The draft of the 2008 Democratic Party platform has been released, and includes the following section on Latin America and the Caribbean:
Recommit to an Alliance of the Americas
We recognize that the security and prosperity of the United States is fundamentally tied to the future of the Americas. We believe that in the 21st century, the U.S. must treat Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean as full partners, just as our neighbors to the south should reject the bombast of authoritarian bullies. An alliance of the Americas will only succeed if it is founded on the bedrock of mutual respect and works to advance democracy, opportunity and security from the bottom- up. We must turn the page on the arrogance in Washington and the anti-Americanism across the region that stands in the way of progress. We must work with close partners like Mexico, Brazil and Colombia on issues like ending the drug trade, fighting poverty and inequality, and immigration. And we must build ties to the people of Cuba and help advance their liberty by allowing unlimited family visits and remittances to the island, while presenting the Cuban regime with a clear choice: if it takes significant steps toward democracy, beginning with the unconditional release of all political prisoners, we will be prepared to take steps to begin normalizing relations.
Almost there! It is so remarkable this recognition by the Democratic Party of a history of arrogance of US towards Latin America. The world will be better if a policy based on mutual respect is finally implemented. Things like this are what gives further meaning to the Cuban Revolution and leftist movements in Latin America in the last 80 years. It is hard that such a recognition would have come without resistance. At the same time, the US is better because of this. We may be on the brink of another major breakthrough in this marvelous country. We need the US to really become a beacon of freedom. Now, what remains concerning Cuba is:
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- Stop the embargo
- Establish normal relationships
- Let Cuba evolve naturally, without impossing anything. After all, Cuban democrats are not in shortage.
These changes certainly require political courage, but in America everything is possible.
God bless US!
Viva Cuba!
that's a bit much. Foreign Policy 101 - dont give something for nothing. I think that platform is perfectly reasonable. Guantanamo should not be returned until Cuba is a free and democratic state.
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