American 'diplomat' in Cuba leaving

James Cason, the head of the American mission in Cuba, gave his final public speech in Cuba on the fourth of July doing what he does best, standing up for the repressed Cuban opposition.

"Is it provocative to point out that Cubans live under one of the most repressive regimes in the world?" Cason asked several hundred people at an American Independence Day celebration at his official residence.

The garden party - Cason's last major event before he leaves in the fall - featured a cookout, a live zydeco band from Louisiana, white and blue bunting and a U.S. Marine Corps color guard.

After Cason's speech, workers unveiled a three-story-high metal sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, its silhouette traced in blue electrical lights and holding a torch traced in yellow bulbs forming the number "75" - the number of dissidents rounded up Cuba's crackdown on opponents in March 2003.

"Is it provocative to remind western journalists of Cuba's 300 political prisoners?" Cason asked. "Is it outside the scope of normal diplomatic activity to provide uncensored information to Cubans?"

"Nothing will come - indeed, in almost 47 years nothing has come - from being polite to a dictator," he said of Castro, who has repeatedly referred to the top American diplomat in Cuba as a "bully with diplomatic immunity."

I disagree with Cason on many issues, including the embargo, the travel restrictions on Americans to Cuba and occasionally his abrasive style. However, his work with the Cuban opposition in Havana and his defense of political prisoners in Cuba (including a brilliant Christmas light display) were textbook examples of how to promote pro-democracy forces in an authoritarian regime. As Cason leaves I hope that his successor continues some of those activities with the same level of enthusiasm.

As for Cason, I haven't heard where he's going yet, but if there's an ambassador spot open in Burma, he'd be the man for the job.