It was a wet dream for many Cuban-Americans. Fidel would lose his grip on power, Cuba would fall into chaos as its long-suffering people rose up in revolt, and the exiles would be able to step back in and take the reins of power. They've been dreaming of it for four decades and now - DOH!
This should have all transpired by now. Cuba should have already been back under the American umbrella. Hmm, something went wrong with the plan.
No one, it seems, was counting on Fidel carefully arranging his own succession. A new bunch has taken over. What's more, there's been no uprising by the people. They're still content with the notion of defending their country against US aggression and attacks on their sovereignty.
Experts believe reform will come to Cuba but only very gradually.
What went wrong? America passed up the opportunity to "make nice" with Cuba when it could have made a difference. This ought to have been done as far back as Bush Sr., certainly during the Clinton years, but it wasn't and the Cuban exiles have themselves to thank for that.
Finding even a modest rapproachement with Cuba has never been as important as winning the votes of the 1.5 million Cuban Americans in Florida and New Jersey. America's foreign policy options were kidnapped by domestic considerations. That left Washington stuck with only one policy toward Cuba - regime change, something that struck a deep chord with the Cuban people.
Throughout the Caribbean, Central America and South America, US foreign policy is coming apart at the seams. America needs to realize that its policies have failed. These nations have changed. They've grown and have largely become more democratic. Natives are actually getting elected to power. Go figure. The shape of the world south of the Rio Grande has changed dramatically even as US foreign policy has remained static.
There is an important role for American influence in these areas. However, if America is to play that role and if all parties are to benefit from it, Washington needs to scrap the old policies and devise new approaches of a type that can be welcomed by these many nations. Maybe Fidel can give them some tips on how to start.
4 comments:
"They're still content with the notion of defending their country against US aggression and attacks on their sovereignty."
They must also be content with the notion of having no political freedoms and a failed, state-run economy.
Do you really think the main concern of the everyday Cuban is defending against a phantom threat of American imperialism?
They're still content with the notion of defending their country against US aggression and attacks on their sovereignty.
... So, do you figure the police state that Castro has been running for years has nothing to do with it?
One has to wonder if Fidel's carefully-planned succession agenda includes anything from a free press to multi-party elections to getting rid of the system of local informants on the look-out for any dissent. I certainly hope Raul et al bring in those sorts of things, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Look, the US trade boycott isn't good policy, in my opinion, but it seems that Fidel's record at home rarely gets the condemnation it should from the centre & centre-left in this country and if it does, it's in an "afterthought" kind of way: "I'm not saying Fidel is perfect, but if only those Americans, &c."
Hi Taylor: No, I don't think the main concern of most Cubans is defending against Mr. Bush's clearly stated desire for "regime change" (that's no phantom). But I do believe that's more important to them than ridding themselves of their new leadership. They've been under the US thumb for nearly 50-years. That leaves scars.
No Jack, as I stated reforms are inevitable but it doesn't appear they're going to arrive quickly. Within 20-years I believe the face of Cuba will be much more to your ad my liking. As for what Fidel was, I offer no apologies for the man. Don't forget, it's not just the communists who've had a hearty appetite for brutal, one-party rule. Remember the Savak?
Post a Comment