CRACKS IN CUBAN EMBARGO ARE GROWING

When Fidel Castro became the de facto government of Cuba 40 years ago and failed to accede to U.S. expectations of democracy, Cubans soon discovered they were in for quite an endurance test. U.S. sanctions and an embargo have kept the island country, which is under a hundred miles from Florida, cut off from most of the advancements of the last four decades of the 20th century.

Every president since Eisenhower has unrelentingly supported these sanctions, even though many cracks in the embargo have widened over the years. Now the United States is showing signs of relenting by allowing more direct mail service, more cash flow and possibly a baseball game or two with American teams.

All the time, Premier Castro has lived the good life while far too many Cubans have suffered the existence in a Third World country.

Does any of this sound familiar? Just look at Iraq, where Saddam Hussein has so many ornate palaces that he couldn't possibly remember where they all are. He has built even more luxury quarters since the start of sanctions following the Gulf War of 1991.

Who has suffered? Not Saddam Hussein. Not Fidel Castro.

Will Iraqis have to wait 40 years too?