International
Security
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/multimedia/photogalleries/putins-russia/5123.html
[Column] Carrots for Cuba, Sticks for North Korea
John Feffer
Cuba and North Korea
share a great deal in common. They are both led by dynastic rulers. They retain
their nominal affiliation to revolutionary Communism. They suffer under U.S.
embargoes that have been in place for decades. And although they registered significant
economic and social progress in the 1960s, they have become increasingly
impoverished as a result of their isolation from the global economy.
Recently, however, the two countries
have struck out in very different directions. Cuba just normalized its
diplomatic relations with the United States after months of secret negotiations
and a surprise announcement by the Obama administration. North Korea, on the
other hand, remains very much on America’s blacklist amid a conflict over a
controversial film.
Why has the United States extended an
olive branch to an adversary near at hand while continuing to brandish a stick
an adversary halfway around the world?
President Obama promised in his initial
campaign in 2008 to sit down with any world leader willing to negotiate in good
faith. The track record of this diplomatic offensive has been mixed.
The United States has orchestrated an
opening to Burma after the military junta there agreed to significant reforms.
Negotiations are ongoing with Iran over its nuclear program. But the Obama
administration has not invested much political capital in going beyond this
short list…
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