by Lesley Mason

Created on: December 14, 2007

Do you want to look at that question again, and just think about what it means? Go on. Take a moment. The United States of America, bastion of the free world, the single remaining global super-power, advocate of free trade, the one country on the planet that has the "right to the pursuit of happiness" actually written into its constitution prohibits its citizens from taking a holiday on the most economically disadvantaged island in the Caribbean.

Is there something wrong with that notion?

We'll ignore for the present that the same United States is using its own land-holding on the island for purposes which the international community view with some, shall we say, concern'.

Let's stick to tourism.

Why are Americans not allowed to visit? Well, technically, it comes under the Trading With the Enemy" act signed by J F Kennedy during the Bay of Pigs crisis some 40-odd years ago. It's rumoured that Kennedy secured a sizeable stash of his favourite Havana cigars, immediately before signing that act but really, half a century on, that has to be about as relevant as the Act itself.

Sitting in Europe, I suspect my forebears were as terrified as anyone else over the Bay of Pigs. So far as facts are within the public domain, that is as close as the then superpowers ever came to World War Three and almost certain nuclear engagement. It is easy to see why the decisions were taken.

But let's get real. That was a long time ago.and the real enemy was never Cuba. It was the Soviet Union. There are strong arguments to suggest that Fidel Castro was never a huge fan of Soviet style communism, and was only driven into the arms of the Russians by the actions of the west. Be that as it may. The domino effect' may (or may not) have been a real threat.

Then.

What about now? How many truly communist countries are there left on the planet? How close are their connections? Sorry Fidel, but just exactly WHAT influence does America think Cuba has on the world stage in 2007?

Trading with the enemy?
!

Just to put this in its proper context: one of the remaining soi-disant Communist countries is China. Is there not something awry with the U.S. granting most favoured nation' trading status to China, whilst still holding Cuba to be the enemy'? Or am I missing something?

There really is no case to answer: of course U.S. citizens should have the freedom they have in respect of China, Russia, Bengal, and any other communist arena on the planetto visit, to witness, to learn, and to make up their own minds.

~

Any

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