On Carter's visit to Cuba

Last week's visit to Cuba by Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. President, is open to two interpretations. Either it is a gimmick devised by Cuba's aging dictator to con the world into helping him to survive even longer. Or it is proof that, more than 10 years after the collapse of its Soviet patron, Cuba is on the brink of historic change.

It is probably a bit of both. The significance of Carter's unprecedented expedition should not be underestimated. He is the highest-ranking American ever to set foot in Castro's Cuba.

But none of this should disguise either the domestic political benefit that will accrue to Fidel Castro from Carter's high- profile visit, or the reality of the Castro regime. Carter's presence on official podiums alongside Castro implies a level of U.S. acceptance that successive U.S. administrations have been keen to avoid. And while its health and education provision is well-regarded, Cuba is neither a free nor a thriving country.

-- The Independent, London