Marine colonel: Drop the Cuba embargo

I completely agree. US policy towards Cuba has eroded our interests for decades, and it is time for it to change. Fortunately, the domestic support for a hardline approach to Cuba is fading, but it isn't fast enough!

Col. Goodes and Ricks are right as rain. If we can have normalized relations with China and Vietnam then how can we refuse to have normal diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba. Normalization is so obviously sensible and beneficial to all parties that it makes me wonder if I am being obtuse and missing some ulterior Machiavellian motive on the part of those against it?

"brings in smart officers from the military services, as well as the Air Force." Do I detect a bit of sarcasm Tom?

I concur with this Lieutenant Colonel of Marines. It's not only time to move forward and normalize relations with Cuba. It's time to reshape our relationship throughout the Southern Americas.

It's interesting to note that there's a Cuban-American generational shift toward normalization of relations. However, it's still tough on them to go against the established old guard in Florida, while trying to succeed in a career.

Maybe the next national election cycle with tell?

Because a blogger can address an indefinite number of subjects in a finite amount of time does not mean an administration can.

Faced with an economy in crisis, his major domestic legislative priority in Congress, two wars, and troubles with allies in Europe and Asia, President Obama has an awful lot on his plate. He would have even if Republican holds were not delaying the process of getting American officials confirmed to key posts relevant to Latin American policy. Kicking the Cuban problem down the road until next year is not a unreasonable step to take under these circumstances.

I understand that from the standpoint of some commentators, dealing with the Cuban problem means simply conceding to Havana every point at issue. That includes lifting the embargo, which would bring a major surge of trade and investment into a country still impoverished by its own government's policies, and might therefore be thought worth bargaining over. The reason for this is that there are things we will want from the Cuban government in a post-embargo world, on issues ranging from property rights to immigration to drug trafficking.

Lifting the embargo as part of an agreement touching on at least some of the major issues with which the United States and Cuba will need to cope with in the years ahead is a step I favor, but I recognize that such an agreement would take time to negotiate. The Obama administration is, rightly, concentrating on the most urgent issues right now. Cuba just is not one of them.

It does seem that the blues have self-defined a mission area and gear set that nearly precludes flight at an altitude, speed and location that risks return fire. CNAS is apparently safe, for now, but Cuba must be observed from 200 mi. up.

But for Boyd, the fighter mafia, and Congress they might have succeeded in toto.

But let's not forget that they are locked in an existential struggle with the senior service for control of space budgets.

I'm writing this from Colo. Springs, prior to returning to San Diego area; opposing tactical centers in that struggle.

I can see no upside to waiting here, this policy works against our interests both militarily and economically.

I am interested in the relaxed telecom exchanges, wasn't it the US that put the squeeze on Carlos Slim not to go forward with fiber optic investment in Cuba?

It's been almost 20 years now that people have been waiting for the imminent collapse of the Castro regime, his post Soviet economic reforms have proved quite adaptable. It's time for the US to adapt to the changed reality and end a failed policy.

Have you never met a dictator you wouldn't take to bed. Castro, Chavez, the Mullahs..Mao, Stalin, Sung. How many peoples do you want to liberate to a dictator?

The right thing would be to liberate Cuba from Castro...rest assured PBO won't liberate anyone from anything except reality.

What better gift to a near death dictator than victory over the free world via U.S. capitulation coupled with a well delivered apology?

There isn't any official U.S. policy to keep you from moving to Cuba...beautiful people, nice weather, and all that brainy commie ideology. One problem; criticizing the Castro way might get you locked up, er uh, re-educated.

Thanks for the forum,
PR

The disintegration of the Soviet empire is testament to the corrosive power of freedom,when that freedom is employed to challenge insular tyrannies. The American embargo, from this perspective,is the very antithesis of what was,and still is, needed to effect change on that island. In fact, historians may one day attribute Castro's five decades of endurance to the isolating and insulating benefits of this embargo, which has served as "Fidelitos" Berlin wall. As such, the embargo can be seen for what it truly is: a policy contrary to the best interests of the United States and one maintained in deference to special "exile" interest groups who do not want a peaceful transition in Cuba, but rather prefer the chance of violent change.

As an American by nurture and conviction,I raised these arguments in my book titled "Up Dog Street," well aware that we must insure a peaceful transition in Cuba, if we are to avoid recurring regimes of autocratic "strong men" of the left or the right. There's nothing better for America than to have a fellow democracy ninety miles away.