Photo credit: The Washington Post

Here’s what President Obama said today, in an address before the Turkish Parliament, about how Turkey became a democracy:

“At the end of World War I, Turkey could have succumbed to the foreign powers that were trying to claim its territory, or sought to restore an ancient empire. But Turkey chose a different future. You freed yourself from foreign control, and you founded a republic that commands the respect of the United States and the wider world.

“And there is a simple truth to this story: Turkey's democracy is your own achievement. It was not forced upon you by any outside power, nor did it come without struggle and sacrifice. Turkey draws strength from both the successes of the past, and from the efforts of each generation of Turks that makes new progress for your people.”

Now, if President Obama applied the same framework to our Cuba policy, wouldn’t he end the embargo, cease funding U.S. AID programs geared toward regime change, acknowledge Cuba’s journey from domination by foreign powers, and entrust Cuba’s political future to the goals and aspirations of Cuba’s people?

Question for the President’s foreign policy team: Do the Europe and Western Hemisphere guys ever talk to each other? Just asking.

-- Sarah Stephens