Has Hillary Won or Lost on Cuba?

The small nation of Cuba carries a weight in the politics of this hemisphere that is out of proportion to its size and power. Ironically, by trying to isolate the Communist island, we've given it more influence than it otherwise would have on its own. It's like the pebble in your sandal. So I'm very curious to see how the Obama administration will change things, if at all.

But things ARE changing. The Organization of American States voted to allow Cuba to rejoin after roughly 50 years--and they broke with the U.S. Or did they? Cuba can rejoin with preconditions; the nation must improve on human rights and other issues. Hillary Clinton says this is a good compromise. Her critics, and those of Obama, however, are already calling this a defeat for the new administration, saying Clinton should have bullied the other OAS countries into keeping Cuba out. Most of the OAS members seem fed up with U.S. policy and posturing toward Cuba.

But I wonder if Clinton and Obama let this happen. Cuba obviously needs to improve human rights, and yet we didn't bully our way to keep the country out of OAS. By reversing this 50-year-old ban, we let other OAS members have a say. We're showing that we're willing to have a "new beginning," as Obama has said. We're taking steps toward Cuba, and now we're waiting to see what it will offer in return. Which is all smart and reasonable, I think.

Of course, the U.S. provides about 60% of OAS funding, and some rabid anti-Communist members of Congress are already threatening to pull funding if Cuba rejoins. Which is funny--because Cuba has basically said, "Thanks, but fuck you." Cuba doesn't even WANT to rejoin!

And around and around we go...