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Castro’s Response to Obama’s Overtures
How significant was Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s response to President Obama’s overtures last week?
The editorial board of Brazil’s Estadao newspaper puts it this way, in part:
“The reaction from President Raúl Castro was singular. Just a few hours later, from where he was in Cumaná, Venezuela, he sent word “publicly and privately” that “we are open to discussing everything – human rights, freedom of the press and political prisoners.” These words should not be taken literally: Cuban leaders are certainly not prepared to discuss with the United States things which, in the final analysis, are the essence of their dictatorial regime. But the mere pronouncement of the rights and freedoms that have been suppressed in the country and of the repression of opponents of Castroism, in addition to breaking a taboo, is a political response to Obama, an oblique way of engaging the White House in a continuing dialogue. Naturally, it’s hard to imagine the American president rushing into a “thaw” of bilateral relations without any change in Cuba – and Raúl must to be aware of that.”
EDITORIAL
Translated By Brandi Miller
April 18, 2009
Brazil – Estadao – Original Article (Portuguese)
If the president of the United States weren’t Barack Obama, the Fifth Summit of the Americas would have been little more than a meeting about undoubtedly grave matters, squandered by the propensity of a majority of participants to use the usual waffling language. Or it would also have served as an opportunity, as occurred four years ago in Mar del Plata, for Hugo Chávez to state his usual anti-American sentiments. In any case, what is of interest above all – troubled relations between the United States and Latin America – would continue in the same fashion of disinterest on the one side, and resentment on the other. But there was the White House leader announcing that “times have changed” – and for the first time in decades, that worn-out expression descended on Latin American ears as a new watchword in the search for an effective continental partnership.
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One Response to “Castro’s Response to Obama’s Overtures”
“These words should not be taken literally: Cuban leaders are certainly not prepared to discuss with the United States things which, in the final analysis, are the essence of their dictatorial regime.”
With all due respect, William, we don't need you to tell us what to take literally. He might just mean it. A thaw of relations would benefit both nations. Sadly, it is we who are hypocritical in this regard. We are good friends with countries who practice the worst of what we accuse Cuba of–China, for example. What if because of the lack of press freedom or human rights, we were forbidden to purchase Chinese goods?
In Cuba, presumably because of the electoral importance of Florida, we have made a boogey man. It's the only country in the world we cannot legally visit. We can go to Iran, China, North Korea, Sudan, Zimbabwe. Not Cuba. That's self defeating.
It's obviously ineffective; Fidel lived out his rule until he was too old and feeble. It hurts American business; European and Mexican hotel chains and airlines do the business we could, being closer. We have a crisis epidemic of diabetes from substituting corn syrup for sugar. I could go on, but won't.
It is just possible that Raul sees a way to revitalize his island economy by giving up total control of the press and releasing some old political prisoners. He'd hardly have to promise democracy, since we don't expect that of the Saudis, UAE, China, or hell, even Uganda.