In the aftermath of Katrina nearly one hundred countries have pledged aid to the United States. Perhaps, the most interesting name on the list of those concerned for the welfare of US citizens is that of Cuba. No strings were attached to the 1,500 doctors and 26 tons of medicine that Cuba’s leader Fidel Castro had ready and waiting to leave for the disaster torn region of the Gulf and its surrounding evacuee camps.

It is true that relations with Cuba have been, well non-existent, for the past forty years. But last time I checked we were fighting the war on terrorism, not the cold war- (or could they perhaps be the same thing). It is highly unlikely that Castro is planning on smuggling 50,000 copies of the Communist Manifesto in with his medical team, though I am sure that the tenets of communism would probably sound pretty good to those whose lives have been impacted the most by the disaster.

Yes, Castro has denied assistance from the US in the past when Cuba has been hit hard by hurricanes. But, can you blame him? After all, the first time that Castro asked the US for help to overthrow the unconstitutional and severely corrupt regime of General Batista, we told him to take a hike (at the time US corporations and tourism were flourishing- go figure). We didn’t help him then, he found an ally in the Soviet Union, and the US has enforced strict sanctions ever since, with devastating consequences for the country’s economy.

But, as mentioned earlier the Cold War is over and as a result, the United States is the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world. But as recent events have so clearly demonstrated, once again, we are not infallible. We are quick to try to solve the rest of the world’s problems, but extremely slow to deal with our own, and even slower to admit when we were wrong. The simple fact of the matter is that thousands of people are without shelter, food, and adequate medical attention. This is certainly no time for an ego trip on the basis of an antiquated ideological rivalry. Castro has offered help, not only is his team of doctors in close proximity to the region, but they have the necessary language skills, and have plenty of experience in disaster relief (many went to Southeast Asia after the tsunami). There is no acceptable reason for us not to accept Cuba’s aid.

Of course, there is the ever-present threat to national security. Perhaps Castro is in cahoots with some terrorist organization planning an attack on the US once they are admitted into our borders.

But that seems highly unlikely.

The ubiquitous threat of terrorism is the reason that we are in this mess in the first place. In the wake of 9/11, if the powers that be had not decided to cut funding for FEMA, placing it under the newly-created Dept. of Homeland Security, perhaps we could afford to be extra picky with our aid.