President Obama as Cuba's Internet provider

[Commentary] The great power of the Internet and smart phones is in their ability to connect people with shared values and interests – instantly, and across any borders that might divide people. These virtual communities have become a force in world affairs, either for good, such as during the Arab Spring, or for ill, such as Islamic State’s recruitment of fighters. Not surprisingly, almost every nation has yet to come to grips with this digital dynamo of collaboration.

President Obama’s faith in the Internet as a force for good was cemented during the 2008 election. His campaign team set a model in how to mobilize popular support over the Web. And even though he entered office as a critic of “democracy promotion” by the United States, he now insists that Cuba’s Castro regime provide open Internet access for its people as a condition for normalizing diplomatic relations. Democracy promotion has gone out of favor to some degree since the Iraq War, and as more despots learn how to suppress groups agitating for freedom. But the Internet remains a compelling instrument for “soft power.” It rests on the hope that openness, transparency, and the flow of ideas create a moral arc of progress. Cuba is the next test ground for this hope. President Obama should not waver in assisting Cubans in finally getting connected to the world.