Opinion> Miguel Perez> Let S Give Clinton Some Credito

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Let's Give Clinton Some 'Credito'

MIAMI — In Havana, the government-controlled press claimed the communist dictatorship had scored a "historic victory" at the Organization of American States meeting in Honduras last week. But here in Little Havana, USA, from the Cuban-American perspective, the victory was for democracy and human rights, and it was scored by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In Havana, the celebration was for the OAS' decision to end Cuba's 47-year suspension from the 34-country hemispheric organization. But in Little Havana, it was for Clinton's resolve. Because of her resolve, in order to be fully reinstated, Cuba must abide by the OAS' democratic "practices, purposes and principles."

Of course, after those conditions were placed on Cuba's reinstatement, the Fidel/Raul Castro regime said "no, gracias" because they are perfectly happy repressing their people — just as they have for the past 50 years. From their perspective, if their dictatorship is not broken, why fix it?

Amazingly, many Latin American leaders were willing and ready to ignore Cuba's record of violating the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, including little details, such as Cuba's failure to show "respect for human rights," hold "periodic, free, and fair elections based on secret balloting" and allow a "pluralistic system of political parties."

At the two-day OAS meeting, as if competing to brown-nose a totalitarian regime, some Latin American leaders shamelessly were more than willing to betray the OAS' democratic principles. They started a debate over Cuba that threatened to tear the organization apart — between those who still defend democratic principles and Cuba's leftist allies, one of whom even threatened to form a splinter organization that would exclude the United States and Canada unless Cuba is reinstated in the OAS without preconditions.

Yet through some very smart diplomatic maneuvering, Clinton managed to convince most of our hemispheric neighbors that while sanctions against Cuba could be lifted, full reinstatement needs to be earned.

While diplomats from Nicaragua, Venezuela and Bolivia reportedly tried to block any conditions for Cuba's reinstatement, it was Clinton who reminded her fellow diplomats, "We owe it to each other to uphold our standards of democracy and governance."

In closed-door meetings with several other foreign ministers, Clinton negotiated a compromise that defeated the left's efforts to welcome Cuba back to the OAS without preconditions.

Reacting to the OAS' flirting with Cuba, some of Florida's Republican lawmakers responded the way they always do, with strong rhetoric and hollow threats that are meant only for Cuban-American consumption — and votes. They vowed to promote legislation that would cut off U.S. funding for the OAS, which sounds like a great idea (we pay for almost 60 percent of its budget) but has little chance of passing.

Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., introduced the funding cutoff legislation. Cuban-American Reps. Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, both Republicans from Miami, issued a joint statement rightfully noting that the OAS has become "a putrid embarrassment." Cuban-American Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., rightfully told The Miami Herald, "No U.S. taxpayer funds should go towards supporting this sham of an organization that once prided itself on its historic commitment to democracy and human rights."

But in Little Havana, where many Cuban-Americans had feared that the Obama administration would cave in to the Castro brothers — especially because when he was running for president, Obama said he would talk to them without preconditions — many are pleasantly surprised, applauding Clinton's posture and questioning their own allegiance to the Cold War rhetoric and strategies of the Republican Party.

Now that they see that a "leftist" freedom-loving American president has more moral authority to defeat the totalitarian left, many Cuban-Americans are expressing newfound respect for President Obama and his secretary of state.

To find out more about Miguel Perez and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.