ISSUE: Fidel and Cuba

OUR VIEW: Time for change in approach to Cuba

Fidel Castro's life is the material of legend, and while to Americans he is a figure often disdained, it's not surprising he enjoys considerable admiration worldwide.

It's much the David-and-Goliath analogy. Castro came to power in 1959 by toppling a U.S.-backed government in Cuba. He has been in charge ever since, outlasting nine U.S. administrations and retiring as Cuban president even as the 10th U.S. president of Castro's time is preparing to exit.

Castro led Cuba in the face of a U.S. boycott of the island off the Florida coast. He allied himself with the Soviets in the heat of the Cold War. He fomented communist-style revolution in the Western Hemisphere, battling directly and indirectly against U.S. and U.S.-backed forces. He sent troops to Africa to battle U.S.-backed regimes and would-be regimes. He survived even as communism crumbled.

The story goes on, with Castro looked to by leftist leaders in the Western Hemisphere as a hero -- not nearly as much for his policies and Cuban model as for Castro bucking the United States at every turn.

Let's face it, as much as the United States has done to aid the Western Hemisphere's nations and others worldwide, this nation is looked at as a superpower capable of dictating what it wants and getting it. That's not the typical recipe for popularity.

Castro with his own people and others has known how to cook up resistance to the United States and U.S. interests, which leaves the Bush administration and Americans less than thrilled about Castro promising still to remain an influence as he turns over power to his brother.

The time has come to change the U.S. approach to Cuba. Change is coming to the island as Castro s.jpg aside. His brother is of the age to only be a leader for a comparatively short time.

The U.S. embargo has long since outlived its usefulness and should be ended strategically. Continued U.S. hostility toward Cuba only strengthens Castro -- making it more likely his influence will continue long after he is gone.

You must be logged in to comment.