Engaging Cuba?

Perhaps the most anachronistic example of U.S. foreign policy appears to be shedding its Cold War blinders and tentatively aligning itself with the times: the U.S.'s nearly 50-year economic embargo of Cuba may soon finally end.

Two key recent developments have signaled an end to the embargo. First, the Obama administration "has moved to ease draconian travel controls and lift limits on cash remittances that Cuban-Americans can send to the island, a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families". Second, a bipartisan coalition of Senators, led by Republican Richard Lugar, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has "called on President Obama to appoint a special envoy to initiate direct talks with the island's communist government and to end U.S. opposition to Cuba's membership in the Organization of American States”. Importantly, Lugar recognized the essential failure of the embargo, stating, "After 47 years...the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of 'bringing democracy to the Cuban people, while it may have been used as a foil by the regime to demand further sacrifices from Cuba's impoverished population”.

It is relieving to see movement on the Cuba issue. The embargo has been a failure, primarily hurting the average Cuban rather than the Communist politburo. It has strained relations with Latin America and has afforded Castro a perpetual enemy in the United States government. What was intended to be a punishment to Castro has really been an unnecessary and heavy burden for the Cuban people, who have been caught in the crossfire.

Cubans are eager to engage in commerce with Americans and Americans with Cubans. Havana was Miami before Miami even existed (without the tackiness). Americans seem again ready to discover a vibrant culture and beautiful country right next door to them, and Cubans are eager to share it with them. I’m happy that our elected leaders are finally starting to get the message.