Brief editorial comment: Relations with Cuba

<p class="p1">On Dec. 17, President Barack Obama announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations and easing of economic and travel restrictions on Cuba, declaring an end to America's "outdated approach" to the communist island. The historic shift was aimed at ending a half century of Cold War acrimony.</p><p class="p1">I was a guest of Fidel Castro and his government in 1999 and spent a week, with 25 fellow journalists, touring Cuba and listening to Castro's philosophy and how the United States had wronged his small nation.</p><p class="p1">Where was the negotiation? There has been no mention of restoring freedom of speech or religion to the people of Cuba. It almost appears as a "money grab" to open a market for agricultural products and tourism which benefit few. </p><p class="p1">The current generations of the Cuban population do not like the United States because of the embargo. They will see little, if any, benefit from the president's decision. Cuba is a communist dictatorship. Fidel and his brother Raul have not suffered since the 1958 overthrow of the previous dictatorship government.</p><p class="p1">If it is the president's hope to make the world a better place for all, Cuba needs to change the way it governs; i.e., stop killing people because of their political views, stop imprisoning people unlawfully, allow free speech and religion and show signs of movement to a democracy.</p><p class="p1">Don't expect Cuba to be your next vacation getaway. For now, it is unsafe. </p>