THE GUARDIAN: ‘HEALTHY AND ENERGETIC’ FIDEL CASTRO HOLDS TALKS WITH US POLITICIANS

The former Cuban president Fidel Castro yesterday met members of the US Congress in an attempt to improve relations between Cuba and Washington, asking what he could do to help Obama in bilateral relations between the two countries. 

“We believe it is time to open dialogue and discussion with Cuba.  Cubans do want dialogue. They do want talks. They do want normal relations.”  –Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

Obama has ordered an assessment of US policy toward the communist nation, and some members of Congress are pushing to lift a ban on Americans visiting the island.  Jeffrey Davidow, the White House adviser for this month’s Summit of the Americas, which Obama will attend, said the US president had no plans to lift the 47-year-old trade embargo against Cuba but would soon ease travel and financial restrictions .

Question to the Blogosphere:  Should we be normalizing relations with the Castro brothers, or is the improvement of relations hindering our ability to focus on pro-democracy movements within Cuba?  What do you think is the significance of the fact that the representatives meeting with Fidel Castro were from the Congressional Black Caucus?  What have been the benefits of the trade embargo?