomorrow!

[liberalissima]

Many people share Driver 125 views; United States is not the Father and God of the world. This country must respect other countries forms of government; closing the doors and blockading their economies is criminal; they don't punish anybody but the poor people that do not want to be oppressed by the mafias that dominated Cuba during Batista's government, and the blessing of the US., when the blacks had to walk on the other side of the streets of the rich hotels and mansions of the rich. Castro has done nothing but many good things during his government, that is of course not recognized by the U.S., because Cuba just simply helps the very poor rather than the very rich, unlike the way it is here in this U.S. Lets face it anybody that has the intent of protecting and aiding the poor is immediately labeled as a COMMUNIST!!!!!! damn!, there is not more communism or socialism and of the few socialist countries that have lately blossomed, the U.S. is desperately trying to wipe them off the face of this world. I feel sorry for the idiots that recite what the government tells them, because they allow the rich to brain wash them, they don't understand that the rich are the puppet masters, and they handle the american people that believe them for their own gain, while the people remain ignorant and deprived of many things like health insurance.

[flatus]

One thing that Cuba and the U.S. have in common is that both countries are trying to recover from the abuses of wealthy pricks.

[Puller58]

Oh come on! Taking on the Miami Mafia? Please! Rightwingers have milked that crew for years. Dems used to counter with the rocking chair crowd, but that hasn't worked since Claude Pepper went to the congress in the sky. Nope, as long as there's a Castro in power, nothing will change. And the kick is that we made deals with Vietnam. Vietnam! If dollar diplomacy is applied to Cuba, you'll see a big change in a short time. Hey, if you can do business with China, why not Cuba?

[EspritDeVoltaire]

Who will the Cubans suffer under next if Bush has his way, Chiquita Brands International or Disney?

[BurtR]

I saw Bush state that now Cuba could have a real election, not "fake " elections like those run by the Castro bros.
Or those run by the Bush bros.

[Dirck]

"The US embargo against Cuba -- which all nations but three vote against each year in the United Nations -- has utterly failed to generate any positive impact on the Cuban government or people."

Who ever said the embargo was supposed to "generate any positive impact on the Cuban government or people"? What about the principle of not doing commerce with a despotic kleptocracy?

It seems Cuba has a lot more to gain than the US from "normalized" relations. Why dont they, say, stop executing people who try to leave the country, or stop imprisioning political dissidents, or hold a real election? Then maybe even the hated GWB might consider "opening a dialog."

.....

"Opening family travel -- and frankly all travel -- between Cuba and the US..."

There are thousands of former Cuban nationals living in the US who would be immediately arrested if they set foot in Cuba today. Would you insist that "opening family travel" include Cuba allowing them to visit without fear of arrest? How about if Cuba lifts its freedom ban first, then the US lifts its travel ban?

http://tinyurl.com/2uz2v8

[CaseyBabes]

Perhaps Cuba-USA relations may take a turn resulting in benefit to both nations, but one must be skeptical. Castro had nukes imported into his country in the early sixties, and encouraged their use by Kruschev........might there still be the very real possibility that loosening our constraints on Cuba will result in a nuke(s) smuggled there by Islamofascists, for introduction into the USA?
(No, the USA would not retaliate against Cuba as it is a case of "what targets?" None, really.)

[montemalone]

If the U.S. had allowed trade and travel for the past 50 years, Castro would have been long out of power. His hold was solidified be standing up to U.S. Cubans ultimately paid the price. Dollars in the hands of the people would have been a lot more influential. They have had no choice but to exist under his regime. Like the old saying goes, Money Talks, BS Walks.

[rmreddicks]

I wouldn't bet on that. It might be that the Cuban people love being Cuban. It may well be that Castro speaks to the great majority of Cubans. It may be that Cuba is morally better than us. I'd rather have a Cuban doctor than a pair of Levi's jeans.

[Troubledgoodangel]

I see nothing wrong with Cubans remaining Cubans. If they are indeed better, they have a moral reason to refashion us into themselves! Goodness is self-defeated, when isolated! America should open its borders to Cubans, so that we can intermingle with each other and learn from each other, and grow together!

[NavyMom]

Any day now, after almost 50 years, the embargo is gonna work and Democracy will bloom in Cuba. Any day now. Sure. Blue jeans and rock and roll, would, IMHO, have been a lot faster.

[schmuckwithearlaps]

Is this discussion missing the Elephant in the Room. The Cuban refugees dominate Florida politics as the big swing group for the Republicans and the Dems only go for their votes by attacking from the right. So long as Florida is a swing state and the Cubans in Florida are the key votes, our Cuban policy has matched the wishes of the Castro haters, who are almost as vehement as the Clinton haters on this web site.

