Christopher Ruddy. NewsMax. Friday, June 29, 2001.
Yesterday marked the first anniversary of Elian’s return to Castro’s
Cuba.
Much has changed since then. In Cuba for the worse.
Apologists for Castro told us repeatedly that returning Elian to the island
prison his mother paddled him out of would somehow lead to a better, more normal
relationsip between the U.S. and Castro.
What has happened since then?
Amnesty International reports that in the second half of last year, just
after Elian’s return, repression in Cuba actually increased dramatically.
A statement issued by the left-leaning human rights organization this past
January put it bluntly: "The increasing number of people jailed for
peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, clearly
demonstrates the level to which the government will go in order to weaken the
political opposition and suppress dissidents."
Who has Fidel been targeting? Trade unionists, journalists, and other
political dissidents.
Limousine liberals never learn.
Ted Koppel told us that after the Pope’s visit to Cuba we were
witnessing a new Castro.
Gregory Craig suggested returning Elian would usher in a new era of
reconciliation between the U.S. and Cuba. Craig was the de facto attorney for
Castro in the U.S. who spearheaded the effort to return Elian.
Craig wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post to mark the anniversary of his "victory."
Craig used the opportunity to chide Republicans and Democrats for their open
hostility to Cuba, clearly implying that America had dropped the ball and was
again the cause of poor relations with Cuba.
Thinking people realize that Castro has about the same interest in bettering
relations with America as he does in bettering the economic and political
situation of his slave/subjects.
Recent evidence suggests the situation in Cuba may get worse because Castro
may be losing his marbles. Yesterday’s new wires carried stories that
Castro has anointed his brother Raul to take charge if he passes away.
Earlier this year Raul was quoted as saying that the number one priority of
Cuba is to prepare for the coming war with the U.S. If Castro goes, it is
doubtful anything will change.
But the Elian saga has taught us a valuable lesson: appease a thug dictator
like Castro and he will continue as evil as ever. | 
