A Watershed Moment for the U.S. and Cuba

Cuba has been ruled by the Castro brothers for more than half of its existence as an independent country. Ultimately the test of dictators is what they leave behind. Men like Chiang Kaishek, Lee Kwan Yew, Agustin Pinochet and Francisco Franco, whatever their crimes and shortcomings—and these should never be minimized or dismissed—left their countries better positioned for the future. Rulers like Papa Doc, Benito Mussolini and Vladimir Lenin wrecked their countries while holding power. While their execrable failures as economic leaders and planners will keep the Castros out of the front ranks of the modernizing tyrants, the future will tell us to which class of dictator the Castro brothers belong. In the meantime moving toward a normalized relationship with the island is in the interest of the United States and the Cuban people.