T&T: Somebody's smoking something at The Express

The Express editorial writer in discussing Castro's claims of Washington's alleged intent "to assassinate" him (did ever a head of state deserve it more?) states, "the superpower may have come to feel that it can do whatever it wants. But, whatever its condescending, if not dismissive attitude, to the rest of the world...." The rest of the world had better get used to this: contrary to the image projected by appeasment-minded Democrats, the primary business of the President of the United States is the defense of these United States from threats abroad and at home. Failure to fulfill that duty can rightly result in his impeachment. Just as perjury is a fit matter for impeachment (it was not about sex; it was about law) even so is dereliction of presidential duty. If it's "condescending" and "dismissive" to project American power to kill terrorists and deter attacks -- how many attacks have we had since September 11, 2001, 8:50 A.M.? -- then word to the rest of the world, live with it. One of these days, the rest of the bloody world will thank America for getting them out of the messes in which they occasionally find themselves. I won't hold my breath, though.

The expectation is that the United States will lift, next year, the ban against US citizens travelling to Cuba without special and not easily obtained permission. That will be a start, but all sides should move with dispatch, with the onus on the Americans to look at the bigger picture, including how they have normalised relations with countries that cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered democratic, and not at the relatively small matter of the number of votes controlled by the Cuban lobby in what, we acknowledge, is the important state of Florida.

Maybe if the Democrats regain the White House, this pipe dream will happen. The Bush foreign policy has already made it clear that the bad ol' days of giving a wink and a nod to dictators are over. Who will benefit but Castro and his oppressive minions if relations with Cuba are normalized? Could the U.S. afford to trust the free flow of travelers from Cuba at a time when the threat of terrorism is a defining factor in American life? Likely not. Castro has made his hatred of the U.S. well known. He'll not be likely to change with normalization. Bush's arms are already full with Putin; he doesn't need any more enemies who have to be kept closer.

Here's a look at real life in the socialist worker's paradise.