Castro irrelevancy argues for ban’s end

 NO ONE knows what will finally topple Fidel Castro’s rickety regime in Cuba. But it might just be a horde of U.S. tourists toting suitcases.

An oft-debated proposal to lift the last vestiges of a 50-year travel ban to Cuba appears to be gaining momentum in the House. Similar efforts have faltered through the years, but this time lawmakers should finish the job — and see what effect it would have on finishing off the long and destructive Castro reign.

A bipartisan measure, introduced by Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democrat Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, now has 178 co-sponsors. That’s just 40 short of the number needed for passage. The Senate’s version now has 33 co-sponsors, according to The Hill newspaper.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama reversed travel restrictions imposed on Cuban Americans by President Bill Clinton and later tightened by George W. Bush. The limits, designed to punish Fidel Castro and his brothers for their brutal treatment of dissidents, primarily hurt family members attempting to visit each other.

Last week, Human Rights Watch issued a report stating that the government, led by Fidel’s brother Raul for the past three years, continues to detain political prisoners. Outside pressure, including a U.S. embargo and travel ban, has done little or nothing to change that over many decades.

An influx of visitors to Cuba could help tilt the balance — if Congress were willing to give it a try. Among those supporting a change are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a group of Cuban-American veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion.

Opposition to lifting the ban remains staunch, particularly among Florida lawmakers. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-

Schultz, a Democrat, argues that allowing U.S. tourists to return to Cuba “would legitimize an ailing dictatorship.”

But it’s difficult to believe that even the self-deluded Castros would view the change that way, or that Cubans would believe any such claims by the Castros. The brothers undoubtedly would welcome the tourism revenue, but it’s highly unlikely they relish the prospect of Americans freely interacting with the people of Cuba.

Lifting the travel ban would not be a concession to the Castros. It would be a blunt message: They simply no longer matter.