Meet in Brooklyn.

On Tessio's ground.

Where he'll feel safe.

But wait until after the baptism.

I beg to disagree, what WOULD inprove the lot of ordinary Cubans is the institution of a non-repressive form of government,i.e. a republic would suffice, I think.

Not much use attempting to talk an entrenched dictatorship out of power.

irongrampa - you're right, you'll never talk a Castro out of power.

However, if you're a locked up socialist President-elect, this is exactly the kind of empty gesture that you can run on in '12.

So let me get this right. If you open up trade and develop "normal" relations with a perennial dictatorship it's people will......what? I'm SURE all those goods and cash aid will go DIRECTLY to the folks ASAP making their lives better.....lolol.

Naahhhh, I'm thinking ol' Raul and his pal's standard of living will improve dramatically but the folks? Let 'um eat cake.

But all the "compassionate" folks who pushed for this enlightened new policy will feeeeelll soooooo good. Now, on to the next country we can help.......

Sure. Pay no attention to all the hugs and kisses being traded between Russia and Cuba again. It means nothing.

It's *still* a dictatorship where people are routinely imprisoned for speaking against the political leadership.

They are able to trade with any other country willing to send them goods and services now.

When I see people fleeing to Cuba maybe it will be time to open a relationship and ease the trade embargo, but until then the current relationship we have with them is fine.

Remember when we pretended "Red" China didn't exist? And remember that commie Nixon opening up a dialogue with "Red" China?
Well, the average Chinese citizen is considerably better off today than he was in 1971. Is he any more free politically than before? Arguably, not so much. Is he better off financially? Inarguably, yes.
Pretending adversaries don't exist does neither side any good. Our relationship with China did much to end the Cold War. Who knows what benefit could accrue from an accomodation with Cuba? After all, even the younger Castro is older than dirt.

Gmac, you're right: all trade with China should cease until Americans start emigrating there.

Bruce Henry is correct. Fidel Castro won the PR war against the United States. Time to act like grown-ups and engage their new government in diplomacy. What's the worst that could happen?

It's been over 30 years since Nixon started talks with China. What has happened since?

1. China is still ruled by a totalitarian, repressive government.

2. We owe China tons of money.

3. We are dependent upon China for lots and lots of consumer goods.

4. The production of these goods involves not insignificant human rights issues.

5. We can't get hard-line with China because economically we can't afford to offend them.

And we're thinking that China has worked so well for us we'll do the same with Cuba. Smart.

Look, any behavioral psychologist (or nanny) will tell you that you don't reward unacceptable behavior. (At least one successful TV show is built around emergency help for families where the parents had been rewarding unacceptable behavior.)

Is anybody remembering what brought the Soviet Union down? Friendship? Concession? No! It was Reagan's strong stand (remember "Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall!"?) and his SDI (mocked by the liberals but feared by the Soviets). Reagan took away their hope at a time when they were weak. Reagan gave hope to the Warsaw bloc citizens who rose up and/or fled. The hemorrhage of citizens from East Berlin through Hungary was the final straw. (Notice that this account contains no mention of US support of the USSR economy or other "nice guy" efforts. There were none.)

Remember Castro? The guy who fell all over himself getting the Soviets to support his government and to help him to consolidate his power through repression of the people? The guy who almost had Soviet missiles in his land, to be aimed at the US?

I have relatives both in Cuba and in Miami; neither want the Castro regime (or dictatorship or Communism) to continue, let alone be aided by the US. I absolutely agree, even though my ties to Cuba are too distant for me to be emotionally involved.

So can we drop this idiocy before it gets Castro's hopes up any? ("When your enemy is defeating himself, do not get in his way.")

"...the opening of relations with Cuba would be likely to make marginal improvement in the lives of the people who live there."

Yeah, Castro can initiate another "boat lift".