Behind Obama's Change of Cuba Policy

[Judi Lynn]

Behind Obama's Change of Cuba Policy
Friday, 26 December 2014 13:33
By Jack A. Smith, SpeakOut | Op-Ed

"The United States seems destined to plague us with miseries in the name of liberty."-Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of Latin America

"Once the United States is in Cuba, who will get it out?"-José Martí, Cuban national hero.

Fair minded people and governments around the world have praised the US decision to finally ease up on Cuba after 55 years of unmitigated hostility. The final agreement, which included a prisoner swap, was hammered out in nine meetings over 18 months of secret talks in Canada between representatives of Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro, with the Vatican acting as intermediary.

But what is the true meaning of President Obama's historic announcement Dec. 17 about establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and eliminating some — though hardly all — the diverse punishments imposed upon this small socialist society a stone's throw away from the vengeful Yankee Colossus?

It means that efforts to destroy the communist government of Cuba — from a CIA invasion to the imposition of seemingly endless draconian economic and political sanctions — have failed. In this David-Goliath contest, David was seriously wounded, but won. However, there is a second round to this competition that will likewise test David's powers.

Obama's policy change does not signify Washington accepts the existence of socialist or communist governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. They remain forbidden in the hemisphere presided over by the world's richest and most militarily powerful capitalist state. Washington's continual effort to undermine Venezuela's momentum toward socialism is one more evidence of this fact.

More:
http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/28225-behind-obama-s-change-of-cuba-policy

[msongs]

1. nice propaganda piece, labeling a brutal dictatorship as 'socialism" nt

[Peace Patriot]

2. You think Cuba is guilty of brutality to top the war on Iraq,

the war on Afghanistan, the war on Libya, the war on Syria, the so-far covert war on Iran, the torture of prisoners, the use of secret prisons and indefinite detention without trial, the corrupt, murderous, failed U.S. "war on drugs," the massive neglect of the poor, the massive incarceration of the poor, the abuse of U.S. soldiers with "stop-loss" (multiple tours of duty in war zones), the massive corruption of private contractors in the U.S. military and government, the mind-boggling looting of our treasury by the banksters?

WE have dictators--we just can't SEE them. You think Cuba is worse than all this? That is laughable. Cuba is a fairly decent country compared to our own. And, given what the Cuban people have done in response to the fall of the Soviet Union and long term U.S. economic sanctions--facing the crisis with extraordinary courage and ingenuity--I'd say they are a lot more motivated toward the common good than our people are--or, rather, than our people are allowed to be--and are very possibly a lot more democratic than our people are allowed to be. Motivation such as Cubans have shown does not arise among coerced people.

So, tell me, how is Cuba's government more brutal than the U.S. government and its "military-industrial-prison complex"? Spell it out. Don't just stop in here for yet another hit-and-run rightwing post about Latin American leftists. Explain and back up "brutal dictatorship." And, while you're at it, explain why ALL of Latin America--and most of the world--supports recognition of the Cuban government.

[Judi Lynn]

3. They also show their fantastic esprit de corps during national emergencies,

as they did with the Bay of Pigs, which followed their massive revolution, and every time there is a hurricane approaching their island.

They have gained world-wide recognition for their ability to move as one in clearing out all their houses, securing everything possible, and gathering up all the island's farm animals and housepets and moving them all to higher ground, and taking all their families, neighbors, etc. to safe shelters to ride out the wind and rain, etc. securely, together.

They have an astonishing record over the years for protecting themselves and each other, very, VERY low death rate.

When the storm passes, they all work together in their own neighborhoods, cleaning up, and getting started on repairing, rebuilding, together.

People who have been there during those times say it is truly phenomenal.

As you so aptly stated,

Motivation such as Cubans have shown does not arise among coerced people.

The one things they DON'T accept is, of course, a brutal dictator, like the torture-loving, vicious, corrupt, death-squad-employing Fulgencio Batista and his racist, power-mad, materialistic supporters.

[hack89]

4. Open ties with America is what will bring freedom to Cuba

Obama is a smart man.

[FrodosPet]

5. Invasion by tourists bringing money and American attitudes!!!

It will be FAR more effective in opening up Cuba than an embargo which primarily provided the Cuban government with a way of deflecting criticism away from itself.

[hack89]

6. And hopefully Cubans with the ability to travel to America at will. nt