President Bush spoke yesterday of freedom in Cuba, and for all the negativism these days about Mr. Bush and his administration, his words reminded us of why we are among his admirers. He spoke directly about the nature of the Communist regime there. “In Cuba it is illegal to change jobs, to change houses, to travel abroad, and to read books or magazines without the express approval of the state. It is against the law for more than three Cubans to meet without permission,” Mr. Bush said. “They’ve jailed and beaten journalists, raided their homes, and seized their paper, ink and fax machines. One Cuban journalist asked foreigners who visited him for one thing: a pen. Another uses shoe polish as a typewriter ribbon.”

Said Mr. Bush, “The socialist paradise is a tropical gulag.” He called on Congress to increase funding for Cuban democracy efforts and to “show our support and solidarity for fundamental change in Cuba by maintaining our embargo on the dictatorship until it changes.” He said “The operative word in our future dealings with Cuba is not ‘stability.’ The operative word is ‘freedom.'”

Well put, Mr. President. The words will echo from Miami to Havana. There was one thing missing, though — an end to the wet-foot dry-foot policy that means that America actually turns back Cubans who set out on boats and rafts headed for America seeking freedom but who fail to make it all the way to our shores. If indeed the operative word in future dealings with Cuba is freedom rather than stability, Mr. Bush could set the people of Cuba free instantly by inviting them to come to America until their regime topples.

Mr. Bush spoke yesterday of the parallels between Eastern Europe and Cuba, but it was the determination to emigrate that freed the captive nations of the Warsaw Pact. Absent a promise to rescue seaborne Cuban refugees and welcome them into America until their homeland is free, Mr. Bush’s words to the Cubans — “you and your suffering are never far from our hearts and prayers. The American people care about you” — while doubtless sincere and heartfelt and well intentioned, nevertheless ring slightly hollow.