blogue atlântico

“How to set Cuba free” de Daniel Hannan

Washington’s determination to destroy Castro made him a hero to that unlovely faction in the West that will ally with any cause, however vile, provided it is sufficiently anti-American. Never mind that Castro crushed dissent, closed down independent media, cancelled elections. Never mind that he backed the FARC and the IRA. Never mind that he was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the attack on Prague in 1968, calling the Czech dissidents “fascists”. America’s enemies are always guaranteed friends. A steady stream of Western “sandalistas” went out to work on Cuban collectives. Young Lefties — including Peter Mandelson — attended rallies on the island and came back raving about the quality of Castro’s doctors and ballerinas.

In his memoirs, the former Spanish Prime Minister, José María Aznar, recalls meeting Castro in 1998. He told the comandante that, if it were up to him, he would lift the blockade, and the Communist regime would fall within three months. Castro ruefully agreed.

Well, President Bush, here is your opportunity. The removal of Castro gives you the opportunity to do what every serious foreign policy adviser has been urging for the past 40 years and lift the sanctions that have kept the Cuban Communists in power.