[continued from previous message] 
  
 because we have chosen to accept the Washington orthodoxy that regime change 
 is just around the corner. 
  
 Ostensibly, the justification for this position is concern about Cuba's 
 record on human rights. When Margaret Beckett made her first major speech as 
 foreign secretary on human rights it was, remarkably, Cuba that was given 
 pride of place in her remarks. Our glorious ally, Saudi Arabia, did not even 
 merit a mention. Not only the Cubans are entitled to complain about this 
 epic display of double standards. The British are too. 
  
 The Americans' camp followers on Cuba have never been prepared to 
 acknowledge that a country which has lived under constant economic siege for 
 almost half a century, and which has been subject to more foreign plots than 
 any other, might be entitled to define "dissidents" in terms that do not 
 match those of their persecutors. But the obvious point is that dialogue 
 might produce results, as it has done in the past, while the current 
 stand-off, based on mimicry of Washington, will certainly yield none. 
  
 By recognising that regime change will not happen, and cannot be forced by 
 external intervention, Britain could restore mutually respectful 
 relationships with Cuba. There is still time. But if our sole objective is 
 to destabilise the Cuban government and support American manoeuvres to 
 replace it, there will be no point in even going to the funeral. Because 
 nobody will even speak to us, except the man from the CIA. 
  
 Brian Wilson is a former Foreign Office minister and was the only member of 
 the government to maintain regular contact with Cuba between 1997 and 2005. 
  
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