Cuba-what's the point?

I wrote the following  last year and never posted it! Now that we have made an overture towards Cuba I can be viewed as prescient?


After a trip to Cuba two years ago, it was clear to me that our lack of a relationship with Cuba was a big mistake. We ended the Cold War and yet could not find our way to straighten things out with Cuba, a gorgeous but impoverished island whose people are resilient , gracious and seemingly content despite the hardships that our decades long embargo have caused. What's the point?

Not to beat a dead horse, but they reside a mere 90 miles from our shores. China is drilling for oil there. Russia's Putin is now visiting. What are we waiting for to normalize relations with them?
The people of Cuba have suffered needlessly under our policies. The poverty is something that has to be seen to be believed. Buildings in Havana fall down on a regular basis from neglect and disrepair.
Why? Again what is the point?  We are waiting for.......what?

Maybe we are waiting for Russia to move the missiles back in.  Or maybe we are waiting for China to do something similar.

What would it take? The majority of people in this country probably don't even understand why  we aren't better friends with Cuba. Yes there are folks in Miami and other places who fled Cuba and want nothing more than for Castro to be suffer and be overthrown.  To what end? so they can retrieve their decaying properties? Wouldn't it be better to accept Castro will leave when he dies and not until then. Shouldn't we be helping the citizens of Cuba who cannot get essential items.