BBC (March 27): EU 'optimistic' after Cuba visit

EDITED for typing

From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday March 27

EU 'optimistic' after Cuba visit
By Stephen Gibbs
BBC News, Havana

EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel has ended a visit to Cuba, optimistic that relations with the communist state will strengthen.

The EU is Cuba's largest trading partner, but diplomatic relations have been frozen for almost two years.

Europe has criticised Cuba over its imprisonment of 75 dissidents and execution of three hijackers.

Earlier this year, Europe decided temporarily to lift its diplomatic sanctions for a six-month trial period.

Read more.

When I was a youngster, the debate was over whether the US should throw in the towel and recognize Red China. We are now looking every bit as ridiculous over Cuba.

I believe China has been known to execute people too.
And imprison "dissidents", when they don't kill them.

He may have been the best Cuban leader available, but far from the best one imaginable.

We don't know what course Cuba will take once Castro passes on, but until then it's socialismo o muerte. He's on his last legs and can't last much longer? Every president starting with Ike has said that. The US has been undermining him so long that it's help to make him, if I am not mistaken, the world's senior head of state.

When de Gaulle's France recognized Red China in 1964, it was a signal that the west was giving up on the absurd US assertion that only the peanut Chiang spoke for China. Today, China is an economic power with an abysmal human rights record. That the reality is unpleasant is no reason not to pretend it isn't there.

That kind of reasoning is probably too reality-based for some world leaders who shall go unnamed.

Deification is probably excessive, but since we will never see
what he might have done in a less hostile environment, and since
it does seem clear that he has not run the place as kleptocracy,
I think it's fair to allow the Cuban people to judge for themselves,
and their judgement seems clear enough.