With Biden, an opportunity to normalize relations with Cuba again

[Judi Lynn]

Cuban President Raul Castro greets U.S. President Barack Obama in Havana in March 2016. | REUTERS
BY CESAR CHELALA
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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Dec 27, 2020
NEW YORK – The certification by the Electoral College of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election is the final nail in the coffin of President Donald Trump and his supporters’ attempt to reverse the results of the vote. It is now time to move on and take necessary foreign policy steps to improve relations with the rest of the world.

For the last two centuries, relations in the Americas have been clouded by suspicion and resentment toward the U.S. by Latin American and Caribbean countries. It hasn’t helped that U.S. governments have, intermittently, undermined democratic governments and promoted what can be euphemistically called “regime change” in countries south of its border.

Nowhere has U.S. intervention been as relentless and damaging as it has with Cuba, where American antagonism toward the Castro brothers and their successor has benefited no one while causing the Cuban people tremendous suffering.

Henry Kissinger was certainly not thinking about Cuba when he said, “It’s not a matter of what is true that counts but a matter of what is perceived to be true.” This could well be applied to the supposed threat that Cuba poses to U.S. democracy. For almost 60 years the U.S. has imposed an embargo on Cuba. Yet, rather than achieving its goal of bringing about the downfall of the Castro brothers’ regime, the embargo only made life miserable for most Cubans, limiting their access not only to common goods but also to some vital medicines.

More:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/12/27/commentary/world-commentary/biden-us-cuba/

[KPN]

1. Yay!

[Historic NY]

2. My visit there as part of the last group of US Citizens allowed in...

My take is many of the citizens were so hopeful for renewed contact with the US. They know that their government has to take more steps to help the citizens. The communist government owns many parts of Cuban business, so they get their cut. The people hope that the US would help push reforms along in exchange for trade and other advantages. Many were beginning to enjoy the fruits of working for themselves, in the tourist trade.

[RKP5637]

3. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Sneederbunk]

4. Big Biz knows there is money to be made there.

Not going to allow Florida Cuban dissidents to get in the way.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. What folks in the Rethug Party

as well as a few Dino Dems just plain do not get is,Cuba is zero threat to the USA. Just a Political Club to be used to gain Points.

Italian as well as Spanish Resort developers are doing fantastic business in Cuba as well as other Islands in the Caribbean. Canada does and has been doing tons of trade with Cuba. Never heard of Cuba threatening Canada,have you.

BTW,years ago one could fly from MPLS/STP to Toronto or Montreal and onto Havana. But as things would be,those same "Commie Chasers" killed that golden goose for Political Points.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Thanks for your informed comments, Wellstone ruled. So many US Americans have not bothered to think.

So many ways are available to learn the truth which has been buried due to overriding right-wing political crap from the very first.

The fascists have been in charge of Latin American diplomacy so long.

If they give up now, and the citizens realize how long and how profoundly they've been bamboozled, told absolute lies all this time, they are going to be beyond embarrassed by their own intellectual laziness, and moral indiference.

Thanks, again.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Have not been

to the Caribbean for some time,almost two decades,but,the last time we were there. One could do what are called day trips to Cuba from several Islands. Not uncommon to see Cuba Flagged Ferries in port on most of the Islands.

Our Canadian acquaintances leave the great white north and spend two to three months each winter in Cuba.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Interesting info. about Cuban ferries. I'd only heard about Cuban harbor ferries in Havana.

Very good to hear about it.

There have been various posters at DU and elsewhere from Canada, England, and elsewhere discuss multiple, regular trips to Cuba for vacation, people who've indicated they love the place, love the place and the people, while US citizens have been prohibited from going there since 1960, unless they arrange to go there through third countries, and, of course, Cuban-Americans have gone there and returned over all this time, freely, spend vacation time, go to hotels, restaurants, stores, in addition to staying with friends and relatives, while loudly protesting giving rights to other US citizens to travel there all this time. Seems a little hoggish, in my opinion, as well as dishonest, since they claim they had to flee for their ridiculous lives from the "tyrant" Castro!

[Wellstone ruled]

9. And yes,the

Caribbean Island Nations have a totally different take on
Cuba compared to when the Neo Cons of America have. The Political ideas of Richard Nixon during his time with Ike have survived all these decades. Of course the idea of a Commie under every bed was reinforced via the media each and every day. Once Bay of Pigs happened,no one bothered to say,we as a Nation got cought doing our Imperialistic Expansion and ended up with a major face plant.

Propaganda is powerful and economically destructive.