Obama’s visit to Cuba does not come as a surprise to me. Nor does the continuing hostility between US and Iran, even after the signing of the so called Nuclear Deal. Both cases say a lot about US foreign policy towards it’s “foes” and how it classifies them . But most importantly they tells us about what Iran’s and Cuba’s political system are all about.
Cuba is one of the very few of the old east bloc nations who has successfully maintained its system of socialism , overcoming the initial hardships arising from political and economic isolation. Today Cuba enjoys a thriving biomedical industry, tourism industry, bio/solar energy sector, etc, all achieved during the most severe economic sanctions imposed by US and its allies.. Most importantly Cuba has never threatened US or its allies with Terrorist attacks, despite the deep differences. Despite at least one US sponsored military attack on Cuba (bay of pigs) and a number of foiled terror attacks on life of Fidel Castro documented to be sponsored by CIA
Iran a major oil producing country , on the other hand has buckled under much less severe economic sanctions. Has surrendered it’s alleged military nuclear program under most humiliating terms. Has seen its economy sink to one of the lowest around the world. Most importantly Iran has always threatened US and it’s regional ally with terrorist attacks.
The lesson is simple. If you are true to yourself, if you believe your cause is right you have nothing to worry about. You are the final Victor. Or as Fidel Castro recently said: “Sorry, I am still a dialectical materialist”.
On the other hand if you are nothing but an empty shell of what you claim to be, without an iota of public support threaten your foes with “being wiped of the surface of earth”, your foe will recognize your screams of “heroic soft movement” as nothing more than a cry for mercy. Your foe will then force you into a most humiliating submission or tear you apart without even bothering to pay you a visit.
The fact that cuba has been able to make all of these accomplishments, is nothing but commendable but you need to consider several elements as well.
First of all, Regardless of how severe a sanctiion regime a country is under, there is a whole host of ways and routes that they can take to circumvent it , to some extent. which is what CUba did and what Iran has done. Two things here, The main components of these nuclear enrichment system was given to iran by big European power and then later on they purchased the Technology from N. korea and Pakistan.
There is also the issue that This soft uprising or whatever you would like to call it, has not made a major impact on ALL iranians, inside or outside of iran, I don't want to rehashh all the arguments that have been made on this, but suffice it to say that there is a majority out there who has recognized the hollow nature of the movemnet, because it most definitely serve the masters of the "nezam" and the governing system. SO regardless of the outcome, it would stil have been deemed as illegitimate in the eyes of so many. I am willing to bet that all the support it got from iranians all over the world, was due to sentimental reasons , and all the emotions it evoked after watching those horrific scenes on Tv.
wE ALL know iranians love to Cry and show emotions for no reason. This is a fact , yet at the same time, my heart goes out to those innocent young fellows who were merely VICTIMS , because they did not know any better, and were forced to choose between bad and worse.
They will visit iran in its due time. I guarantee you that. In the meantime, keep in mind that Iran has not turned anything over and simply needs to wait for 15 years before it can resume all activities. They were given a little break, that is all.
There is no legitimacy, with or without reform/soft movement.