After Obama’s Visit Are US-Cuba Relations Improving Or Not?

FEATURING TOM HAYDEN – In late March President Obama made history when he traveled to Cuba with his family. Mr. Obama triumphantly tweeted, “Our flag flies over our Embassy in Havana once again. More Americans are traveling to Cuba than at any time in the last 50 years.” He became the first US president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

But just days ago, former Cuban President Fidel Castro, who is a living legend and whose word still carries immense weight, wrote an article in Cuba’s newspaper, saying, “We don’t need the empire to give us anything.” The piece was entitled, Brother Obama. Obama met Fidel’s brother and sitting president Raul Castro, but did not meet Fidel during his trip.

Tom Hayden is a one of the nation’s most prominent political activists. He served in the California legislature and has written for the Nation magazine for many years. He is the Director of the Peace and Justice Resource Center in Culver City, and has authored and edited over 20 books including Listen Yankee: Why Cuba Matters.