One day recently a U.S. aircraft carrier group cruised through the disputed South China Sea. The most noteworthy aspect: The U.S. showing the flag–in an area largely claimed by China–to help ensure freedom of navigation for ourselves and Asian friends in an area of vital shipping lanes and potential oil riches.
A much-less noteworthy aspect: also aboard the U.S.S. George Washington–besides its crew of 5,000 American sailors–were Vietnamese security and government officials. It was our way of cementing closer economic and military ties–and assuring them of American support in countering the growing economic and naval strength of China.
It’s all part of our ongoing, normalized relations with Vietnam, a former enemy. Some 50,000 Americans died in its jungles. But we moved on. It was in our enlightened self-interest to do so, and it just made sense to no longer be tethered to some unconscionable, Cold War misadventure.
Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has been in the news for continuing to give voice to the vendetta agenda of South Florida’s Cuban-exile community. He’s been leading the opposition to President Obama’s policy of relaxing travel to Cuba.
The embargo, however, is still in force, and the average American is still not free to travel to Cuba. Formal relations with Cuba remain time-warped in the 1960s. What an ironic juxtaposition.
Vietnam, where 50,000 American G.I.s died, thousands wounded, a generation alienated and a president forced into retirement, is now a trading partner, an investment vehicle and a geopolitical ally. Cuba, a former proxy of the erstwhile Soviet Union, remains mired in Cold War rhetoric and policy. As with Vietnam, it’s in our enlightened self-interest to normalize relations with Cuba. But unlike Vietnam, Cuba is up close and personal–and still represents leverage for those whose priorities don’t include what’s best for Florida, the U.S. and all those people still held hostage to vengeful politics.