This column has periodically railed on about the dysfunctional relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Actually, “dysfunctional” is too euphemistic. Make that stupid. Notably, the counterproductive, 47-year-old, economic embargo that only made sense during the height of the Cold War, when Cuba became a Soviet satellite.
But administrations through Bush II — plus Congressional delegations from Florida — have been cowed by the Cuban exile community to the point where South Florida and Little Havana have exercised a de facto veto over U.S. foreign policy when it comes to Cuba.
However, generational changes, the Castro Brothers’ biological inevitability and the Obama Administration’s reset button have now created the elements of a perfect geopolitical storm over Cuba.
Many political observers see the easing of Cuban family travel and remittance restrictions as the first step toward normalization. Indeed, more changes are expected, although they will be incremental – which is, candidly, a point of contention among many insiders.
The impetus for one such pragmatic change comes from our own back yard. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who obviously understands political caution and pragmatism on this volatile topic, has earned plaudits for asking President Obama — via a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection — to include Tampa International Airport on the list of airports approved for charter flights to Cuba. The others are Los Angeles, Miami and New York-JFK. As long as opportunities for U.S. travelers to Cuba are likely to increase, reasoned Castor, TIA makes eminent sense as a departure point.
Does it ever.
Not only is TIA logistically helpful to those directly impacted, but it looks progressively to the future. When Cuba opens, Tampa needs to be re-positioned, via port and airport, as the real gateway to that island – with all the historical and economic implications that entails.
However incremental, this helps.