Tue, Dec 30, 2014 10:18 AM

Dear Al, “Isolation has not worked”. Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013 With these words, President Obama this month acknowledged that the U.S. policy of isolation of Cuba has been a failure.   Bowing to the reality that Latin American nations have long since established normal relations with Cuba, he announced plans to open a U.S. embassy in Havana and pledged to “engage Congress in an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo”.  Nice going, Mr. President! But don’t stop there! Since a policy change was long overdue on Cuba, isn’t that also true for Iran, Syria, and North Korea, three other states that the U.S. continues to attempt to isolate?  Wouldn’t a policy of negotiation, reconciliation and non-intervention also serve us better when it comes to China, Russia, Venezuela, and Hamas as well?  Wouldn't a policy of implementing U.N. resolutions by taking united action with Russia, China and other members of the security council make more sense when it comes to ISIS and Al Qaeda -- instead of replaying the policies of endless bombing and endless war that so disastrously failed us in Iraq and Afghanistan? Make a tax-deductible donation to Massachusetts Peace Action Education Fund today, so we can continue to advocate for diplomacy, international law, demilitarization and reconciliation. Our country’s foreign policy continues to rely on pressure, isolation and military power in the interest of the corporations, contractors, and politicians invested in the sustained global dominance of the United States.  What we desperately need instead is a democratic foreign policy that benefits all people.  At our Foreign Policy for All conference at MIT in November, 300 people debated such a new direction. We'll continue the discussion at our Foreign Policy for All workshops in January and at our 2015 annual meeting on February 7. Make your donation before midnight on Wednesday, December 31 to be eligible for a 2014 tax deduction on your gift to support our work for the Foreign Policy for All.  To use a credit card, click where it says "Don't have a PayPal account?"  Or mail a check to Massachusetts Peace Action Education Fund, 11 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138. I was seven years old when the U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Cuba, and I’m now 61. As Rev. King said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. The problems we face are very grave.  With the galloping climate crisis and the threat of a new Cold War looming we cannot wait 50 years this time. But with your help, we can build a people's peace and justice movement and turn the U.S. away from its militarized foreign policy – just as we are doing with Cuba! Together for a peaceful future,  Cole Harrison Executive Director P.S. Make your donation before midnight on Wednesday, December 31 to be eligible for a 2014 tax deduction on your gift!