Overview

The Obama administration's growing track record of secret negotiations, whether this is on the subject of Iran or the release of the five Taliban commanders, is increasingly troublesome. Had the White House consulted more widely, it may have heard that Havana is facing the threats of losing Venezuelan oil subsidies and mounting public pressure for basic reforms within the country. This could have been used to leverage meaningful political concessions on human rights in Cuba by that regime. The release of 53 political prisoners is one area in which the administration did secure a commitment from the Cuban Government. 4 years ago, Raul Castro promised to release all political prisoners. Yet in a recent Freedom House report, we read that: Systematic use of short-term 'preventable' detentions-along with harassment [and] beatings, are used to intimidate the opposition, to isolate dissidents, and maintain control. Instead of dismantling a 50-year-old failed policy, as it claims, the administration may have given a 50-year-old failed regime a new lease on life to continue its repression at home and militant support for Marxist regimes abroad.

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