Send Greta to Havana

We’re delighted Alan Gross has finally come home. The former USAID subcontractor never should have been in a Cuban prison in the first place.

Unfortunately, the way the Obama administration went about it — e.g., releasing Cuban spies — the president has only invited, in the words of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, “further belligerence” toward Cubans advocating for a free and open society. Not to mention sending the signal to rogue nations that it pays to jail Americans.

Now, let’s stipulate President Obama did also secure the release of a Cuban who spied for us and has been in prison for two decades. He has a point, too, about the US embargo: It’s been a convenient scapegoat for the regime’s own failings, and it has not pulled down the Communist government.

So there are grounds for a healthy debate. But the president’s decision to reward Cuba with diplomatic relations and to act unilaterally to get around the embargo has killed any hopes for such a debate.

The Post has championed Alan Gross for years for one reason: America should never leave a man behind. And when an American is unfairly locked up abroad, we will help ensure he is not forgotten. Especially if he’s someone who’s been imprisoned because of some service to our nation.

It’s hard not to note that in another recent case — Mexico’s jailing of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi — Fox News’ Greta van Susteren helped get this US Marine freed without any of the compromises Obama agreed to in exchange for Alan Gross. Maybe next time the president needs a backchannel negotiation with some thug regime, he should send Greta instead of John Kerry.