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View Full Version : U.S. establishes full normal relations with Castro's Cuba in 1959 or early 1960's.


The Mists Of Time
March 30th, 2006, 06:21 PM
I know it might have been dificult to do and certainly to justify to the American people at the height of the cold war.

But what if The United States had established and maintained full diplomatic and trade relations with the Castro government in Cuba in 1959 or the early 60's?

Instead of trying to get rid of Castro, what if the Eisenhower administration had established full diplomatic and trade relations with him?

JFK enjoyed Havana cigars, he certainly imported enough of them before imposing the embargo. Suppose there had never been a Bay Of Pigs invasion? Suppose instead Kennedy and Castro had sat down together over some cigars, talked, gotten to know each other, established or maitained or strengthed relations between the two countries?

Richard Nixon was far more pragmatic in dealing with the Communists and Communism. Might Nixon have been more likely to do that or establish normal relations with the Castro regime in Cuba had he been elected in 1960?

If The United States had established and maitained full diplomatic and trade relations with the Castro government in Cuba, how would it have effected U.S. Cuban relations over the years? How would that have effected U.S. Soviet relations over the years? In this ATL, how would the downfall of The Soviet Union and of Communism have effected U.S. Cuban relations and what would those relations be like today?

Tom Veil
March 30th, 2006, 08:26 PM
If US-Cuban relations go well over the next few years, we turn the same trick in Vietnam. If it goes poorly, then we hit Vietnam much harder and much earlier to compensate for being "fooled" once by the Commies.

Kidblast
March 30th, 2006, 09:29 PM
Castro used mild Anti-Americanism as a platform for popularity after the Revolution. Also, Communism allowed Castro to construct a facade of "Democracy", while allowing Castro to do what he always wanted to do; rule Cuba.

Note: Although I do not believe Castro is a democrat, I don't think he is a bad leader, and he certainly isn't the terrible tyrant that Cuban ex-pats make him out to be.

The Ubbergeek
March 30th, 2006, 11:27 PM
He IS a tyrant. Not the antechrist, but a not good for Cuba. If USA didn't keep the sanctions and all, maybe the people would realise, and quickly, that the anti-american thrivel the old Popa used to dodge questions for the sorry state of Cuba is bulldrek....

MerryPrankster
March 30th, 2006, 11:34 PM
According to the book Body of Secrets, Castro approached Kennedy about a rapprochment. Kennedy was open to it, but then he got shot.

LBJ could not pull this off since he did not have the political capital Kennedy had from facing down the Soviets over the missiles; according to Body, LBJ feared being branded as "soft on communism."

Dave Howery
March 31st, 2006, 03:27 PM
probably be better for the Cubans, but Castro would be pointed out as yet one more corrupt dictator supported by the US, along with Marcos, etc...