The New York Times: The Obama Administration is talking to Cuban diplomats in an effort to set an agenda for talks on migration, drug interdiction, and other security issues. The Administration is also looking into increased cultural and academic exchanges, the Times reports.
These are good moves that indicate that while the Administration is rightly pressing for
Cuba should be treated as we treat any other coutnry. As we do china, vietnam (and that democratic country of Saudia Arabia, etc. etc.)
ReplyDeletecuba should be treated as any other country. but for the past 50 years hasn't been, why? because of the historic relationship that is still being played out today. sorry for all those who like to ignore history, but cuba has always been treated differently (hostility etc) because of americas historic perspective that cuba belonged to them.
ReplyDeletenow look, low level talks are beginning. that's the way it should be, and of course the US side will continue to cry about pre-conditions, but once the talks start they'll take an energy on their own and will help move along the agenda of normalization. this of course has nothing to do with the action in congress. and so for all those who say cuba doesn't want to talk, etc etc. sorry, wrong again.
anonimo
So who is the US supposed to "negotiate" with, Fidel or Raul?
ReplyDeletesorry, i didn't realize you were not informed. raul is the president of the country. there. i hope that helps
ReplyDeletethere probably wouldn't be direct initial negotiations at that level at first anyway.
or were you being sarcastic?
anonimo
Phil Peters,
ReplyDeleteThis post needs to be updated. The talks are not in the offing. They are ongoing. State has confirmed that Shannon and Bolanos are set for a second meeting.
Vecino de NF
While on one hand it is positive that someone as high level as Thomas Shannon is leading the talks, I imagine Cuba is not so pleased that Obama trusted a Bush-era diplomat with a less than impressive history in the region to begin this delicate stage in relations. Shannon's hands are all over Bush's Cuba "Transition Plan," Bush's failed Venezuela policy, as well as the attempted balkanization of Bolivia.
ReplyDeleteLeftside,
ReplyDeleteOnly Nixon could go to China! Shannon is a professional who serves at the pleasure of POTUS. The only thing the Cubans should complain about is whether Shannon is speaking for POTUS or not. Neither the US nor Cuba are in a position to name the other sides's contacts.
Vecino de NF
the best that could be hoped for is that these "talks" split the Raulistas and the Fidelistas and they start to tear each other apart.
ReplyDeletebtw, who's side are you on Peters, Raul's or Fidel's?
chingon
Chingon, if you think the US can split Raul and Fidel, let alone the Revolutionary leadship as a whole, I think you'll judge these talks a failure. Though I agree with you that splitting the leadership does seem to be a primary US goal. Hopefully the State Department has goals that go beyond this naive wishful thinking because I severely doubt the US is going to be able to achieve something in a few months that 50 years of much mroe complicated history has not.
ReplyDeletechingon
ReplyDeleteare you afraid the talks may succeed?
and what would happen in cuba if relations were normalized?
anonimo
yes I am. I'm afraid the regime will succeed just like the North Koreans and the Iranians against our feckless State Department. They'll take, take, take, and give nothing.
ReplyDeleteI am also afraid that if normalization were to occur, NOTHING will happen -- that's the problem. No reforms in Cuba, no transition to democracy, no future for the Cuban people, etc., etc.
chingon
chingon; well thanks for your predictions. not sure how you know what will happen, but assume you are certain in your believes.
ReplyDeletefor 50 years your side has had it your way in treating cuba. now its time for a new approach. i don't know what will happen if relations are normalized. i only know it is the right thing to do. and if american wants all those fine ideals to come to cuba then end the hostility and siege. the only way cuban society will have a chance to advance under social terms is the end the threats.
but your fear is that the regime will succeed? it has succeeded, for 50 years, it's the americans that have failed in their policies. but your attitude is typical. no one has the right to exist unless under american acceptance. anyone who dares defy the empire will be punished. too bad you just cant get over the fact that developing nations just might have the right to follow their own path. oh, they do actually, and can be so much worse than what you think cuba is (see egypt, pakistan, saudi arabia et al) but their lack of democracy, freedom, liberty etc is meaningless to the USA because they acquiesce to american interests. so tell me how do you reconcile such hypocrisy?
what makes cuba so special as to receive such hostility from the USA for the past 50 years. look at the history. it the unfulfilled desire to re-control. nothing else
anonimo
chingon -- why would anyone want to follow the american formula these days. such a wonderful economic system, such a great two party political dictatorship, such a terrific thing they've helped create in the world today, you know all that recession thing. the americans should worry about their own house and STFU. they never have had any right to impose systems on other countries, even less so now.
ReplyDeleteAnd Chingon, you make my point again. If you say "success" is within the grasp of Revolutionary Cuba, then aren't you conceding a LOT of ground? Aren't you admitting that Cuba has not failed up to this point and that it will prosper without the embargo? Or do you simply define "success" by a unilateral alteration of ineffective US policy? Isn't that a pretty low bar? What if the unilateral alteration of US policy actually succeeds in achieving your goals? Is that "success"? What has Iran and N Korea succeeded at? Cuba has already succeeded wildly if those are the comparisons. The US is totally isolated on this issue. Everyone agrees the US needs to unilaterally drop all the sanctions. On Iran and N. Korea, the US has some allies. You are mad that the Cuba is in the driving seat. That socialists who grew up idolizing the Cuban Revolution now run Latin America. That Cuban socialism has not fallen into the dustbin of history and chugs on - showing the world that human misery is a policy choice, that dignity for all can be had, that homelessness and hunger are not natural... they are symptoms of capitalism.
ReplyDelete"US-Cuba Talks: Raul Castro Unexpectedly Opens Door for Obama to Pursue Pact Between the 3 Sides
ReplyDelete"While unambiguously rejecting the Obama administration's request for gestures of reciprocity, by mentioning Guantanamo, Raul Castro has inadvertently provided Obama a unique opportunity to solve the impasse the 3 sides are facing. The US should consider returning Guantanamo to the Cuban people, that is, to Cuban exiles and the Castro regime´s opposition, if the Castro regime is willing to agree to a Non-Aggression and Repatriation pact."
More about this proposal here:
http://ddeeee.blogspot.com/