US to end embargo against Cuba?

Two major political events have coincided at the start of 2009: the inauguration of the first Afro-American US President and the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution. It has led to speculation that the Obama administration will end some of the worst aspects of the US embargo against Cuba.

A character assassination of Fidel Castro in the Sunday Times on the weekend reminded me of how much the capitalist establishment hates Cuba and its socialism. The article was an appalling excuse for journalism relying on one disgruntled person's account of a man who overthrew a fascist American-backed dictator Batista and showed the world that we can have a system of government that puts people before profit. That socialism can produce a sustainable, healthy, educated and prosperous way of life. Don't be fooled by all talk in the established press, the reason so many in the capitalist establishment hate Cuba with a passion is because it's a success.

They complain that Cuba is not a democracy, complaints you didn't hear when the island was a US-backed dictatorship which let the mafia have a monopoly over major industries on the island.

The country is liberal, educated and healthy. It has one of the best health and education systems in the world with long life expectancies. Yet they have rejected capitalism: the one thing the US establishment can't stand. They only care about democracy when they can use it to buy elections for the capitalist party they want to win.

Now sources inside the Obama administration are talking about reducing some of the harshest aspects of the US embargo against Cuba. It would be a welcome step as long as it isn't an underhand attempt to bringing to an end a political and economic system that should be admired around the world.