While Fidel was a no-show at a Cuban national celebration yesterday, brother Raúl addressed the crowd with a pointed message to the U.S. that his government will extend the olive branch to the incoming U.S. administration:

…Raúl Castro centered his message on the U.S., historic enemy of the Cuban revolution, and extended his hand to the administration that will replace that of George W. Bush, whom he accuses of maintaining a “retrograde and fundamentalist” way of thinking which “allows no room for rational analysis.”

“The new administration will have to decide whether it maintains the absurd, illegal and failed policy against Cuba, or if it will accept the olive branch that we extended to them on the 50th anniversary of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, when we reaffirmed our willingness to discuss with equality our prolonged differences with the U.S.”, he emphasized. Raúl Castro was referring to the offer of dialogue that he made to the White House last December 2nd.

I guess whether the peace pipe will be smoked between the two nations depends on who ends up being President. If you’re following the continuing saga of Barack vs. Hillary, you’ll know that yesterday was a banner day for their hatred of each other, and at the center of the debate was the question of foreign policy towards “enemy nations”, specifically that of Fidel Castro. It all started with the YouTube debate:

WHEN, in the South Carolina debate, Barack Obama said he would meet with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran and North Korea in his first year as president, he stepped into a cow pie.

Hillary pounced, declaring that in a Clinton White House, there would be no promised first-year meetings with any dictator or enemy of the United States.

Yesterday Barack fired back, equating a Hillary Clinton presidency to “Bush-Cheney lite”. Hill wasn’t having it, and when questioned about the Senator’s remarks, called him “irresponsible and naive”.

Looks like no matter who we end up with, it will be someone who berates others and sinks to petty lows. The future looks bright!

Via / Estrella Digital and SF Gate