MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Fedyashin)
President Barack Obama is changing the U.S. policy on Cuba, just as he promised during the election campaign.
Washington has announced the decision to lift limitations on the Cuban-born Americans' visits to their home country and on money transfers to their families there. U.S. telecoms have been allowed to bid for telephone, Internet, cable and satellite radio and television and related licenses in Cuba.
Americans agree that this should help unbalance the regime of the Castro brothers, although official releases speak about promoting the spread of democracy and freedom on the island.
U.S. telecom, radio, TV and cable companies are unlikely to get many licenses, because Fidel and Raul Castro will not allow U.S. communications and dollars to swamp their country. They are educated men who know what it takes to overthrow a regime. However, they are also tired of the never-ending Cuban revolution, and know that Cuba has almost reached the end of the road.
In fact, all sides are tired of the Cuban embargo.
Cubans are tired because the embargo is breeding economic problems and poverty, which have faced the country with a fatal choice aptly formulated in Fidel Castro's trademark speech-ending slogan - "Patria o muerte," homeland or death.
Europeans and Canadians are tired because the United States slaps the embargo at the third countries who dare to trade with Cuba (tourism is the only exception).
American Cubans are tired because more than 40 years of the embargo have not toppled but only strengthened the Castro regime, which is logical, as external enemies only strengthen any regime.
U.S. business is angry that it is not allowed into Cuba, where Canadian, Spanish, German, French, Dutch and Russian companies have prepared the groundwork for their rapid entry.
The most painful question regarding the first steps to lift the embargo is: How will this influence Cuba and the Castro regime? It will definitely not benefit Fidel and his brother, Raul, who will be unable to maintain the political status quo on the island after it opens its door to the United States, especially since Cubans are ready to welcome it.
Although Cubans like Russia and Russians, the island will soon become closer to the U.S. than to Russia. The reason is the economy, as the Cuban cigar business, pineapple growing, tourism, and nickel, chromium, oil and gas production are all looking up north, toward the United States.
Last week, the Democrats in the Congress proposed a bill cancelling limitations on Americans' visits to Cuba. At present, a non-Cuban American visiting Cuba faces 10 years in prison and a fine of $7,000.
The Congress has amended the bill with a provision on lifting the ban on wheat exports to Cuba.
Overall, it appears that the United States will soon lift the blockade from the Freedom Island, which will most likely move closer to the U.S. as a result.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
