Obama As Statesman

Yesterday, President Obama spoke to Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the Summit of the Americas being held in Trinidad and Tobago. It looks like he's repeating the success of his European trip. He's easing tensions and making friends by doing and saying all the right things.

He told the summit participants that he wants an "equal partnership" with all the nations of the Americas. He said, "I am here to launch a new chapter of engagement that will be sustained throughout my administration."

Then Obama backed up his words by warmly shaking hands with Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez. As they shook hands, Chavez told him, "I greeted Bush with this hand eight years ago; I want to be your friend." And there is no reason why the two nations cannot be friends. Bush made Chavez an enemy by continuing to interfere in Venezuela's politics by backing the rich and reactionary opponents of the elected leader, while Chavez was trying to lift up the poor and bring them into the country's mainstream life.

Bush tended to treat the Latin American countries as colonies of the United States, and saw everything in black and white terms. Friends were those who did what the United States told them to do, and everyone else was an enemy. President Obama is changing that with his goal of "equal partnerships" working together for mutual benefit. It is truly a statesmanlike approach.

The President also offered an olive branch to Cuba saying, "The US seeks a new beginning with Cuba. I know there is a longer journey that must be travelled to overcome decades of mistrust, but there are critical steps we can take toward a new day." He was responding to the overture made yesterday by Cuba. Raul Castro said Cuba stood ready to engage in talks with no limits or preconditions -- including human rights, political prisoners and freedom of the press.

I applaud the courage and statesmanship of both leaders. These talks are long overdue. It will be to the benefit of both countries for these talks to end the failed embargo and result in the normalizing of relations between the two countries.

I hope this is the start of a new future of better relationships with all the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean. There is no reason for us to have any enemies in this hemisphere. But it will require us to treat these countries with respect and allow them to forge their own futures as they think best, without interference from us.