'Granma': No Self Respect

'Granma': No Self Respect
PEDRO CAMPOS | La Habana | 12 de Octubre de 2016 - 18:01 CEST.

Granma, the official newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, Government
and State (these being inseparable) has no respect for itself, nor the
diplomatic relations established nearly two years ago with the US, as
evidenced by the publication of Fidel Castro's latest reflections in
"The uncertain fate of the human species," published on Sunday.

In addition to its inconsistencies and reflection of the negative,
depressing and pessimistic mood of the ageing populist leader, now in
the twilight of his life, his article constitutes an affront and a
violation of diplomatic ethics, by recommending a "mud medal" for
President Barack Obama – who has done more than anyone to resolve the
historical dispute between Cuba and the US and to lift the embargo that
Fidel Castro has always wielded as an explanation for every kind of
disaster in Cuba and all his anti-democratic and repressive policies.

Opponents of the normalization of relations between the two countries
will use this incident to reproach Obama and "demonstrate" to him that
the Cuban Government is taunting him, after having "used" him.

Hopefully the White House will not attach any importance to these
"reflections" and will ignore them, as they seem calculated to incite a
diplomatic clash, and could well be part of a campaign designed by Fidel
to sabotage the normalization process, an objective which the "champion
of anti-Americanism" has been bent on ever since relations were
restored, when he wrote in another of his reflections: "I never talked
with them," or when he criticized the US president's visit to Cuba in an
article caustically entitled "Brother Obama."

I suspect that Raúl and the Cuban military must not be very happy with
his brother's "reflections, as they are interested in continuing to
improve relations with the northern neighbor in every way, particularly
in increasing revenues from augmented trade and economic exchanges with
the US.

It is significant that this mess with Fidel comes at a time when the
Cuban Government is striving to bring about other changes in US policy
that might loosen the strings of the embargo before Obama leaves office.

Cuban diplomacy could be in trouble and is probably conveying
explanations to the Americans in order to keep from being compromised by
the former leader's awkward remarks. Although it also possible that in
their analyses they have concluded that Obama is nearing the end of his
term and is now unable to act, such that nothing can be done in the
immediate future.

Fidel Castro can write whatever crosses his mind at this point. What
does not make much sense is for Granma to publish it on the front page,
stoking anti-US fires, specifically against President Barack Obama,
demonstrating their apparent ignorance of the fact that the Cold War,
when it was common practice to insult the US president, is over.

This is a disconcerting sign of the times in Cuba, evidencing the
incoherent positions being transmitted by the Palace of the Revolution,
although some seek to downplay the issue, saying that the Castro
brothers are just playing "good cop, bad cop" to keep the people and the
enemy confused, though they would really appear to be hostages of a
mutual tolerance imposed on them by historical circumstances.

Perhaps now those who believed that the leader no longer throws any
weight in Cuba will better appreciate the state of internal affairs
within the Cuban Government, and the reason for its continuous
disasters, inconsistencies and contradictory communications.

Source: 'Granma': No Self Respect | Diario de Cuba -
http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1476288082_25957.html