The Patriot Post® · Raul Castro Lays Out Stiff Demands

Cuba made it clear this week that reconciling with the U.S. will come at a steep price. And it’s a price that in many ways shares similarities with Barack Obama’s predetermined goals. According to Agence France-Presse, Dictator Raul Castro has three main stipulations: “an end to the US embargo, the return of Guantanamo and Havana’s removal from a terror list.” Obama already called on Congress to get rid of trade restrictions, though the chances of that happening anytime soon are next to zero with Republicans in control of both chambers. Meanwhile, the president’s bid to shutter Guantanamo Bay is ongoing; over the last few months, a growing number of inmates were returned to their countries of origin only to rejoin the fight against the West. Moreover, Obama’s lackluster response to other global issues – the war on terrorism, Middle East turmoil, Russia’s provocation, North Korea’s perpetual hostility, the Arab Spring-turned-winter, and China’s growing presence in the Pacific, to name but a few – have us wondering why he wouldn’t want the communist regime taken off the terror list. The White House’s olive branch to a ruthless dictatorship that has no intentions of implementing reforms was bad enough, and Castro’s demands are not what’s surprising. What’s surprising, and downright terrifying, is how much these two leaders have in common. More…