What did Jimmy Carter accomplish in Cuba?

What did Jimmy Carter accomplish in Cuba?
Posted By José R. Cárdenas Monday, April 4, 2011 - 12:12 PM Share

The continuing momentous events in North Africa and the Middle East
understandably overshadowed former President Jimmy Carter's trip last
week to Cuba. That is unfortunate, because rather than compel any
rethinking of U.S. policy towards Cuba -- as was the trip's purpose --
it only provided another salient lesson on the futility of attempting to
appease tyranny.

For the record, here is a short accounting of what President Carter did
in Cuba:

- He denounced the U.S. embargo of Cuba and called for unilateral
changes in U.S. policy, including immediate repeal of the Helms-Burton law.
- Called for the unconditional removal of Cuba from the list of state
sponsors of terrorism.
- Called for the unconditional release of five Cuban spies jailed in
U.S. and criticized the U.S. judicial system under which they were
convicted.
- Denounced Cuban American members of Congress, such as the Chairman of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), as
"radicals" determined to keep Cuba and the United States "apart."
- Blamed the U.S. government for the infamous 1996 incident in which
Cuban MiGs shot down two small civilian aircraft in international airspace.
- Referred to dictator Fidel Castro as his "personal friend."
- Criticized the U.S. for not doing enough to combat "the problem of
Global Warming" and praised Fidel Castro's "activism and wisdom" on the
issue.

Apparently to balance out these activities, lest no one suspect where
his sympathies may actually lie, President Carter also met with Cuban
dissidents and religious leaders and did otherwise recognize Cuban human
rights by saying that he hoped that "in the future" all Cubans have the
freedom to speak, assemble, and travel.

But this was all merely backdrop to what was widely considered the
objective of Carter's trip: securing the release of the unjustly
imprisoned American aid worker Alan Gross, with whom Carter also met. In
this light, Carter's obsequious behavior toward the Castro regime could
otherwise be dismissed as the "price" that had to be paid for Gross's
freedom.

(Even as Carter tried to dampen prospects for Gross's release -- "I am
not here to take him out of the country" -- given the nature of Cuban
totalitarianism, such Orwellian doublespeak is meant to pave the way for
such a release, since it would allow the Castro regime to "surprise" and
reward their pliant guest with a magnanimous gesture before leaving the
country.)

But President Carter left Cuba empty-handed and Alan Gross remains
imprisoned for the "crime" of bringing internet equipment to Cuban
Jewish groups.

So a trip that began ostensibly to improve U.S.-Cuban relations, instead
only wound up focusing the spotlight on the regime's continued
intransigence. Not only did President Carter not return with Gross, but,
for all his supplicating efforts, he returned with no concessions, no
overtures, no indication the Castro regime was prepared to do anything
to warrant a change in U.S. policy; only the standard Castro line that
what are needed are changes in U.S. policy.

It is not surprising then that President Carter's trip placed in bold
relief why U.S.-Cuban relations will continue to remain as they are.
Absent any true commitment on the Castro's behalf to allay any U.S.
concerns about their treatment of the Cuban people, the fact remains
that no U.S. president is going to compromise their standing on some
wooly process that may (but more likely not) lead to some "future"
improvements in respect for the Cuban people's fundamental rights.

http://shadow.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/04/04/what_did_jimmy_carter_accomplish_in_cuba