April 10, 2009 2:54 PM

Hot Topic: The U.S.-Cuba Relationship

By
Daniel Carty
Topics
Hot Topic
(AP Photo/Geovany Fernandez)
Anytime lawmakers mention the possibility of tweaking government policy toward decades-old national foes, eyebrows are sure to be raised. So it's not surprising that members of the Congressional Black Caucus caught some heat after their recent trip to Havana, where they met with Cuban leaders, including the perpetually ailing Fidel Castro.

During a meeting with three of the lawmakers, the 82-year-old former dictator reportedly asked them this: "How can we help President Obama?" It was certainly an interesting question coming from someone who has clashed with so many of Mr. Obama's predecessors.

Upon her return, the delegation's leader, California Democrat Barbara Lee (seen above with current Cuban president, Raul Castro) expressed confidence in Cuba's "desire to trade with the United States under normal diplomatic and trade relations."

Enter the critics: Republican Reps. Chris Smith of New Jersey and Frank Wolf of Virginia chided the Democratic contingent for ignoring Cuba's history of human rights violations, arguing that the talks would only strengthen an oppressive regime.

"When the tragic plight of political prisoners is ignored, suppressed, devalued or trivialized by visiting politicians, the bullies in the gulags are given a free pass to inflict pain," Smith told reporters Thursday.

But despite the outcry, a shift in America's Cuba policy seem to be well underway.

Already this year, Congress has rolled back a Bush-era tightening of rules on travel by American family members who want to visit their Cuban relatives. The next step could be the further easing of travel restrictions to allow Americans to send more money to their families still on the island and to visit as often as they want – measures the White House is expected to announce as early as this month.

A complete makeover of relations between the two countries could end in the lifting the trade embargo America placed on Cuba 47 years ago – though the Obama administration's current position is to keep the embargo in place.

Whatever the degree of change, it does seem that change is coming. The larger question is this: Can 50 years of distrust on both sides be erased by a series of executive orders and Congressional decrees? And is it wise to try to do so?

(AP/Argentina Presidency)
Consider the logic behind a potential policy shift. Those in favor say that decades of isolating the nation economically - while waiting for Fidel Castro to fade into history - simply has not worked. Despite constant rumors of his impending death, Castro remains a prominent national figure. And Cuba, shunned by the U.S., has fostered growing relationships with Venezuela, China and America's other former Cold War foe, Russia.

Those pushing America to reconsider its Cuba position also think a more proactive approach is the best way to promote democracy.

The U.S. has spent too much time as a "passive observer rather than active supporter of the process of democratization for one of our closest hemispheric neighbors," according to the Cuban American National Foundation, which released a report Thursday advocating a "break from the past" that involves "incremental change" - but not a unilateral lifting of the embargo.

Ctitics of a policy change highlight Cuba's checkered human rights record as the best argument against warmer relations toward the island nation.

In 2005, the United Nations Human Rights Commission released a report that Cuba was holding 306 political prisoners. And in 2003, Cuba arrested 75 dissidents and journalists the country charged with conspiring with the United States to overthrow the government, according to Human Rights Watch.

Critics might also point to the political risk of stirring the strong emotions of Cuban exiles who remain staunch foes of the Castro regime.

"I would open the doors to Cuba," Rodolfo Frometa told the New York Times this week. "But it would be with the use of force to remove the system completely and create a democracy."

Inflaming the passions of Miami residents like the 64-year-old Fromenta may not be something Florida politicians want to do. And Florida's perennially critical role in presidential politics almost certainly means national leaders will think long and hard before significantly changing course in its stance toward Cuba.

With American pondering the future of its relationship with its island neighbor, we wanted to get your thoughts. Do you think the U.S. should seek a radical departure from past policy? Should it continue applying the same economic pressure it has for the last 50 years? Or is the cautious, incremental approach it seems to be on the best way to bring about meaningful change?

