While Congress has yet to debate lifting America’s trade restrictions on Cuba, island officials are declaring victory over what they consider a failed five-decade embargo. The lesson wasn’t lost on Iran, either. “The defense by the Cuban government and people of their revolutionary ideals over the past 50 years shows that policies of isolation and sanctions imposed by the major powers against the wishes of independent nations are ineffective,” bragged Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Akfham. Moreover, according to The New York Times, Cuban dictator Raul Castro has no inclination to unclench his iron fist: “Castro declared victory for the Cuban Revolution on Saturday in a wide-ranging speech, thanking President Obama for ‘a new chapter’ while also reaffirming that restored relations with the United States did not mean the end of Communist rule in Cuba.” Barack Obama’s idea of foreign policy usually leaves our foes with more flex in their muscles, and our new dialogue with Cuba will be no different. The Castros will be laughing all the way to the bank. It will be up to the new Congress to decide the level of capitulation.