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.