I have to admit, as per usual with Obama, the Cuban diplomatic situation is moving much faster than I expected it to. I said to my wife tonight: "In his spare time, while he was looking for lost change in the couch cushions, President Obama solved the Cuban crisis, and ended the Cold War once and for all."

The speed of these things happening is beginning to make me dizzy, I have to admit. This is the most stunning example of a politician actually doing things that I think I have ever seen in my entire lifetime. I may not agree with all of them, but you have to admit the pace is just breathless...

-CW

Apparently, Barack Obama was paying attention during the same classes, because a new peace initiative with Cuba happened more quickly than a new offensive on drugs, terror, or any other thing that's not a country.

Peace with Cuba opens up the entire Caribbean market. It means Chavez can have his new start. South American leftists won't have this canard to throw around anymore, but they'll be empowered by Obama's example.

Bush's geopolitical mistakes threatened our relationship to an entire continent. Obama's showing them he's serious about a new American approach -- and they WILL respond. They need us. Regional problems like drugs and conflict can't be solved until that happens.

On the state secrets issue...I've learned my lesson and you won't see me criticizing how Obama/Biden handle this one until I am armed with ALL the facts and they are clearly not doing their jobs!

Let's just say that I don't aniticipate their performance on this issue as requiring anything but a lot of praise!

When I thought about writing this article, I wasn't even going to mention the media. But then I read that NYT article this morning, and it just pushed my buttons. I have to give credit to Dan Froomkin's blog at the Washington Post, as he was the one who actually pointed out (with link, thanks Dan!) the speech Obama gave in Miami. I went and read the whole speech, and was impressed at how reasonable and well-thought out it was.

There's a feeling among liberals (I am susceptible to it to, I admit) that for the first time in a very, very long time that we have not just won an election, but in circumstances that will actually allow us to get a lot of things done. This leads to anxiousness and impatience because we'd all like our pet policies to be implemented overnight. Like I said, I've been swept up in these feelings myself at times over the last few months.

But some things need some patience, and some trust that Obama means it when he talks about how hard it is to turn the ship of state (his "it's not a speedboat" metaphor) -- that some times it takes a while to accomplish.

Some things need patience for different reasons. Some things are politically foolish to try right away, before you've got some solid victories under your belt. So far, Obama's been doing a pretty good job, although he does worry me on the state secrets front at times.

But I think he's smart to be an incrementalist on Cuba, for now. There are many small changes which could happen over time which will each make headlines when they happen -- as with the loosening of travel restrictions today. I think he's holding out on lifting the embargo because he wants to use it as a bargaining chip with whomever replaces Raul Castro (who is no spring chicken himself). One thing I didn't mention, this is all timed very nicely to take place just before a meeting of the OAS, and could actually lead to some region-wide diplomatic changes. Also, I can't but help think that Obama is using this as a test case with the Miami Cubans (astonishingly enough, CANF actually is supporting Obama on the issue).

You've got to understand, too, that Americans think Cuba is isolated from the entire world. They have no idea that Europeans vacation there (and probably a Canadian or two) just as they do on any other Caribbean island. The embargo is solely an American product, which as I said, we just don't realize here because we don't see it from the outside looking in.

I personally am offended that my government denies me the right to travel to a country that is not dangerous or war-torn, but because of the ideas I might get from it. That has always offended me, and I want to see the embargo end as much as the next guy. But the vitriol this issue raises (in Florida especially) among some means that on this one, I'm actually OK with Obama going a little slowly, because I think he actually has a good shot at changing it completely within the next few years. He's heading in the right direction, in other words, so I am willing to wait to see how the path develops.

Osborne Ink -

Including the War on Drugs? Wow, that's really saying something! Actually, that's an interesting comment because of what is coming tomorrow, when I give what I believe is my first movie review (before it even opens!). I would encourage you not to miss it.

-CW

The Cuban sanctions regime is a perfect example of how bad policies can become untouchable. After almost fifty years of failure, the Cuba Libre lobby is still convinced that more sanctions will do the trick. All this policy has managed to do is make Cubans depend on Castro even more. It's the most self-defeating policy in our hemisphere, including the War on Drugs.

Once again, as per usual, you are the voice of reason and wisdom on what can be a pretty passionate issue.

I must admit that, in a particularly snitty mood, I posted something that put me in the same category as this New York Times article - I criticized Obama/Biden for doing precisely what Obama said he would do. Did I expect Cuba policy to make a 180 degree turn on a dime, overnight!? I can be such an idiot! And, wouldn't you know it...the damned post got a token of praise from the site and I'm thinking, if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.

Do you remember the speech Biden gave just before the election (the one the media mischaracterized as the 'Obama will be tested' speech) when he implored Obama's biggest donors and supporters to stand with Obama/Biden on the various foreign policy challenges they will face even when the administration's decisions may not, at first glance, appear to be the right decisions etc. etc. etc. ... well, it seems I need reminding about that, too.

Anyway, this was an excellent post and a much needed reminder, for me, that the last two people on earth that I should be second guessing on issues like this are Obama/Biden.