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The Dictatorship Next Door: Cuba and the Fight for the Western Hemisphere
America First Policy Institute ^ | August 19, 2026 | Melissa Ford Maldonado

Posted on 08/20/2026 2:13:10 PM PDT by T Ruth

Key Takeaways

« For 67 years, the Cuban regime has brutalized its own people to preserve its grip on power—imprisoning dissidents, suppressing fundamental freedoms, crushing free speech, destroying economic opportunity, separating families, driving millions into exile, exporting revolution and repression abroad, and relying on foreign patrons to sustain one of the world's longest-lasting communist dictatorships.

« From Russia and China to Venezuela and Iran, Havana has repeatedly chosen to align with anti-American regimes and extra-hemispheric adversaries working to undermine U.S. interests, expand authoritarian influence in the Western Hemisphere, and threaten American national security.

« Just 90 miles from Florida, the Cuban regime remains a strategic outpost for America's adversaries. Protecting the homeland requires an America First strategy of sustained maximum pressure that puts U.S. interests first by restoring American dominance, weakening the regime's sources of power, and denying hostile powers a foothold in the Western Hemisphere.

Introduction

Cuba remains the Western Hemisphere’s longest-standing authoritarian regime and a major strategic concern for the United States. More than six decades after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the island continues to operate under a centralized, one-party political system in which the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) is constitutionally designated as the “superior driving force of society and the State.” (Constitución de la República de Cuba 2019, Art. 5). The regime doesn’t allow political competition and maintains strict control over both politics and the economy. Independent political organization is prohibited, press freedom is extremely limited, dissent is criminalized, and civil society operates under heavy government surveillance (Human Rights Watch, 2024).

The regime, which is now led by a post-Castro generation, is more fragile today than at any point since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba is in the midst of a severe economic and social crisis …

(Excerpt) Read more at americafirstpolicy.com ...


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 08/20/2026 2:13:10 PM PDT by T Ruth
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To: T Ruth

Never a better Time to rid the Americas of Communism.


2 posted on 08/20/2026 2:26:18 PM PDT by Eli Kopter (B''H We are given a new day today, with new choices. Choose wisely!)
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To: T Ruth
Cuba is a basket case, of no threat to anyone but its own citizens.

If it falls, expect a flood of migrants. And not necessarily they're best.

3 posted on 08/20/2026 2:31:30 PM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97

Their best, not they’re best.


4 posted on 08/20/2026 3:27:15 PM PDT by huckfillary
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To: T Ruth

“Cuba remains ... a major strategic concern for the United States.”

Yeah, I don’t think so. Laughably, Kudlow’s organization calls itself “America First”. Sounds a lot more like Wall Street First. No to Rubio and his Cuba First obsession.


5 posted on 08/20/2026 4:22:51 PM PDT by Stingray51 ( )
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To: T Ruth

Time to tell the government it has 48 hours to get out. If not, impose a total naval blockade, nothing in or out. We already stop oil, not too hard to make it a complete blockade. Bring freedom to Cuba. If East Germany could be rehabilitated, so can Cuba.


6 posted on 08/20/2026 5:56:03 PM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: Eli Kopter
Never a better Time to rid the Americas of Communism.

,,, agreed, but there's places like Dearborn (MI) and others in Minnesota that need cleaning up now too.

7 posted on 08/20/2026 6:04:56 PM PDT by shaggy eel (A long way south of the border.)
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