[Peace-discuss] Admin's real position on Cuba

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Doesn't this look like the usual, predictable Obama: fake left, go right?]

	Hopes dim for US-Cuba thaw
	by Marc Burleigh – Mon Apr 20, 4:01 am ET

PORT OF SPAIN (AFP) – President Barack Obama dampened hopes of a quick end to a 
long-standing US trade embargo on Cuba as Havana's exclusion from a regional 
summit scuppered agreement on a joint declaration.
Although Obama made the historic acknowledgement that Washington's half-century 
policy towards Cuba "hasn't worked," he told the Americas summit in Trinidad and 
Tobago on Sunday that it would not be modified any time soon and urged Cuba to 
give its people more freedoms.
"We're not going to change that policy overnight," Obama told a news conference 
at the end of the gathering, which brought together 34 heads of state.
"Issues of political prisoners, freedom of speech and democracy are important, 
and can't simply be brushed aside," Obama said.
Those remarks doused hopes built up last week that led many to believe 
Washington and Havana might be on course to negotiate an end to the 47-year-old 
US embargo on Cuba.
Optimism was stoked when Obama lifted curbs on Cuban-Americans visiting and 
sending money to Cuba.
It took on momentum when Cuban President Raul Castro said he was willing to talk 
to the US about "everything" -- including the previously off-limits topics of 
political prisoners, freedom of the press and human rights.
But by the end of the summit, Obama and his administration were cautioning that 
any further US compromises would only follow concrete signs from Cuba that it 
was serious in engaging them.
"The test for all of us is not simply words, but also deeds," Obama said.
The summit itself became a showcase for Obama's popularity with leaders who have 
previously been cool towards the US, including Venezuela's President Hugo 
Chavez, jockeying to be captured in photos with the US president.
But Obama's charm offensive was not enough to persuade all the leaders to put 
their names to a final joint declaration, with several sticking to an earlier 
vow that they would not endorse the document in solidarity with Cuba, which was 
excluded from the meeting.
Several nations, including Bolivia, Venezuela, Honduras and Nicaragua, agreed 
ahead of time not to sign the final declaration to show displeasure that Cuba 
was not invited to the summit.
The gesture also was taken to protest Havana's continued exclusion from 
hemispheric groups like the Organization of American States, from which Cuba was 
barred in 1962 at Washington's insistence.
While Obama did attract some criticism back home for shaking hands with Chavez 
and accepting a book from him as a gift, he made clear that -- as with Cuba -- 
major obstacles remained towards better ties despite "positive signs".
"I have great differences with Hugo Chavez on matters of economic policy and 
matters of foreign policy," Obama said.
"There have been instances in which we've seen Venezuela interfere with some of 
the countries that surround Venezuela in ways that I think are a source of 
concern," he added.
Almost all the leaders said Obama was a genial, open counterpart who seemed 
genuine in wanting to open a "new era" with them based on standing toe-to-toe.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Obama was helping build "a 
new dynamic" in the region.
But a few others were more skeptical.
"He is the chief of an empire hemmed in by its own rules who will never change," 
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said.
The United States and other countries in the Americas are to consider the Cuba 
issue again June 2-3 in Honduras, when the Organization of American States will 
mull dropping a 1962 resolution barring the island from the group.
Although the final declaration document lacked the signatures of several 
leaders, those who did sign agreed to combat "all forms of organized crime".
The language was pushed by Mexico where more than 7,000 people have been killed 
since the beginning of last year in clashes between Mexican drug cartels and 
security forces.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090420/pl_afp/americassummittrinidad_20090420080215