Chicago Tribune. July 24, 2000

It's still a long way from being inscribed in the statute books, but Friday's vote by the U.S. House to allow food and drug sales to Cuba and let Americans travel there freely represents a huge advance for the cause of sanity in United States-Cuba relations.

The House action resulted from the coming together of farm, business and other groups. The businessmen and farmers see trade opportunities in a new relationship with Cuba. Human rights and other groups see a chance to ease the wretched plight of the Cuban people and, by adopting a policy of engagement, to weaken the dictatorial hand of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Up against them, however, are the bitter-enders, led by the politically influential Cuban-American exile community and the Republican leadership in Congress who remain in thrall to it.

Significantly, the leadership for Friday's vote came from a rank-and-file Republican, Rep. George Nethercutt of Washington. No longer is the GOP the amen corner for mindless anti-Castroism.

Slowly but surely, America is coming to its senses about Cuba.

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