In the early 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the end of Soviet aid to Cuba, Fidel Castro announced a “special period in a time of peace.” To say that this was a difficult time for the Cuban people would be an understatement.
More recently (I don’t know for how long), Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela has been supporting Cuba, giving Cuba billions of dollars of oil each year. Cuba could either use the oil itself, reducing the amount it had to import, or sell it for hard currency – or both. The question is whether these gifts will continue with Hugo Chavez dead. If not, Raul Castro may need to talk about another special period in a time of peace.
But regardless of whether that happens or not, let me make a suggestion for our policy to Cuba. I understand, and respect, the emotion of those who support the embargo (except for those politicians who do it for Florida’s 29 electoral votes). But I wonder if we might try something else. As I mentioned before, Vaclav Havel once said, “We can talk to every ruler, but first of all it is necessary to tell the truth.”*
So here is my idea: Let’s end the embargo. Right now. Completely – except, of course, for things the government could use to repress the Cuban people. We let Americans visit, however they want to. We let our businesses trade with Cuba and invest in Cuba. We basically take away the excuse the Castros have used for decades to justify the problems in Cuba.
But at the same time we do that, we start telling the truth about Cuba. Not yelling it; not being self-righteous. Just telling the truth calmly and firmly. Support the Ladies in White. Urge the Cuban government to allow real free elections. Support the right of Cubans to access the Internet, all of it, whenever they want and to say whatever they want.
In other words, end the embargo and challenge the Castros to a freedom contest. That the Cuban people will win.
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* Bret Stephens, “Tyranny and Indifference, “The Wall Street Journal,” December 20, 2011.
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