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?
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.
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!
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Together for a peaceful future,
Cole Harrison Executive Director
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