Add a Comment See all 30 Comments
by jkb-Canada August 26, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
Would somebody please explain to me why you Americans can find it okay to do business with Communist China, the largest, most heavily populated country in the world (which is on its way to being the next world super-power in case you haven't noticed). They have taken thousands of your jobs, have no human rights in their country, are enormous polluters, and hold loans to your government worth billions of dollars and have nuclear weapons to boot. Should you not be worried about that country rather than little bitty Cuba, a country of joyful,intelligent people who only want what they wanted 100 years ago - to be a truly independent country free of exploitation by either Spain or the U.S.A. And then there is Vietnam. How short your memory is that you can do business with another Communist nation that you were at war with, and lost thousands of your young men to. Cubans leave Cuba for the U.S.A. for the same reason as the Mexicans, Central Americans and every other poor person from every other poor country around the globe for that matter: to have an easier life with a higher standard of living. Cubans in and outside Cuba are fiercely loyal to their country and love it deeply. That is why the "Miami Cubans" et al are so bitter. They want to have their cake and eat it too. Castro is not the problem. He is only defending his country and people from an invasion and annexation by those same people who left their country for a better life. They wouldn't live there anymore, just blanket the country with their business ventures, keep the Cubans in poverty, collect the profits and go back to their swimming pools in Miami. Try getting rid of your cruel, punishing embargo and see what happens. It's easier to catch a fly with honey than with vinegar. It's long been time to get rid of your government policy of "We know what's best for the entire planet"! America: heal Thyself!
Reply to this comment
by Rubeem April 12, 2009 12:40 PM EDT
This bears repeating - - -

Here is a famous quote by Dr. King, that applies perfectly to those members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba to support an evil dictator:

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ... So in order to be true to one's conscience and true to God, a righteous man has no alternative but to refuse to cooperate with an evil system." From Dr King's book "Stride Toward Freedom," Page 51.
Shame on those 6 clowns who went to Cuba to lick the bloodied boots of an evil dictator.
Posted by Iwontbefooled at 4:02 PM : Apr 11, 2009
Reply to this comment
by omnibus66 April 12, 2009 9:27 AM EDT
Here is a famous quote by Dr. King, that applies perfectly to those members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba to support an evil dictator:

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ...
Posted by Iwontbefooled at 4:02 PM : Apr 11, 2009
-----------------------------------

Seems like this would apply to anyone who voted for Bush.

I lived in Miami before Castro, when Havana was nothing but casinos and brothels, and subsequently witnessed the transformation of south Florida after Castro took over.

From the very beginning, absolutely nothing about Cuba has been handled properly, but now perhaps there may be reason to hope that some sanity may take hold.

Cubans are bright, intelligent people, and would quickly embrace a democratic system. But they have no stomach to be a puppet of Washington. Let's talk.
Reply to this comment
by tyrany1 April 12, 2009 8:39 AM EDT
imprisonrove

Yes I can tell you the diff.
We dont owe Cuba anything!
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 April 12, 2009 4:28 AM EDT
Liberals and communists-doesn't that combo scare you ?
Posted by wtlibs at 10:14 PM : Apr 10, 2009

Not nearly as much as bigots and evangelists.
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 April 12, 2009 4:26 AM EDT
Democrats, liberals and communists -Oh my
Posted by wtlibs at 2:34 PM : Apr 11, 2009

Republicans, bigots and evanglists-Oh my
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 April 12, 2009 4:24 AM EDT
We don't have to worry about terrorist from the outside when we have groups like the Black Caucus.
Posted by dmw1167 at 6:13 PM : Apr 11, 2009

Or the Ku Klux Klan.
Reply to this comment
by whitemale08 April 11, 2009 7:51 PM EDT
Fidel Castro is no longer the president of Cuba, his brother Raul is.

And for European decendants in America or elsewhere denying the security a country has by keeping a 'ruling class' in place whether elected or so-called royalty to one day transition to democracy is hypocritical and arrogant.

In a so-called open democracy like the U.S., politicians can be bought off by businessmen which is what happened before Castro.

When businessmen buy off politicians, then the will of the people stops and fascism takes over where everybody is on their own, like here.

In the end you have tent cities and un-employed people.

I'm not defending the Cuban government one way or the other but I understand that they have to be carefull about outsiders corrupting their politicians and turning their country into another place where whites only can go frolicking in bikinis on the beach while the darker skinned people are begging for money on the streets.
Reply to this comment
by Iwontbefooled April 11, 2009 7:02 PM EDT
Here is a famous quote by Dr. King, that applies perfectly to those members of the Black Caucus who went to Cuba to support an evil dictator:

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. ... So in order to be true to one's conscience and true to God, a righteous man has no alternative but to refuse to cooperate with an evil system." From Dr King's book "Stride Toward Freedom," Page 51.
Shame on those 6 clowns who went to Cuba to lick the bloodied boots of an evil dictator.
Reply to this comment
by p_syrus April 11, 2009 6:11 PM EDT
2 million Cubans living outside of Cuba ...
Posted by ca-ftf-iuf

Most of them were born outside of Cuba. If required to return to the "homeland" as a part of some future "democritization" they would howl LOUDLY about the violation of their "human rights". :-)

The Obama Administration MUST end the PREFERENTIAL treatment of migrants from Cuba. No more politically sanctioned "special status" for Cubanos.
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