Cuba and the OAS
Welcome back to the Organization of American States, Cuba! Quite a lot has happened over the past forty years. In particular, the OAS has taken the following positive steps toward accomplishing our key objectives:
1) agreed to maintain an ongoing dialogue about issues of vital importance to the region;
2) drafted several memoranda outlining plans for mutually beneficial investments;
3) met regularly to review past understandings and enjoy fruity tropical drinks;
4) engaged in shouting matches, usually pitting the US against everyone else or the US and Canada against everyone else;
5) fought wars with each other in central America, and
6) moderately prepared ourselves for the challenges that lie ahead.
Pushing Democracy
We’ve seen several peaceful transfers of power from one political party to another in Latin America over the past few years. Cuban citizens will hear about vibrant democracies in OAS nations like El Salvador, Bolivia and Paraguay and wonder why they can’t similarly participate in their own government. And the Castro’s will find it increasingly difficult to blame the US for all of Cuba’s shortcomings.
Harleys in Havana
Thousands of Harley Davidson motorcycles were sold in Cuba during the Batista years and the bikes are still quite popular on the streets of Havana. However Cuban Harley enthusiasts can’t buy spare parts directly from the manufacturer. The trade embargo with Cuba deprives Harley Davidson and other US companies of a potentially lucrative source of revenue. Lifting the embargo would boost both the US and Cuban economies.
The US and Cuba have many differences, but the trade embargo no longer makes any sense. The Cold War is over and Cuba’s government hasn’t changed. But while the US trades extensively with socialist China, it still shuns socialist Cuba.
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