Obama showed courage in his stand on Cuba

In the 54 years since the first Cuban trade embargo was instituted during the Eisenhower administration, 10 American presidents have presided over our horribly failed policy toward the tiny island nation.

Not one of the nine presidents before Barack Obama had the will or the courage to take the necessary steps to mend relations with the communist country just 90 miles from U.S. soil, run by the infamous revolutionary and dictator Fidel Castro with the help of his brother and now president, Raul.

Not John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton nor George W. Bush.

Although there were hints of possible change — minor overtures — by Carter and Clinton, all of these powerful American leaders did nothing because they were too intimidated by the once-powerful Cuban exile community in Florida, a state that is a highly coveted electoral prize every four years.

So, rather than working to restore diplomatic and economic relationships with Cuba, our presidents sat waiting for the Castro brothers to die, for a revolt by the Cuban people or for the Latin nation to collapse under the crush of American economic sanctions.

For more than five decades, none of those scenarios occurred, although there were unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro and, of course, a failed invasion at the Bay of Pigs.

Then last week, Obama, in a bold move, announced that the U.S. was re-engaging with Cuba to restore diplomatic relations and remove many of the restrictions on travel, financial transactions and imports/exports.

That announcement came with news that the White House had made a prisoner exchange with the Cuban government and that the communist nation had released for humanitarian reasons an American captive, Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned there for five years.

My only complaint with Obama’s actions is that they did not come earlier in his administration. After all, he promised improved relations with Cuba during his 2008 run for the presidency.

The White House says Gross’ capture in 2009 was a major impediment to the president proceeding with his plans to normalize relations. With that issue resolved, Obama felt comfortable moving forward with administrative actions that will benefit both countries, most especially the 11 million Cubans who have lived under a repressive regime.

Many in Congress predictably have criticized Obama’s decision and have vowed to fight it. Some say they will not approve appropriations for an embassy in Havana or confirm an American ambassador to Cuba.

During a press conference Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest noted the support of Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona. He quoted Flake:

“I’ve been in Congress, in the House and Senate, for 14 years now. All 14 of those years, I pushed to lift the travel ban and normalize relations. I think our policy has done more to keep the Castros in power than anything, so it’s high time for a change — 50 years is long enough.”

High time indeed.

Other than to hold a grudge against the Castros, to show defiance of Obama or to avoid admitting having supported a failed policy, it’s hard for me to understand why any lawmaker would be against a chance to repair the split between our two countries.

In addition to restoring respect for America among its Latin American neighbors, this move would be an economic boost for Cuba and many U.S. industries. The American Farm Bureau and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which are on board, would not support it otherwise.

Flake is right, 50 years is long enough.

This story was originally published December 19, 2014 at 7:25 PM with the headline "Obama showed courage in his stand on Cuba."