U.S. policy toward Cuba, a brief review

1960: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1961: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1962: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1963: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1964: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1965: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.

1966: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1967: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1968: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1969: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1970: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1971: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1972: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1973: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1974: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1975: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1976: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1977: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1978: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1979: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.

1980: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1981: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1982: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1983: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1984: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1985: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1986: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1987: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1988: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1989: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1990: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1991: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1992: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1993: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.

1994: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1995: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1996: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1997: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1998: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
1999: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2000: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2001: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2002: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2003: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2004: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2005: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2006: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2007: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2008: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2009: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2010: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2011: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2012: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2013: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.
2014: U.S. isolates Cuba in an attempt to force reform. Policy fails.

But now, apparently, President Barack Obama plans to break with this grand tradition of tough-talk and consistent failure.

According to White House materials, the new policy will establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, expand travel opportunities to and from the island, make it easier for those in the United States to send money to people in Cuba, and create opportunities for limited financial transactions between the countries, among other things.

About time. America’s Cuba policy has been been an utter failure for longer than I’ve been alive.

Some will no doubt try to get political traction by decrying this change as a “betrayal,” but I’m not sure that criticizing the president for an insufficient commitment to abject failure and fecklessness is really a winning argument. A losing policy should never be a winning argument.

After more than half a century of failure, it’s time to try something else.

Plus, we need the pitching.