I know I'm late on this (as with everything else) as I was out of town for a couple of days. Despite your objections...I will also congratulate you. It's not about getting credit for the blog, it's about the respect you've gained from those in high positions.

Congrats again and thanks!

When I sign on here and write my two cents about this issue or that, I feel that im writing in the place of my father-in-law, a very simple man who left Cuba in '61. He's not really on the Internet, and he's not the most articulate person in the world- a waiter by trade- but he's a venerable fount of wisdom and common sense about everything Cuba. One musing from him would surpass the entire collective "wisdom" that emanated from all the credentialed talking heads of the Clinton Administration over the course of 8 years.

Having an advanced degree is nice and all, but it is by no means a prerequisite for advocating wiser policies. In fact, intellectual pointy-heads oftentimes serve as obstacles to progress, instead of advocating for authentic reforms and changes that they should be pursuing.

We are tired of the shuttle diplomacy and diplo-babble that substitutes for the sterner tone and tougher policies and that have dominated the debate and discussion, and further solidified the status quo in the post 9-11 age- just look at the situation with Iran and Israel right now. We need the collective WILL to do the RIGHT thing, as unpopular as it may appear to some to pursue. In memory of our countrymen who died on Sept 11th, we must face up the hard truths about the evil that we confront in the world, rather than just paper over it and hope that these crises will just disappear. We owe it to those people and to our servicemen who have lost their lives in the subsequent struggle against terrorism and evil, and we owe them nothing less then that.

The real knowledge and creative ideas about Cuba doesn't reside in the beltway or in the media- it resides in the hearts and minds of people who aren't apologists, enablers, or dupes of authoritarian regimes, and who see the United States as the GOOD GUYS on the World Stage. Those are the people who visit your blog everyday (except for the occassional agent provocateur, no doubt!) So take hold of the flame Val- we all know that it's in good hands.

And yes, it is all about a free Cuba, it would be worthless if it weren't. If you get up on RCP, you are read by people who matter and that's important.

Congratulations and a big thank you to Babalu! I'm one of many, who look forward to your posts and know that you are making a difference... it's evident! Stay the course! It's only a matter of time and patience to see a Free Cuba.

I wish you well! Melek

"To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals - that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him." ~ H. De Balzac

First, thanks so much for your kind words of congratulations and for your support. I am once again humbled.

I feel the need to impress upon you all one thing as I dont really feel comfortable receiving such accolades and since there have been certain criticisms of me by parties I will not name: this isnt about me. i dont want to seem unappreciative to those that have congratulated me for this and other recent events but this, to me, is not about me getting a column up on Real Clear politics or Townhall or participating in this phone conference today.

We put a lot of hard work into the blog not to get kudos, but to get the word out. To help people understand Cuba and to counter all the leftist bullshit out there in the world.

Every word written on this here blog has a specific purpose and Im sure you all know me well enough by now to know that this purpose isnt to get my ugly mug out in front of a camera or to have some newspaper article written about me. This, everything here, all the hard work, all the interviews, all the editorials, all of it - is simply and solely about Cuba and her release from bondage.

Im not the sharpest pencil in the box, I dont have masters degrees in political science or economics or international relations or law. Im just the hokey son of a welder that happens to be able to string a words together to express relatively coherent thoughts for what i deem to be a just cause.

And that's it. And trust me on this, guys: I learn much more from you all than you do from me. And I am just as inspired by you guys as you may be from anything written here.

We are all here for one reason and one reason alone and hopefully, one day - soon - we'll all be rewarded with a free Cuba.

Because that's what this is all about.

Like Tati said: "...estamos muy orgullosos de ti y los contribuidores de Babalu."

Gain the confidence you will need in the future from all these opportunities that will continue to come your way. I sound like a fortune cookie! Anyway, know that you are very capable, Val.

Your courage is a great inspiration to Cubans as well as non-Cubans.

May God bless you and keep you.