Time to engage Cuba

Time to engage Cuba
Published: Friday, August 5, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

Cuba — a rigidly governed communist state — is changing more rapidly and
progressively than the United States' policy toward the Caribbean nation.

The signs of progress — including the Castro regime's plan to privatize
property this year — contrast with America's frozen-in-time economic
embargo and political isolation of Cuba.

The Foreign Affairs committee in the U.S. House recently attempted to
further entrench American policy by approving HR 2583. That resolution
calls on the Obama administration to reverse its modest move to allow
some American tourists — accompanied by federally licensed tour guides —
to legally travel to Cuba.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from South Florida and
chairwoman of the committee, contends that this authorization of limited
tourism to Cuba enriches and empowers the Castro regime.

American tourists do, indeed, spend money that winds up in the hands of
Cuba's government. But Cubans and their slowly expanding private sector
also stand to gain from the spending and personal exchanges.

"It is important that the U.S. strengthen pressure against the Cuban
regime," said Ros-Lehtinen.

The long-tough stance against Cuba and tight economic embargo have
failed to oust Fidel Castro and his family since 1959. The Cuban people
have suffered the most from the embargo and contributed to an
anti-American sentiment. Worse, the embargo has prevented Americans from
forming economic partnerships with Cubans, whose emigrants to the United
States have displayed a hearty entrepreneurial spirit.

As numerous media outlets have reported, Cuba — now led by President
Raul Castro, Fidel's brother — intends to begin selling state-owned
residential property to Cubans by the end of this year. The New York
Times reported this week that the government will likely place firm
restrictions on property purchases — for example, limiting Cubans to one
home or apartment and requiring full-time residency.

This change, according to many experts on Cuba, will be transformative.
The planned privatization of some property follows other changes in
Cuba, such as increases in self-employment and the legalization of
cell-phone ownership.

Cuba has a long way to go toward developing its economy and the rule of
law, and protecting human rights.

But it's also apparent that the Cuban government is taking steps that
Americans should encourage with policies that reward reform and progress.

Revoking the moderate tourism policy, as the House committee proposes,
would represent a punitive step backward by the United States.

A better approach toward Cuba would entail a gradual lifting of the
economic embargo and measured moves toward the establishment of normal
diplomatic relationships. If the liberalization of Cuba's
private-property laws moves forward, that development could be — and
should be — a trigger for easing the embargo and establishing political
ties. Benchmarks, including the protection of private assets, could be
created in order to promote additional progress.

There is work to do in Cuba: The supply of housing is inadequate; the
existing stock is deteriorated. With sufficient protocols in place,
these conditions could help generate jobs not only for Cubans but
Americans. China and Venezuela have already made substantial economic
and political investments in Cuba; the United States stands by.

What's more, there are common interests to pursue. For example,
Sarasota's Mote Marine Laboratory and Cuban scientists have identified
mutual interests in research aimed at protecting the waters shared by
the United States and Caribbean nations.

The United States should not change its hard-line policy to coddle the
Castros. America should change its policy because Cuba is changing.

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