advertisement

Appeasing Castro will not stop tyranny

In my mind I can still see the stately Neville Chamberlain waving a copy of a nonaggression pact with Hitler claiming that he had achieved "peace in our time." History shows that instead of securing peace, Chamberlain (and other pacifists) naively opened the door for World War II and the horrendous loss of life that followed.

So I beg to question, can appeasement, then or now, really end tyranny? I think the answer to that question is patently obvious - the answer is "no."

Fidel Castro and his Marxist followers overthrew Batista in 1959 and installed a communist dictatorship. Shortly thereafter, his regime nationalized and illegally seized all foreign assets in the name of the people. President Eisenhower promptly severed all relations with Cuba.

Shortly thereafter, our U-2 overflights of Cuba uncovered Soviet Russia missile installations. President Kennedy (a Democrat) placed a naval blockade on Cuba and in so doing, displayed our might and our willingness to fight to keep this hemisphere safe.

Make no mistake about it - appeasement was not an option. Since then, every American president has kept sanctions in place on Cuba - until now.

Obama's announced intentions to normalize relations with Cuba is inflammatory. divisive, dangerous, foolhardy, completely out of context and decidedly un-American.

I stand with the millions of Americans who say that we need to stay the course and keep Cuba sanctions in place until and unless it ends its repressive and menacing regime. Normalizing relations with Cuba is appeasement - and appeasement cannot and will not stop tyranny.

Dale Plautz

Round Lake