If nothing else, President Obama’s state visit to Cuba has put on display the profound cynicism of its leaders and the cocoon of unreality and fawning obedience that surrounds them.

“Give me the list now of political prisoners to release,” a rattled Raul Castro replied to CNN’s Jim Acosta at a rare news conference that he was obliged to attend because it’s the custom for U.S. presidents on foreign visits to take questions, along with their hosts: “If there are political prisoners, they’ll be free before nightfall.”

“If”?! How utterly shameless.

It’s no surprise that Castro was shaken. In Cuba, members of the hierarchy never have to face questions about the authoritarian disregard for human rights that characterizes their failed state. Not from the state-controlled media or from anyone else.

Within minutes of Castro’s unwittingly foolish reply, cyberspace was buzzing with lists of political prisoners and detainees held in Cuba. There is one recent list compiled by the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, and another list from the Cuban American National Foundation.

This possibly is what Obama had in mind when he said greater exposure to the world would ultimately be good for Cuba and its political evolution. Putting Raul Castro in the hot seat may not have been part of the original plan, but it’s certainly part of the result.

Welcome to the real world, Raul.

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