26 July 2012 Last updated at 14:11 ET

Poor Raul, he just doesn't get it: international relations is governed by power, and between unequal powers there can never be equal treatment. Sad, but the reality going back....since the beginning

Thucydides's maxim: "The strong do as they wish, while the poor suffer as they must."

"Athenians. For ourselves, we shall not trouble you with specious pretences- either of how we have a right to our empire because we overthrew the Mede, or are now attacking you because of wrong that you have done us- and make a long speech which would not be believed; and in return we hope that you, instead of thinking to influence us by saying that you did not join the Lacedaemonians, although their colonists, or that you have done us no wrong, will aim at what is feasible, holding in view the real sentiments of us both; since you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must."


Things have developed into a far better world, especially in the West, but at the heart of the debate: Power still rules.

For Raul to insist that Cuba be treated as an equal of the USA is against all reasonable sense of how power works in the real world. Correlation of forces was the way the Soviets and Communist talked about balance of power. It would appear that Raul needs a refresher course.

"This thesis examines evolving Soviet perspectives on the "correlation of forces" between the socialist world and the capitalist countries in general and the Soviet Union and the United States in particular. The focus is on the Khrushchev and Brezhnev phases of Soviet history. The term "correlation of forces" is primarily an analytic concept used by Soviet leaders and scholars to understand and interpret the pace of what they view as the inevitable historical development in favor of socialism. A rough Soviet equivalent of the Western concept of the "balance of power," "correlation of forces" as it is used by Soviet spokesmen encompasses economic, political, and military-security dimensions.

The methodology employed in the thesis in charting the chronological evolution of Soviet thinking regarding the correlation of forces consists of a careful and discriminating textual analysis of terminological variations in Soviet scholarly and official use of the concept over time, with due regard to contextual fluctuations in the domestic and international realms. For its source material, this study relied heavily on the speeches and writing of Soviet leaders as well as utilizing analyses of international developments published in Soviet scholarly journals. The differing stress on each of the three aspects of the correlation of forces—economic, political, and military—between the Khrushchev and Brezhnev periods allowed us to trace the change and evolution of the Soviet world view from a primary stress on economic factors of the distribution of power under Khrushchev, to an emphasis on the military dimension of the balance under Brezhnev. By monitoring terminological variations in the concept, we were able to identify periods of optimism and pessimism during both the Khrushchev and Brezhnev phases.

We also noted the important role played by the divergent personalities of Khrushchev and Brezhnev on Soviet portrayal of the correlation of forces. Whereas the exuberant Soviet optimism in the military area lacked any basis in fact under Khrushchev, the depiction of the military correlation, while more muted under Brezhnev, was solidly based. These and other such differences, we argued, were a function of the stamp superimposed on Soviet politics by the respective leaders of the time.
This study will, by clarifying the context within which the Soviet leadership makes its choices, contribute to an enhanced understanding of the general foreign policy trends of the USSR."



Cuban President Raul Castro 'willing to talk to US'

President Castro said that no topic was off limits



Cuban President Raul Castro has made a seemingly impromptu address at a Revolution Day ceremony and said he is willing to hold talks with the US.

Mr Castro, who had not spoken at the event for the past two years, grabbed the microphone to address the crowd in the eastern province of Guantanamo.

He said he would hold talks with the US, as long as it was "a conversation between equals".

The two countries have not had diplomatic relations for five decades.

President Castro said the offer had already been made through diplomatic channels and that no topic was off limits.

"Any day they want, the table is set," Mr Castro said.

Continue reading the main story
Analysis

Sarah Rainsford
BBC News, Havana
The ceremonies began at 7 am to avoid the burning heat and, in the new, post-Fidel style, it was all over by 08:20.

Raul Castro had not spoken at this event for the past two years but today, looking sprightly, cracked jokes.

He was full of defiance against the US and defence of the revolution.

But there was no big announcement for those Cubans frustrated by the slow pace of economic and social reforms. The message was change "without haste".

As for increasing the average $20 monthly salary, that will not happen, they were told, until those changes make the economy productive.

He said he was prepared to discuss "the problems of democracy, human rights etc. But on equal terms because we are no-one's colony".

Referring to renewed US criticism of Cuba's human rights record, President Castro said he was happy to discuss it, if that of the US was also up for debate.

On Wednesday, the White House called the arrest of a group of dissidents attending the funeral of activist Oswaldo Paya "a stark demonstration of the climate of repression in Cuba".

President Castro said Cuba would remain independent and free, and nothing like the uprisings in Libya or Syria, backed by foreign forces, would happen in the country.

If the US wanted confrontation, he quipped, then it should be in baseball or some other sport.

"Preferably baseball when sometimes they win, sometimes we do," he said.

Turning to internal matters, he said that social and economic reforms within Cuba would go on "little by little".

The annual ceremony marks the 59th anniversary of the failed storming of the Moncada military barracks, often considered the beginning of the revolution led by his brother Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro frequently used Revolution Day addresses to make major policy announcements.

This year's main celebration began at dawn with music and speeches.

First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura said in a keynote address that Havana would continue efforts to shut down the US naval base there.

"We will continue to fight such a flagrant violation... we will never stop trying to recover that piece of ground," he said.

says Atabey

Poor Raul, he just doesn't get it: international relations is governed by power, and between unequal powers there can never be equal treatment

funny you said that. are you not the guy who advocated development by way of the ¨free market¨? now do you understand why there is no such thing as free trade?

good answer. but dialogue would be good equal or not. it's long overdue and the people of cuba and their loved ones stateside are the ones that suffer.

chirps Atabey

Nonsense. I've advocated "freer trade" There is a difference.

tell, us, great sage, what is your definition of "freer trade". this should be real good. be careful to give us a clear outline of the difference to which you allude.

edit

Your best comment, by far.

at least i have one which can be characterized as being best. yours are all juvenile, low information rubbish. it is obvious that you are in way above your head. cockfighting, Atabey, cockfighting.

Atabey, please do not ignore the request for your dissertation on FREER TRADE. i have stayed awake all night hoping to see it in print. please do not disappoint the readership.

They are waiting for you to disembark on a yola like McArthur toting a pipe in hand to lead the revolution lol