• Submitted by: manso
• Politics and Government
• 04 / 03 / 2011

---

3 April 2011, Cuba has been an issue of US conscience. Washington’s desire to see democracy take roots in its backyard communist nation-state had come at a cost for the islanders. Trade and travel embargoes, coupled with political discord of the highest order, had only bred discontent.

This is what former US president and mentor of human rights doctrine Jimmy Carter said when he toured Cuba. He said the decades-long trade embargo and travel ban have damaged the Cuban people and hindered rather than help reform. Irrespective of the fact that both the houses of US legislators have some promising voices that had advocated opening up with Cuba and walking an extra mile, the ultra-conservatives had held the fort. This brinkmanship in the highest echelons of power had pushed them at the verge of a deadly missile crisis, bringing Soviet artillery knocking at the doors of the United States.

Both the countries are in need of political peace and that can only be achieved when the fear of the unknown is done away with. The US State Department can make a decent beginning by taking off Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Marginalising a neighbour that has so much in common in the realms of culture, history and faith is unwarranted. Carter’s soft words for Cuba can make a good beginning. It’s time for Obama to heed to them.

Source: www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/editorial/2011/Apri...