Why is China OK, but Cuba 'enemy'?
Fri Feb 22, 6:09 AM ET

By Al Neuharth

George W. Bush is the seventh president to visit China since Richard Nixon opened that door in 1972. But Bush also is keeping
the door closed to Cuba. Compare those two communist countries:

* Cuba -- Ninety miles from our shore. Population 11 million.

* China -- About 7,000 miles away. Population 1.3 billion.

In Beijing, Bush called China our ''partner.'' Cuba officially is our ''enemy.'' Why?

Because a small number of powerful exiles in South Florida cow our politicians into keeping the
crazy Cuban policy. That was designed to castrate Fidel Castro (news - web sites) and has failed
for more than 40 years.

Last week in this space, I reported on a visit to Cuba and a meeting with Elian Gonzalez. Many of
you asked how you can go to Cuba.

Answer: The hard way!

Most U.S. citizens are denied their constitutional right to travel to Cuba. A special ''license'' from the U.S. Treasury Department
(news - web sites) is possible, but very difficult to get.

Our group applied for a license Feb. 14, 2001. It was denied March 2.

We applied again April 12. Denied June 4. Applied again Aug. 15. Approved Oct. 3.

Result of this red tape: Many U.S. citizens who go to Cuba do so illegally. They sneak in through the Bahamas, Canada or Mexico,
and Cuba welcomes them. Last year's number of visitors:

* Legal with a license -- 137,000-plus.

* Illegal -- 27,000.

By contrast, more than 644,000 of us visited China in 2000, with legal visas obtained easily within a matter of days.

The ''Trading With the Enemy Act'' that keeps you from going to Cuba is utter nonsense. Shamefully, the ''enemy'' is us.