Can we say with confidence that “Only President Obama could go to Cuba”?

2015-02-11T12:23:15-05:00

There's a political proverb stating, “Only Nixon would go to China”, meaning “only a politician or leader with an impeccable reputation of upholding particular political values could do an action in seeming defiance of them without jeopardizing his support or credibility”. (Wikipedia)

President Nixon was a hardliner when it came to dealing with the communists. No one would suspect him of coddling them by visiting China and opening formal relations, but he did. Even those who did not suspect that Nixon's intent was to leverage the Chinese against the Soviets never questioned his motives. They trusted him to be tough with communism, regardless of appearances.

Yes, you know where I'm going with this, don't you? Do we trust President Obama's motives in opening formal relations with Cuba? Can we say with equal confidence that “Only Obama could go to Cuba?”

Did President Obama jeopardize his support or credibility by defying his political values? Of course, to answer that question, we must first identify what his political values are.

President Obama is, if nothing else, consistent. He has given great latitude to other despotic regimes during his tenure in the White House. The Arab states have been especial beneficiaries of his acts of appeasement and forbearance. Only Israel has felt the sting of the President's displeasure during these past six years.

Now Castro is vindicated. Despite the constant litany of human rights violations, he has won his battle with the United States. President Obama blinked.

Strangely, as I researched Cuba and Castro prior to writing my first novel, Rebels on the Mountain, I found Fidel to be a heroic character. (Anyone interested can see summaries of my research in a series of blog postings at http://www.jackdurish.com/4/category/cuba/1.html) It was only after he drove Batista from the island nation and rose to power that he morphed into a tyrant. Ultimately, I appended a final chapter, a postscript to my novel, wherein one of the principal characters returns to Cuba to witness the ravages of his rule. Otherwise, readers might be left with a false impression that I admired Castro.

In 1953, Fidel Castro was on trial for leading an attack on the Cuban Army barracks at Moncada. He made a four hour speech in his defense and concluded that while the court might convict him, “history will absolve me.” Is President Obama speaking for history, for all of us, or just himself?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 11 at 2015 5:24 PM

2015-02-11T17:24:06-05:00

I would love to go there to see the cars from the 50 up close and personal. I mean we have car fanatics here but to see these cars running everyday and not just in a car show or parade would be awesome. How I digress from the topic he could go and it will not help as mentioned he has irritated the Cuban-American community which recently were saying toward the Democrats. This agreement may say that vote or may not.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Feb 11 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-02-11T17:31:28-05:00

Obama took 50 years of US position and flushed them. He is wiser than all of his predecessors on Cuba or so he thinks. He said our policy wasn't working. I would say it was. Cuba was stagnant, not developing as other countries in the region, they were isolated living next door to the largest economy in the world. I would say the isolation was working.

Obama's motives are only known by him. I think this is another example of him trying to create a legacy for himself. "Obama ends the Cuba Embargo". He will only help to prop up the Castro's and the next dictator. We gave and got really no commitments on freedom for the people of Cuba. Another profile in lack of courage.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Feb 11 at 2015 6:43 PM

2015-02-11T18:43:23-05:00

Maybe he will go to GITMO and spend the next ten years there. LOL

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 7:02 PM

2015-02-11T19:02:13-05:00

It was Nixon's hard line against communism that enabled him to actually go to China and negotiate with communists. I don't see Obama as having taken a particularly hard or soft line against Cuba, so from my perspective at least... the parallel falls flat.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Feb 11 at 2015 9:52 PM

2015-02-11T21:52:41-05:00

Absolutely, I can even recommend a room at Gitmo for him!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 11 at 2015 10:00 PM

2015-02-11T22:00:08-05:00

When I attended SGM Academy I had to write a paper on, "Should the U.S. continue economic sanctions against Cuba?" I had to write the up side and down side, then I had to include my own opinion.

My opinion was, "Why do we have sanctions against Cuba when we have just granted China - Most Favored Trade Status" Both countries had abused human rights, both were commie yet we were bending over backwards to get on the good side of China. My conclusion was - money! Cuba had nothing to offer as far as funding our debt.

I received my 1059, so I guess I passed the course.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Mar 12 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-03-12T11:09:02-04:00

Sir, while I think we share many interests, opinions and beliefs, I think there have been many leaders who could have, and would have blinked, if given the chance. I think if we look at what happens to people under Communist rule, who see what the 'terrible' West has, it only hastens the collapse of their flawed system, and is probably why North Korea does not allow it people to know what the World really does looks like.

A friend of mine, married a Russian. There first time at a grocery store, she wanted to buy all the oranges on display. When they got home, she made herself sick eating oranges because she wanted to rush back and buy more oranges...because they would be gone. This was at least two decades ago...when was the last time we did not have oranges at the grocery store...or any other fruit.
I remember a similar story about a high ranking officer in the GRU going to a grocery store in New York and finding its shelves filled...but he realized it was close to the UN and it MUST be a decoy. A store that was always full so that foreign visitor thought Americans had access to all this food. Later, he was on a mission in PA and went into a grocery store there. He realized the Soviet Union could not win. That was in the 1950s. He looked around the store and decided to defect...a leader in there intelligence apparatus, and he was defeated by our grocery stores.

And directly to the question of Cuba, when are we...everyday citizens...going to start being able travel to Cuba! Get there early, before other Americans ruin it and it will drive down the prices in other tourist locations in the surrounding region.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jul 4 at 2015 11:08 PM

2015-07-04T23:08:04-04:00

I think he should go and stay there.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Sep 16 at 2015 1:58 PM

2015-09-16T13:58:46-04:00

We can say that with Confidence! And for so many Reasons! I hate to throw RACE into this! But the Black man has been the most FEARED man not only in America but around the World! But he is more loved around the World than he is on his Homeland! I have to admit that and confess it!

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 16 at 2015 2:03 PM

2015-09-16T14:03:58-04:00

No! Any other president could have done it if they wanted to move in that direction. It's not an "Obama" thing.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 16 at 2015 2:26 PM

2015-09-16T14:26:06-04:00

As critical as I am of this administration, this was the right thing to do. Inside of a decade, the capitalism will end the Castro regime. Absolutely nothing was accomplished as a result of this embargo/sanction of Cuba except the people were hurt. And yet they still want to come here.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Sep 16 at 2015 3:27 PM

2015-09-16T15:27:02-04:00

Sir, the reason why "Only Nixon can go to China" rings true is because Nixon was an ardent opponent to Communism. Therefore, Nixon could go to China without appearing that he was appeasing the Communists. That does not correlate to Obama going to Cuba.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Oct 28 at 2015 11:10 PM

2015-10-28T23:10:40-04:00

Would be nice if they kept him but the Cubans know what kind of leader Obama is [NOT!]. Guarantee you if they had him, it wouldn't be long before they had enough of him and put him on a leaky boat and pointed it toward Florida. Would be a real shame if it didn't make it.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Oct 28 at 2015 11:40 PM

2015-10-28T23:40:35-04:00

Nixon accomplished something. Opening up China. What did Obama do nothing. The Castro brothers are still in charge. I think Kerry got a Che Guevara t shirt.

Response by PO2 John Zodun made May 31 at 2019 2:18 AM

2019-05-31T02:18:20-04:00

I truly believe he was specking for both