[knowhelpnow]

Let us hope that this Bush doesn't demand another country has to become Democratic before we normalize relation with them, this has gone on long enough with Cuba. We should learn that our actions speak louder than our words. We ourselves are not a Democratic society but a Republic. I hope we can get along together in a more normal way, then winner takes all.

[tcagle]

It would be really, really nice to become democratic ourselves first.

[vippy]

And the US Government is waiting like the vultures in the sky for Castro to be gone.
Castro did well getting rid of that corrupt
and US Mafia infested Batista Regime along with the like minded people who are now being paid by the US government living in Florida.
The US will work hard to install another dictator who jumps at their every whim like Pinochet, Suharto, Shah, Noriega and Saddam,
until they decide it no longer benefits them.

[azyuwish]

Exactly. we are not opposed to dictators, we've loved many a dictator and still do. It's those pesky dictators who refuse to do our bidding (and those of our corporations) with whom we have issues.

Look at the current state of relations with Hugo Chavez. We vilify him any chance we get, yet we are still smooching and playing footsy with Suharto Jr. and Bush still holds hands with the Saudi king ( a dictator if there ever was one ).

[Driver125]

Have we ever, in our history, treated a a smaller Latin American country fairly, much less one who does not happen to agree with our policies. Until we learn to deal with these other countries through a policy of mutual respect rather than that of a larger power towards a supplicant then will we never have satisfactory relations with our neighbors. This will be something that our leaders will need to learn as the concept of regionalism becomes more and more important in the Global world economy.

[lovethesinner]

Viva Castro! Viva la juelta! Viva la Revolution!

I've watched this documentary film about Fidel twice now, and I have to say it's an unapologetically flatering portrait of a truly revolutionary leader and his social movement. Having lived through his entire career, it was most interesting to finally see Castro without the usual blur of political bais. Production value is high, and the blending of file footage and interviews provide context and propel the narritive. I gave it five stars for it's refreshing perspective and complete lack of phoney gravitas.

http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/fidel.php

I hope one of the first leaders Obama visits is Fidel. Then Hugo, Evo, and all the rest. It's time to stop playing the games in latin America. We can do that, yes we can

[rmreddicks]

McCain and Mr. Castro.
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2008/febrero/lun18/Reflections-18feb.html

Diplomatic relations with Cuba are dictated by the u.s. sugar industry. However, the threat of ideas of the Cuban peoples apparently must also be embargoed.

Anyone who believes in the rationality of u.s. international politics and policies probably need a vacation in Havana.

There is though a fearsome and reprehensible rationality in the reasoning of those whom this u.s. government truly represents - america.inc. It seems both major dem candidates are, if not charter members, subscribers. McCain's foolishness knows no bounds. "At the smallest provocation, I would go off in a mad frenzy, and then, suddenly, crash to the floor unconscious." We need this guy.

[sparkandy]

I hope the US finally pulls its head out and normalizes relations with Cuba. This has been going on almost all my life, and I think it's been stupid all along. From a selfish perspective, I hope US tour operators can start selling resorts and Americans can go there for vacations. That would be the BEST vacation ever!

[Patun]

Just an FYI -

Both below from Brown+Black Forum - Iowa Dec '07

http://candidatecubawatch.blogspot.com/2007/12/brown-and-black-democratic-forum.html



On Cuba, BHO has switched positions- in 2004 he wanted to normalize relations with Cuba in 2007 he says differently.

HRC has always maintained the policy of not normalizing relations with Cuba [which as a Cuban refugee [yes it's true]I wholeheartedly disagree with - who gives a mierda about Miami Cubans?! - besides of course, Miami Cubans?].

a new york cuban

[NavyMom]

And buy Cuban rum!

[wsb25]

Viva Fidel, Viva Che, Viva Raul!
Venceremos!

[Troubledgoodangel]

Yo anadiria Viva el Sentido Comun! Los Cubanos hoy viven en un mundo cerrado, lleno de limitaciones. Dios no quiere que vivamos encarcelados! Dios ha creado el mundo para todos, para que todos lo disfruten plenamente! Vencer no se puede hasta que se es totalmente libre de ir y vivir donde uno quiera! Por eso yo les digo a los Cubanos: traten de obtener libertad sin dejar de ser Uds.!

[Damu]

The gold standard for US relations with Cuba was articulated by Abraham Lincoln not Christopher Dodd, but that's a whole other story.