The Foreign Service Journal, February 2009

Change in Cuba? In “America in the World: Mr. Magoo at the Helm” ( FSJ , Novem- ber), Chas W. Freeman Jr. says that the Bush administration’s foreign poli- cies have wreaked havoc on the global stage. Mr. Freeman’s main point seems to be that such policies have left the United States isolated or excluded from the rest of the world at large. In quick succession he offers a glimpse region by region of what he sees as un- wanted results of, in his opinion, ill- considered policies. In connection with Latin America, Mr. Freeman mentions that U.S. pol- icy toward Cuba is indicative of the ad- ministration’s disinterest in the region and its “ideologically induced inabil- ity” to respond to opportunities. Speci- fically, he refers to supposed opportu- nities in a “changing Cuba.” This is sur- prising and misleading. Right after the revelation of Fidel Castro’s serious illness more than two years ago, and the transfer to Raul Castro of the island’s presidency, there was a surge in speculation about change in Cuba. The perception was that the new president would favor an economic opening that eventually would translate also into political lib- eralization. Events since then have contradicted such optimistic views. One of Raul Castro’s first decisions was the appointment of hard-core communist loyalists to positions of power. There has not been any eco- nomic opening of significance, and re- pression in Cuba continues to be as terrible as the country has suffered over 50 years. Changes have been cosmetic and basically meaningless. This should not have come as a sur- prise. Raul Castro has always been a ruthless leader of Castroism in Cuba. He was associated from the start with extrajudicial executions and multiple purges in the country. He shares with his brother Fidel the view that ideo- logical rigidity and the rejection of sig- nificant liberalization are essential conditions for the preservation of the Castro era — even after the Castros are gone. Juan J. Buttari FSO, retired Fairfax, Va. Remembering David Newsom David Newsom has died, and his passing will trigger responses from a crowd of colleagues. Intimately in- volved at all levels of our expanding in- volvement in foreign affairs, he always was able to step back from a situation to gauge the national interest, as well as the practical steps that needed to be taken. His humane professionalism under pressure set him apart from the political, self-absorbed atmosphere of Washington, D.C. Lee Dinsmore FSO, retired Elcho, Wis. F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 7 L E T T E R S Send your letters to journal@afsa.org. Correction In the print version of the January Cybernotes, the contemporary and “50 Years Ago” quotes were trans- posed. We regret the error.