Quote of the Day
Vietnam teaches several lessons, the first of which is that the United States can have normal relations with countries whose political systems and ideologies it rejects. That is as true of Cuba and Iran today as it was of Vietnam or China.
Tags: Cuba, Iraq, President Obama
I really don’t understand the U.S. Cuba policy at all. It’s been, what, 50 years? Our policy has not done one thing to change the government in Cuba. Why do we keep following this failed policy? It makes absolutely no sense at all to me. Our policy is controlled by a small group of really outspoken people, and that pisses me off.
The Iran policy is different. We certainly had reasons in the recent past to sever relations with Iran, but it makes no sense now. The Bush-style of diplomacy was “do nothing and hope that they see things your way” has been a disaster. We need Iran’s help with Iraq, since we made Iran the strongest country in that region. And Iran probably needs us as well, because they don’t want to have to deal with the mess we made either. In that circumstance, not having talks is absurdly stupid (but that is Bush for you).
I hope this new administration sees the world as it is, and not just how it wants it to be.