March 29, 2024

Barack Obama’s Controversial Compromises with the Castro Brothers

images-59In the last few months, President Obama followed through with three concessions with the Communist dictatorship of Fidel and Raul Castro. Despite this, the Castro brothers have not altered their oppressive treatment of the Cuban people or reformed their dictatorial conduct. After the Obama administration restored diplomatic relations with the communist regime, removed Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, and reopened the U.S. embassy in Havana, the world expected reformation and democratic changes.

However, if one looks back onto the statements of Cuban officials, the Castro regime had adopted a challenging position to the anticipated compromises of the White House all along. In fact, Raul Castro’s answer was clear: “Communism will continue to be the form of government in Cuba”.

More recently, Josefina Vidal, the main Cuban negotiator with Washington said: “Havana will not move its position one millimeter”. Vidal made those remarks the same day the Obama administration reopened the U.S. embassy in Havana.

Unsurprisingly, Cuba remained true to its anti-democratic statements and despite this, Obama executed his part in the agreement. At the time of this writing, there is no indication that the Castro brothers plan to restore freedom and democracy in Cuba. Meanwhile, the communist regime continuously takes advantage of our president’s ability to appease the progress of his liberal and leftist foreign policy. Clearly, the Castro brothers see this opportunity as a historic moment to demand anything their hearts desire from the White House.

In fact, Raul Castro had the audacity to ask Barack Obama to lift the embargo by means of an executive order. His brother Fidel was not far behind; On the eve of John Kerry’s visit to Cuba, Fidel Castro (who turned 89 on that day) suggested that the U.S. pay a substantial amount of money to Cuba. According to Fidel, the money would cover the damage caused by the embargo since 1962.

In his last State of the Union, Barack Obama spoke about the need to “extend hands to the Cuban people.” The promises and actions of the president could not have had a more opposite effect. Instead of extending hands to the Cuban people, Barack Obama has decided to help the communist dictators, ignoring the cries for freedom and justice from millions of Cubans. The actions of the U.S. with Cuba should have coincided with restoration of democracy. Since Cubans have received no free elections, fair treatment or freedom, the only people benefiting from the actions of the Obama administration are those leading the communist dictatorship.

The reopening of the U.S. embassy in Havana is a blow to those who advocate for democracy and human rights around the world. President Obama could not have chosen a better secretary of state to represent us in Havana than John Kerry.

In recent months, Kerry has negotiated on behalf of the Obama administration with two tyrannical regimes. One of them (Iran), continues to publicly declare “Death to America”… while developing nuclear weapons. The other (considered at this time the longest reigning dictatorship) is not willing to “move a millimeter” to change its communist and dictatorial regime in Cuba.

In a typical gesture of complacency, John Kerry said the following during the ceremony: “The new approach of Washington to Havana does not expect Cuba to be transformed soon.” In other words, despite multiple concessions by President Obama, the administration does not expect the Castro brothers to implement democratic changes in the near future. I am sure Kerry’s comments were well received by the Cuban communists.

Moreover, in an inexplicable act of indifference towards the Cuban people, the Obama administration decided not to include the voices of the public (the majority dissidents) in the reopening ceremony of the embassy. However, there was definitely enough space to invite private guests who stand against the embargo, like James Williams. According to Kerry, the space was limited and it was a meeting of “government to government”.

Barack Obama agreed and compromised with tyrants and ignored the real victims of communist oppression, the Cuban people. In fact, the president awarded the dictatorship of the Castro brothers and turned his back on the oppressed Cubans, just as he did previously with Iranians and Venezuelans.

The Obama administration must take into consideration one crucial factor: For millions of Cubans still subjugated under the boot of communism, the two most important words are: “CUBA LIBRE!”

Since the Cuban people do not enjoy a free and democratic system of government, the reopening of the U.S. embassy in Havana and the restoration of relations between the two countries do nothing for Cubans… except for those in the tight-knit circle of the Castro brothers.

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