US-Cuba Relations: President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro met in the first sit-down between the two countries in a half-century. The last time the two countries had a meeting was in 1956. It is very historic.

Obama told Castro that “over time it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our 2 countries.”

President Castro asked for “patience” as the two countries thaw relations.

President Obama said, “This shift in US policy represents a turning point for our entire region.”

Earlier, President Castro apologized to President Obama and that he was unlike the 10 previous presidents before him. He said Obama was a “honest man.”

New York Times: “If Mr. Obama was ready to forget past grudges, Mr. Castro was not. He gave a lengthy speech on Saturday that included a recitation of Cuban grievances against the United States — including its support for Fulgencio Batista, the Bay of Pigs invasion and its opening of the prison at Guantánamo Bay — sometimes pounding the table for emphasis. But Mr. Castro also made clear that he did not blame Mr. Obama for the legacy of bad blood between their two countries.”

Of course, the right wing freak-out over President Obama and President Castro’s meeting will hit a fever pitch.

"This shift in US policy represents a turning point for our entire region." –President Obama 11 April 2015 pic.twitter.com/gkhZhKCvzY

— scott horsley (@HorsleyScott) April 11, 2015

This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.