Politics has always been the art of the possible. And right now it may be possible for the United States to breathe some fresh breaths of freedom into Cuba by a unilateral show of good will.

Without the old Soviet bloc, Cuba is no real threat to the United States. Lowering our guard will not be making ourselves vulnerable, as it would with many other nations. We can afford to be generous and open with Cuba.

And we should be.

Many people in Cuba are weary of missing out on the 21st century. That's why the Cuban government is so anxious to resume talks with the United States about migration and direct postal service. The island nation also wants to cooperate with the United States on hurricane relief and drug interdiction.

Now is the time to give Cuba a look at what can be done when people have freedom and put it to work in an atmosphere of free enterprise.

Was the Organization of American States right to allow Cuba to join last week?

Yes. Some 34 countries — including nations headed by leftist thugs — are now members of the OAS. Keeping Cuba out would have been vindictive and would have allowed suspicions to grow.

Letting Cuba into the OAS forces the country to work and play better with its neighbors.

Fidel Castro's socialist dream has been a complete "fracaso." The Cubans know it. They also know that North America is quickly moving into an era of communication technology that could leave them struggling to catch up for decades.

Already, travel to the island by Cuban-Americans is allowed. And former Cubans in the United States can now send money back home to help their families.

The ball is rolling. And the best move for the United States is to get behind it and push.

Showing Cubans that Americans are not demonic but are simply people like them — curious about the world, wanting the best for their families and in love with the idea of living in a world where people can do pretty much what they please — is the best way to tear down the "sugar cane curtain" Castro has hung up and give the Cuban people a chance to bask in the sunshine of freedom.