A Cuban Connection?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-sun-cuba-travel-orbitzmay10,0,948920.story

Curious Cuba Confusion

Hi, remember me? Well, my first quarter resolution hasn't been going too well, but I've also had a new kink in my blogging schedule. That would be the non napping Realpolitik toddler. Yes, it's true, my days of quiet nap filled afternoons might be coming to an end very soon but in the mean time onward to the blog of the day.

A few days ago I heard on NPR - about my only source for news anymore. That Raul Castro commented that maybe the Cuban government may have said and done some things in the past that could have hurt Cuban-American relations. I am glad to see the Obama administration take some steps to ease some of the tensions that exist while also relaxing some of the restrictions on Cuban living in the U.S. traveling to Cuba and how much money can be sent to relatives who still live on the island.

My confusion and I guess surprise is Raul's comment. His brother, Fidel, who had been in power for over 5 decades and has only criticized the United States from its policies to its leaders and everything in between. I never thought I might see the day that a Castro, especially while Fidel is still alive, might say that maybe the leadership has been wrong in their actions all these years. I am not sure where this change of heart has come from but I do believe that it is sincere. It might be that everyone has little warm fuzzies for our President Obama - which we saw during the G-20 summit - or maybe it Fidel's ailing years he has seen how both sides have erred in their relations with one another. Whatever the case may be I think how the United States government and the Cuban government proceed may bring some new policies towards Cuba. We may not be ready yet to repeal the embargo until the Castro government, be it Fidel or Raul, are completely gone, but I do think this is a situation has a positive conclusion in I hope the next several years.

Red Slip? Baby

Well, sort of. After starting the coffeemaker and giving politk baby his milk and graham cracker, I flipped on the news, primarily to see if the weather would be bearable to go outside, but also to see how Wisconsin was gearing up today. And there in front of me, for all to see was the announcement that Fidel Castro was officially stepping down. Wow! Wowwy, Wow, Wow.

To say that I was surprised is a bit of an understatement. I have always found Cuba, Castro and the Cuban embargo very interesting, in fact my Master's thesis was a comparison of Reagan, Bush I and the Clinton administration's policies against Cuba and their implantation or lack there of the Cuban embargo. Through the process, I was able to meet with several people who worked on Cuba specifically in each administration along with many policy analysts to get their take on Cuba, Castro, and the next step for Cuba after Castro. The one thing that surprises me is that Castro is still alive, or at least that is what we are led to believe, and has stepped down. This was something that wasn't even an option for anyone I spoke to during my research. This is a man who has out lasted 10 US Presidents, the fall of the Soviet Union, many many assassination attempts, and his illness for the past year. Everyone, even myself, thought the end of Castro as Commandant of Cuba would end with his death, but should anything that Castro does surprise you.

Now, let’s see what Raul can do, as the official “heir” to Cuba and how he will continue the Castro reign in Cuba. My wager is, until his brother dies he will stay with the status quo, then all bets are off!