A couple things stand out about the U.S.'s assessment of Cuba these days. Number one, the U.S. diplomats in Havana have started openly stating that Castro is on his last legs.  We don't usually see this kind of bluntness from these guys. What does it mean? Is there a new Cuba diplomatic offensive coming up? Forget that, we've had those, to little effect. It can only mean that he really is.
 
Diplomats are predictable creatures, but they don't like to get surprised by events. These statements are for us, not Castro, and I think they're just telling us they're on top of it. To make sure we know. They can't reach Cuban audiences with their words, and since when have they needed to preserve diplomatic niceties for the crapulent Castro? He's going downhill fast. And none of Chavez of Venezuela's "free" oil is going to save Castro from that inevitable.
 
The other thing to look at is the U.S. diplomats' new boldness on sticking up for Castro's political prisoners. Go take a look at some of the pictures posted at Val's excellent Cuban—American Babalu blog.  
 
The pictures show the U.S. mission in Havana's defiant Christmas light display proclaiming the glittering holiday to Cuba's deprived people, who until recently were forbidden to celebrate holidays at all, and in any case can't do much to celebrate in their poverty. These in—your—face Christmas symbols courtesy of the U.S. government are enough to earn them an ACLU lawsuit. But they're getting away with it and must be making a tremendous impact in Cuba.
 
And that's not all. Val points out that the centerpiece of the showy Christmas light display is a huge number 75, a remembrance of Cuba's 75 imprisoned dissidents. It's a real finger in Castro's eye.
 
It also shows that the U.S is thinking about the future. Think about the powerful impact that '75' will have on the morale of the 75 people in Castro's dungeons if a whisper of it slips in — that the United States is broadcasting to Cubans through its attention—grabbing Christmas display, that they are not forgotten. And that they will triumph. Thi won't be lost on any the Cuban people.
 
Diplomats are play—it—safe people, but this action is anything but playing it safe. There's only one conclusion we can draw from this: Castro's ashcan of history is about ready. 

A.M. Mora y Leon   12 13 04