In 2007, the whole world expected a lot, maybe too much from Obama. The whole world expected drastic changes, particularly in American foreign policy. After almost seven years since he became the first black president of the United States, a concern, if not a disappointment, settled in the hearts of all those who saw in him the president of the world.
For some, their prediction that Obama would be just another "white" at the White House was confirmed. Some saw in his background of child born of a white woman and raised by his white grandmother, elements that can explain a lack of sensitivity for the cause of blacks in the United States and the disenfranchised in the world. Others are convinced that the "white" establishment would not allow him to succeed in anything whether in the United States or on the international political scene.
On December 17, 2014, I was driving while listening to a radio show called "di m m a di w" (Tell me, I'll tell you) by Marvel Dandin on Radio Kiskeya when the news fell like a hair on soup: President Obama has decided to resume diplomatic relations with Cuba!
I spontaneously applauded while shouting, "Bravo!" The person next to me, who was not following the radio show, thought for a moment that I had lost my mind. But yes, I couldn't believe my ears... yes for a moment I was overjoyed.
I was expecting that the radio broadcast would be interrupted to make way for a debate on the significance and the impact of such a decision on the daily lives of Cubans, on the economy of both countries, on the tourism industry in the Caribbean and on the world. This was not the case. The show continued its normal course. Too bad!
Better late than never! Finally the real Barack Hussein Obama has emerged from a long time of hibernation under the yoke of the American white establishment. I'm guessing that the inconsistency of not having diplomatic relations with Cuba while the United States has relations with Communist China was obvious since the beginning in Barack's head (I can now call him by his first name because I feel that he is much closer to me). But he had to find the right time. He has nothing to lose since he was re-elected and he only has just a few months to go at the helm of the largest military superpower of the world. Furthermore, Hilary Clinton, the next Democratic presidential candidate, has already pronounced herself in agreement with such openness with Cuba.
Despite the very real power of the Cuban lobby in the United States, despite the fact that the Republicans will certainly use this decision against the Democratic candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections in the sole aim of securing the votes of the Cuban community, Barack hit strong and well. He regained in a jiffy the confidence of the world, which annually demands at the General Assembly of the United Nations the suspension of the embargo against Cuba; he won the confidence of all the countries of Central America, South America and the Caribbean: "Somos Americanos". We understand better now that the handshake that he has exchanged with President Raul Castro in South Africa at Mandela's funeral was neither improvised nor innocent.

Bravo and thank you, Barack!
The path that leads to world peace is long and difficult. Of course, the opening of the United States on Cuba announces a new era in relations between the countries and peoples of the world. But Barack will have to keep the momentum and dare other bolder actions:

o He has a date with history and he should hurry. The photo of the century will be the handshake that he will exchange with Fidel Castro before his death
o U.S. policy towards Venezuela will have to change and immediately to make room for another more tolerant and less hostile
o He shall order an assessment of the role of the CIA in the world for the past 20 years and proceed with the reform of the institution
o He will have to initiate in the U.S. and worldwide a debate on outdated ideologies of communism, socialism, capitalism etc. It is time to rethink the ideological "shackles" in which the world has been confined for so long. Long before Karl Marx in the 1840s, there were forms of communism around the world, including the beginnings of Christianity and the Shakers of 19th century America. During the second half of the 19th century, in response to the monarchies and many right autocratic regimes which were in power, various organizations of the left emerged around the world. In the decades that followed, several governments using the 'communist' name have come to power in many regions of the world, including in much of East Asia, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa. During the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, most of these 'communist' regimes collapsed and the countries have adopted a more or less capitalist economic policy, even if some remain nominally communist, like the People's Republic of China".
So historically, communism was a 'must' or a necessary evil of the time and has since evolved into something very different that too often cannot be labeled. It is not too early to start a debate around the world about these dogmas. It is time to rethink global systems. It's time to demystify the cold war mentality that still prevails in the world. Time has come to actually tear down the walls that still divide us;
The P-5 + 1 group (United States, England, China, France, Russia plus Germany) must at all costs find an agreement with Iran on its nuclear program. It may be advisable to include Israel at the negotiating table. The future of the countries of the Middle East is at stake. World peace hangs in the balance.
Mr. President Barack Hussein Obama,
The world thanks you for having resumed diplomatic relations with Cuba and for having declared war on war at the rostrum of the United Nations. The world begs you to assert that a third world war will not take place under your watch.
Mr. President, forward! Time is of the essence, but there is still time for you to provoke world peace. It is still within your reach. The whole of humanity will be grateful.

o Marcel Duret is the former Haitian ambassador to Japan

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