I should have expected it

++The Imperial Post did the unthinkable thing yesterday of having its lead editorial condemn the CIA for its torture program. It called for laws making President Obama's executive order against "Illegal" renditions and torture permanent.

++Tonight I guess their control officers reigned them in by insisting on an editorial blasting President Obama's Cuba statement as naive and counterproductive. Their sentiment was shared on the editorial page by veteran political reporter Charles Lane ,saying that President Obama's policy would strengthen the Castro brothers and the military rule of the country. Raul is scheduled to retire in two years. Fidel already has.

++After Marco Rubio was challenged by reporters on his remarks about Jimmy Carter being the worst negotiator. The journalists raised the Camp David accords. So Rubio backed down and called Obama the worst negotiator in history, neglecting to mention the terms of full recognition are to be negotiated and both leaders claimed everything was on the table.

++Post writers quoted the leading dissident blogger Yoanda Sanchez, who feared victory parades all week long and increased repression.

++Lane mentioned his piece how Cuba has successfully manipulated European investors for years and never allowed any greater freedom.

++How about the United States trying something different after 50 years. Post writers complained that President Obama used the same terminology about chaos and economic implosion that Raul did. Obama's point is that greater freedom doesn't come from economic chaos. 

++Latin American countries for years have sensed we were hypocritical in criticizing Cuban human rights practices while ignoring some of the most egregious ones by our allies. 

++Lane suggested this was like our normalization of relations with Vietnam and China where we do business but the human rights of local people haven't improved.

++There are actually criticisms from the Left that Cuba faces hordes of gringos which will ruin the quaint 1950s style of living of people in poverty. We will ruin the lifestyle and culture of a people who had to make their own way since 1959. The internet tonight is filled with blogs posting photos of this 1950s dreamscape.

++But if you believe we can be a positive influence and that the free flow of information is a positive value, why do you resist the potential for change. You can travel there and convince Cubans to retain their authenticity.

++The initial negative reaction remands me of the criticism of the Helsinki Accord,which acknowledged the Soviet rule over the Baltic states, which we had never done during the whole Cold War. People in these countries organized to use the promises of greater freedom to win their real independence. 

++President Obama set another course. Here in Washington ,they complain he could have gotten more. What more could he have gotten? Lane says that the political prisoners were the same as offered by Raul in the past and that Raul had promised to free all political prisoners. So press him on this. But you can't if you don't talk to him.

++This town has been so entrenched against President Obama since the beginning of his Presidency. I guess he has finally figured it out by now. 

++Even though the Post is honest enough to point to 88% of Cuban-Americans wanting normalized relations and 67% of all Americans, I guess you can't surprise the establishment with adroit diplomacy without asking permission. President Obama made his perpetual mistake of not asking permission from his masters. Good for him.