Did Fidel Castro See The Future When He Said America Can Visit Cuba When It Has A Black President?

"The U.S will come to talk to us when they have a black president and the world has a Latin American pope". These were the words of former Cuban guerrilla fighter and Presidenf Fidel Castro after returning from a visit to Vietnam and while speaking to
International Journalists in 1973, says Argentine writer Jorge Solens for Argentina's biggest newspapers Clarin, this week.

Fast forward to March 13 2013 and the world would welcome Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina (Pope Francis) as it's new Pope. He was the first pope from Americas and also the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the 11st non-European pope after Syrian Gregory III in 741 (1,272 years ago).  Also another history was made when President Barack Obama (first black president of the U.S) visited Cuba which is only 90 miles from the U.S shores on Sunday March 20, becoming the first president of the U.S to set foot in Cuba since  President Calvin Coolidge in 1928 (58 years ago). Also another history is the Starwood hotel chain which signed a mega deal with the Cuban government to manage three hotels in Cuba, thus becoming the first U.S business group to gain entrance in the Cuban market in more than 60 years.

Cuba and the U.S have a strained relationship which could be traced back to the days of President Fulgecio Batista led Cuban government who got the backing of the U.S against guerrilla fighter Fidel Castro who is also the elder brother of present President Raul Castro. Fidel Castro it was who overthrew Batista in a coup in 1959 and changed alliance from the U.S to The Soviet Union ( Nikita Khrushchev) .

The history of the problems between the two can be traced to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by America in 1961. This plan was hatched after Americas favourite Batista was ousted by Castro, hence the U.S wanted to reinstate him back. The man behind the plan was president Eisehenhower but it was next president John Kennedy, who saw that it was implemented . According to the plan Cuban Exiles led by Jose Miro Cardona ( Former member of Castro's government and head of Cuban Revolutionary Council) were trained by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to invade Cuba and launch  two air strikes against Cuban air bases. The mission involved 1,400 trained armed men who landed in the east Coast of Cuba on April 15 1961. Things did not work as expected as many exiled Cuban's living in Miami exposed the plans to Cuban autorities. Cuban forces consequently launched a counter attack sinking two escort ships, and destroying the invaders air support, resulting in the surrender of more than 1,200 invaders with around 100 killed.

Subsequently John Kennedy's younger brother and Attorney-General Robert Kennedy negotiated with Cuba for the release of the raiders, after which both parties settled for a $53 million worth of baby food and medicine in exchange for the jailed raiders in Cuba. It took three years after the failed invasion for the prisoners to be freed and the $53 million goods delivered to Cuba .

While the Republicans continue to criticise "Obama's Doctrine" (Obama's new resolve of accepting the U.S past administrations wronged certain countries) , it is clear that Fidel Castro might have seen the future when he made his prophesy more than 43 years ago.

With the economy of Cuba having a GDP (PPP) of $212 billion and per capita of $18,796, GDP nominal of $78.6 billion and per capita of $7,274 .Also Gini ratio of 3.80 (medium) and HDI of 0.769 (high) it is clear that though it needs some improvement,  it is not as bad as been painted in the Western media. Surely Cuba needs America and America needs Cuba.