CUBA AND AMERICA

by RAY FLEMING
AFTER a stand-off lasting almost half-a-century America and Cuba are ready to talk - about “everything - human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything, everything, everything “ (Raul Castro), and about “human rights, free speech, democratic reform, drugs, immigration, economic issues” (Barack Obama). However, each leader makes a qualification: Castro says the US must respect the right of self-determination for Cuba; Obama says that “every nation has a right to follow its own path” but then adds “in democratic societies”. By bringing in the “democratic” pre-condition before talking has begun Mr Obama is in danger of sounding like George W Bush. Let's remember the following: Having liberated Cuba from Spanish rule in 1898 the United States effectively controlled the island until 1934 with four interventions by American Marines; with US support the corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista ruled from 1934 until 1944 and then again from 1952 until
1958 when he fled in the face of Fidel Castro's take-over which was initially supported by America. By 1961 America had taken a dislike to Castro and the Bay of Pigs invasion fiasco was followed a year later by the Cuban missile crisis. This potted history may help to show why Raul Castro and Barack Obama will approach their talks with rather different perspectives. Cuba is what it is today in large part because of America's far from perfect past interventions in its affairs - which failed to establish democracy there when the chance was there to do so.