Secretary Clinton Admits Mistakes in Cuba Policy

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (C) arrives for the start of the first plenary session of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, April 18, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO POLITICS)

One thing the Bush administration never did, was take any responsibility for any mistakes, ever, no matter how glaring the misjudgment or error. This refusal to take any responsibility for anything, hurt the US image at home and abroad (with the help of years of lawlessness with illegal wiretapping and torture, among other things). One thing Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have been doing is repairing that image. In my mind, it takes a strong, self-confident person to admit mistakes regardless of how the Bush loyalists attempt to paint it as weakness.

At the 5th Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have made inroads in repairing the self-defeating, highly hypocritical policies towards Cuba (given the US has no such qualms about dealing with China despite horrendous human rights abuses). Excerpt from Web India:

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has candidly admitted to the United States having failed in trying to build its ties with Cuba, and suggested that the Obama administration will attempt to change the uncompromising policy of the previous Bush administration.

“We are continuing to look for productive ways forward, because we view the present policy as having failed,” the New York Times quoted Clinton as saying at a news conference here on Friday, hours before flying to join Mr. Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

Clinton told audiences that the United States must accept its responsibility as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In Indonesia, she said the American-backed policy of sanctions against Myanmar had not been effective. And in the Middle East, she pointed out that ostracizing the Iranian government had not persuaded it to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernndez hailed Clinton and Obama, for their view on Cuban policy, which he said took “great courage” and could utterly transform the political landscape of Latin America.

It’s interesting to me how much the international media is covering this and the Summit of the Americas in general at this stage, while the US media is busy picking its nose and talking about the pirate rescue 24/7 for the past 3 days. Given that, I am reminded just how disinterested many (not all) American citizens actually are when it comes to international policy and world events. Of course, changing policy towards Cuba is a political hot-potato of sorts.

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