Free Republic

<p>With the one-year anniversary of former President Jimmy Carter's trip to Cuba fast approaching, we realize that history has repeated itself and Cuba's brutal dictator Fidel Castro has played Mr. Carter once again as a fool.</p> <p>The first time was in 1980, when after relations (or in the diplomatic speak, "interests") were established with Mr. Castro, then-President Carter saw over 124,000 Cuban immigrants leave Mr. Castro's island-fortress on shabbily constructed rafts in an effort to build a better life in the United States. Many — if not most — of these immigrants left Mr. Castro's brutality and successfully became part of the American dream. However, a small amount of these immigrants were sent to the United States directly from Cuba's jails and mental institutions. Sending these individuals to the United States not only freed Mr. Castro from having to provide appropriate services to these people, but it also allowed him to laugh at how he just duped Mr. Carter into believing that his agreement to have relations with the United States was well-intended.</p>