Nobody despises communism more than I, but the other day I wondered out loud why the U.S. does not consider opening normalized trade with the tiny island nation of Cuba. The fellow sitting next to me furrowed his brow as if I had said something obscene and hissed, "hey, in case you haven't noticed, Cuba is Communist." I responded that in case he hadn't noticed, "so is China and Vietnam" (with both of whom we are now positioning ourselves for permanent normal trade relations). I also added that since we were in the process of opening up relations with our new "friend" in the Mideast, Libya, perhaps it was time we consider the matter of Cuba. Indeed, as Fidel Castro begins his journey into the archives, his brother, Raul recently stressed that Cuba remains open to normalized diplomatic and trade relations with the United States putting an end to the trade embargo the US has imposed for over four decades.

The State Department offered a response to Raul: Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon reiterated Washington's terms for lifting the embargo and said the administration would work with Congress to lift the embargo ''and begin a deeper engagement with the Cuban state if the government frees its more than 300 political prisoners, respects human rights, allows independent political parties and creates a pathway towards elections.'' Since 1961 the US Government has initiated various policy measures against Cuba which have had a considerable economic impact on the island; policies designed to remove the leadership and to encourage Cuba to undertake political change towards a multi-party electoral process.The most significant of these measures was the embargo and subsequent Helms-Burton Act of 1996 which tightened the terms of the embargo.

Open trade between Cuba and the US would be mutually beneficial, particularly in Florida and the Southern states. In 2005 Cuba exported $2.4 billion, ranking 114 of 226 world countries, and imported $6.9 billion, ranking 87 of 226 countries. Its major export partners are the Netherlands, Canada and China; major import partners include Venezuela and Spain. Cuba's major exports are sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee and skilled labor;imports include food, fuel, clothing, and machinery.

If trade relations were relaxed, opportunities for American business would abound. We would be extremely competitive in nearly all sectors in Cuba, including repair and expansion of physical infrastructure, housing construction, agriculture, mining, developing financial service networks, telecommunications, transportation, light industry manufacturing and, of course, tourism. As well, Cuba would offer an excellent market for all types of U.S. Products. Moreover, the Cuban people would come to see the benefits derived from capitalist-inspired industrialism. Give them a taste of how we do things and they might want a real bite. What better way to achieve solid relations. If given the opportunity (and like China and Vietnam), Cuba's adherence to ideological orthodoxy might become less important than economic development as a national priority .

Spurred by the growing interest in potential product demand in Cuba, a growing number of free marketers in Congress, backed by lawmakers who represent agribusiness, have tried each year since 2000 to water down (or erase) regulations preventing Americans from travelling to Cuba. Four times the US House has adopted language lifting the travel ban, and in 2003 the Senate followed suit. However, each time President Bush, in his typical single-minded stubbornness and conscious of Florida's anti-Castro voters (his brother, of course, is Governor of Florida), has threatened to veto the bill. Faced with this threat, Congress has dropped its attempt to lift the travel ban. In May, Bush followed the recommendations of hard-line Miami Cuban exiles and even tightened restrictions further. However, many Cuban-Americans don't agree with these latest changes. They say limiting travel, restricting the amount of goods people can bring to their relatives and cracking down on money sent there only hurts their relatives in Cuba. As our own Senator John Sununu puts it, "I have supported, because of the importance to personal freedom, allowing people to travel to Cuba. I'm willing to take that stand."

But Bush remains unmoved and any possibility of opening up trade or at least travel with Cuba seems as remote as ever. The Bush administration has declared Cuba one of a few "outposts of tyranny"remaining in the world, and seems interested in only doing those things designed to destroy Fidel Castro's fragile economy. John R. Bolton, as undersecretary of the U.S. State Department, went so far as to identify Castro's government as part of America's "axis of evil," highlighting the fact that Castro visited several U.S foes, including Iran and Syria. But are the Cuban people "evil doers?" Just what kind of military threat do they pose to the U.S.? This is 2006, not 1961.

Apparently Communist China presents no such problems, potential or real, notwithstanding its dismal record on human rights and unfair trading. In what only can be termed "diplomatic extortion," North Korea and Iran seek economic enhancements and concessions before they will agree to even discuss relaxing their respective nuclear build ups. And in May 2006, the U.S. announced it would restore full diplomatic relations with Libya after a 25-year hiatus, notwithstanding the Lockerbie bombing. "The Libya Model" is now pointed to as an example intended to show the world what can be achieved through negotiation rather than force when there is goodwill on both sides. That's truly great, but why can't we take the lead and create "The Cuba Model." We seem to tread cautiously when it comes to the big guys but when we deal with Cuba, the administration seems to bare its fangs somewhat disproportionately.

At any rate, Cuba has achieved reasonable economic relations with most Latin American countries and enjoys improved relations with the European Union countries which have begun began providing aid and loans to the island. China has also become a new source of aid and support. What exactly is holding us back from considering doing the same? The need to get Jeb Bush re-elected? The perception, possibly false, that most Cuban Americans want nothing to do with with their native land?

This island nation is a country with great economic potential and sparkling possibilities. Let's end the duplicity and hypocrisy......let's take the lead and begin to unlock the potential that would have tremendous and lasting benefits for both Americans and Cubans.

".... The vast majority of us on the island who oppose the [Cuban] Government believe that a dialogue and a relaxation of tensions between the United States and Cuba would better facilitate a transformation. The Helms-Burton Act makes it very difficult for the United States to take part in such a dialogue." Elizardo Sanchez, Leading Cuban dissident, New York Times Op Ed, April 1997

"The growth of the world economy depends on world trade. The growth of world trade depends on American leadership. And America will lead -- toward freer trade, toward wider and more lasting prosperity for ourselves and for the world." President George W. Bush, May 29, 2001