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Saturday, November 10, 2012

Obama’s Second Chance

Obama's Second Chance / Reinaldo Escobar
Reinaldo Escobar, Translator: Unstated

Note: This article was originally published on election day in the U.S.,
before the polls closed.

Four years ago a good number of Cubans conceived the hope that President
Barack Obama would introduce into the foreign policy of the United
States changes that would lead to an improvement in relations with Cuba.
Among the most significant points was the reduction or elimination of
the embargo/blockade, the relaxation of travel and remittances to Cuba,
and the closure of the prison at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

"Unfortunately" Obama has not been the dictator of the United States,
but just a president who must abide by the democratic system that the
Americans have built over more than two centuries. Nevertheless, he
eliminated restrictions put into place by his predecessor, Bush,
relating to Cuban-Americans and the sending of remittances. More
Americans can travel to the Island at this time, but the persecution of
companies that trade with Cuba continued, and the Guantanamo prison
continued to operate as before. We can always ask ourselves would the
situation have been if, in the 2008 election, the winner had been the
Republican McCain.

In parallel, the four years of the Obama administration coincided with
the "Raul reforms," in which, as expected, the same level of
anti-imperialist belligerence has been maintained, combined with the
assertion that the table is set for discussions with our northern
neighbor, if and when they are carried out in conditions of full
equality. Throughout this entire time the approach offered by the Cuban
media — the private property of the Communist Party — has focused on
demonstrating that the "black president," has he has repeatedly been
called by Fidel Castro, has been more of the same and even worse in some
respects.

With less than a week before we will know the results of the election,
the Cuban Foreign Ministry (MINREX) issued a Statement in which it
reacts with considerable irritation to some courses offered by the
United States Interests Section in Havana and the establishment of
centers where Cubans can connect to the Internet. The term "illegal"
appears five times in the text that contains the assertion that "the
current government of the United States has no real desire to leave
behind the worse policies and practices and of the Cold War…"

Some say this statement could be the harbinger of a new wave of
repression against dissidents. Others are suggesting that it simply
sends a message to Obama, should he be reelected, or to Romney if he
turns out to be the winner. In a few hours we will know if there will be
change or continuity in the United States. I have the impression that
there is less optimism about what Obama will do if he is reelected, and
a great expectations about what Romney might do if he carried out his
threats. What is significant is that this country, which has spent half
a century demonstrating how it has broken all dependence on its powerful
neighbor, continues to depend on what is legislated in the USA to
determine how it will repress its opponents and even how far it will
relax its travel and immigration policies, to cite only two examples.

I fear that, whoever wins, it will be on this side where we will
continue to have more of the same.

5 November 2012

http://translatingcuba.com/obamas-second-chance-reinaldo-escobar/

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