Kerry raises flag at new U.S. embassy in Cuba

When Donald Trump says Obama and Kerry are terrible negotiators, you think this might be what he’s talking about? For more than 50 years, the U.S. has been trying to get Cuba to restore political freedom and human rights, and we’ve cut off diplomatic relations and instituted an economic embargo until they do. They refuse. So what do Obama and Kerry do? Not only do they restore diplomatic relations, but they also push the Republican Congress (which is having none of it) to end the embargo.

And then, having done that, Kerry goes to Cuba, raises the U.S. flag on the new embassy there, and declares, “And hopefully, the government of Cuba will itself make decisions that will begin to change things.” And why would they? Not only are they getting everything they want from the U.S. without making any changes, they’re adding additional demands:

The Obama administration says Washington's long policy of trying to force change in Communist-governed Cuba through isolation did not work. Kerry told Univision television ahead of his trip he hoped to see a "transformation" begin to take place. "More people will travel. There will be more exchange. More families will be reconnected. And hopefully, the government of Cuba will itself make decisions that will begin to change things." Kerry will meet Cuban dissidents at the U.S. embassy residence in Havana on Friday afternoon. Dissidents were not invited to the morning flag-raising in deference to the Cuban government, which sees dissidents as U.S.-sponsored mercenaries. Restored diplomatic ties mean U.S. diplomats can travel more freely and increase staff. Cuba has also reduced the number of security guards who keep on (sic) eye on Cubans going in and out.

The task of normalizing overall relations is more complicated. Cuba wants the United States to end the embargo, return the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in eastern Cuba, and halt radio and television signals beamed into Cuba. I’m sure Obama would like nothing more than to give back Guantanamo Bay, but there’s this sticky little problem of what to do with all the terrorists there. He's already let up on the economic pressure to the extent he can do so with the classic Obama executive order, although there's no way Congress will formally lift the embargo. You don't suppose Kerry told Castro, wink-wink-nudge-nudge, we have ways around that, buddy. And about the radio broadcasts, what kind of neighboring country with whom you have diplomatic relations cares if its people can pick up your radio broadcasts? Oh. Right. A communist one. You have to like that bit about how the U.S. refused to let any dissidents participate in the ceremonies out of deference to the commies. That's classic Obama/Kerry foreign policy. Acknowledge the problem of human rights in any way and you run the risk of offending the thugs to whom you're trying to capitulate. So you tell me: Why would Cuba change when the U.S. is giving them everything they want without requiring anything in return? They wouldn't and they won't. Trump would at least get something classy and luxurious out of the deal.

Dan Calabrese——Bio and Archives

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