59 years ago Fidel Castro and his band of freedom fighters, chased the American puppet, Fulgencio Batista and his coteries of corrupt elites and the Mafia, from their homeland, which they had turned into "America's whorehouse, playground and gambling den". Then Fidel went to Washington but was rebuffed and an economic embargo was placed on Cuba. He turned to the USSR and Khrushchev was only too willing to lend assistance and gain a foothold, 60 miles from Florida.
     The next 56 years was hard on Cuba and became more so, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Cubans persevered and became self-reliant building a society, where education was free to all, housing was provided for all and health care was free for all, a health care system that was better than what the Americans had, a health care that aw child mortality dropped to lower then in America. The people did not eat "steak" but they ate.
     The vindictiveness of the Americans, did not bring the Cubans to their knees and neither did the regime fall. They faced the sanctions and embargos ( thousands did flee, especially after the  US, introduced their policy of preferential treatment, such as "wet feet; dry feet") and the various attempts to assassinate Fidel, the Bay of Pigs invasion by a CIA- sponsored group of mercenaries and Cubans living in the US, and prevailed. In the meantime, they sent thousands of teachers, engineers and doctors ( and trained thousands also), to many countries in the region, helped South Africa end apartheid and helped, militarily to win the independence of Angola and Mozambique, from Portugal ( they bested the South Africa military, which was helping Portugal).
     America lost tens of thousands killed and wounded in wars against Germany, Japan and Vietnam, but quickly moved to restore relations with them, but not with Cuba ( with which it fought no war and which killed and wounded some of  the "invaders at the Bay of Pigs", while defending themselves), which it took from Spain in 1898 and which it turned into a puppet state run by corrupt dictators, like Batista and preyed upon by American corporations.
     Why Cuba? Why did it take so long to restore relations and lift the sanctions and embargos? Why the narrow-minded and repressive vindictiveness for 56 years? Was it the pressure from the Cuban community? There was pressure, political, from Florida and New Jersey, where they mostly live. Was it the Cold War? It ended in 1990. Was it to deny the Castros a victory? Somewhat. Was it hurt pride, that " little Cuba", dare to defy them? Yes, because they did not want it to be a symbol for other countries in the region, but most of these countries, from Argentina to Chile to, Guatemala to Nicaragua have kicked out the US- backed military dictatorships, decades ago. For years the UN had passed resolutions, overwhelmingly, in favour of lifting the sanctions, but it was always vetoed by the US and a few of its "puppets". However, any countries like Canada did end their sanctions and began trading with Cuba.
      The Pope used his good offices ( after all he is Argentinian, who lived and endured the military junta and their repression)  and thus had a different perspective. He helped facilitate the process an Pres. Obama acted.
     The Cold Warriors and their political masters, refused to change. They did not want to acknowledge a failed policy and they most importantly did not want to "reward" Fidel.
     So here we are. Pres. Obama has made the journey ( the first since 1928, when "silent" Cal Coolidge) visited. The rain fell. It was a cleansing rain, washing away years of frustration, repression and enmity. These are exciting times. Good luck, happiness to the two peoples.  

     Valdimir Putin, decided in October 2015, to enter the Syrian conflict in order to save Bashar Assad, and he as so far done that and more. He has not only reversed the gains by the various Syrian factions fighting Assad, but has also dealt severe blows to ISIL and the al Qaeda branch, the Nusra Front. This forced the West led by the USA, to use its influence to force the Syrian "rebels" to a ceasefire and come to the peace table, which they did on Feb.27, 2016. The cease fire has largely held ( ISIL and the Nusra Front are not included), and the peace talks continue.
     Putin was seen as a "problem" in October, when he entered the fray, sending fighter jets helicopters as well as soldiers and ships. They carried many combat sorties each day and succeeded to turn the tide of war and helped create the conditions for the peace talks. Putin the problem was now an important ally.
     Putin was a pariah, shunned by the West. He was shunted to the sidelines and was threatened with a "chest bump" by the Australian prime minister, and lectured by Harper the Canadian prime minister on the Ukraine ( they, by the way are no longer around, one was booted out by his party and the other was booted out by the voters). The Russian military successes, forced the US and its coalition to bring him in from the cold and to become the important player, in this Syrian crisis. Before Putin's involvement, the fight against ISIL and the Nusra Front going badly, with more and more territory falling into their hands. The Russians did not restrict their "sorties" to these two but also targeted the "Syrian rebels". The pariah is now a welcomed partner.
     Putin the "peacemaker", is riding high these days and so is Russia. It remains in East Ukraine ( and with Harper gone, you can barely hear a whimper from the West), and is there to stay. In Syria, it has an air base and a naval facility in Syria and will not leave them. It also will keep a number of troops in Syria ( Russia had always wanted a warm water poet in the Middle East and now it has one.
     Putin's popularity continues to be very high in Russia, despite the economic sanctions and its effects on the lives of the people. He as brought back pride to his nation ( after the alcoholic- soaked regime of Yeltsin, which saw Russia become a "joke". Back in 1960, the then leader Nikita Khruschev, was asked by the editor of the Egyptian publication al Ahram, what constitutes a superpower's clout, and he replied that " half of a superpower's clout is its prestige and that if a superpower loses its prestige, it becomes nothing more than an old whore". No respect).
    Putin has restored Russia's pride, power and prestige and it  is an important "player" and no longer an "Old Whore"