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NEWS
HOPE FOR
CUBA
December 23, 2007 -- Was ailing
Cuban dictator Fidel Castro sending his countrymen - and the world - an
early Christmas present last week by hinting that his nearly
half-century of brutal one-man rule may soon be coming to an end?
We can only hope.
Experts were divided on the significance of the open letter to the Cuban
people read over state-run TV in which Castro - now unseen in public for
16 months - declared: “My elemental duty is not to hold on to positions
and . . . obstruct the path of younger people."
At the same time, though, he hailed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemayer,
who is still actively working at age 100.
The White House called it “interesting," but added: “It's hard to make
out what he is saying or what he means - which is not unusual." Yet
Brian Latell, a former CIA Cuba expert, told The Washington Post that
Castro's message “is really historic."
But even Castro's departure is unlikely to trigger a sudden change in
the country's fortunes: As he prepared to undergo a still-unexplained
surgery last year, the Cuban strongman “temporarily" turned over the
reins of power to his similarly dictatorial brother, Raul.
Yet there's little doubt that, given a true electoral choice, most
Cubans would pick freedom. Indeed, many already have - by risking their
lives and fleeing their homes to make a new life in America.
Thus, the Bush folks - and whoever follows them at the White House -
must be prepared to offer genuine incentives for Cuba to embrace
democracy, even beyond an end to sanctions.
Meanwhile, if Castro's willing to step down voluntarily and ensure a
peaceful transition, all the better.
It may still be too soon for the celebrations to begin in Miami's Little
Havana. But change surely is on the horizon - and, with luck, Cuba's
nearly half-century nightmare may soon be at an end.
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