The end of history (?)Reading Castro's political obituary, there is little to mourn. He replaced the brutish Batista regime with another jackboot, concealing his iron fist in the velvet glove of socialism - the very definition of "fascism with a human face." Doubtlessly he did much to improve the economic plight of a great many Cubans who suffered under the yoke of an unmitigated feudal capitalism; his rise should remain a cautionary tale to those who continue to shred the social safety net and explode the distance between the wealthiest and poorest. However, the price for these modest gains was systematic repression, political imprisonment, and death - meet the new boss, same as the old boss. He should not be missed.
In the wake of Castro's resignation announcement, President Bush announced that "the United States will help the Cuban people realize the blessings of liberty," calling for free and fair elections ahead of next week's critical National Assembly meeting - a gathering that will ostensibly produce, or at least validate, Castro's successor. A good first step in this direction might be to end the failed sanctions that have been in place for four decades, depriving the Cuban people of economic opportunity and a direct connection to the United States. Opening this potent avenue of exchange would undoubtedly be the most effective method of exposing Cubans to those "blessings of liberty" the president spoke of. The Cold War has been over for almost two decades now, and as another one of its relics is packed away in mothballs, perhaps it's time for America to realize that, yes, we actually did win, and move on.
