President Obama, the First Lady, Malia, and Sasha greet dignitaries upon arrival in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Weeks before President Obama's arrival in Havana, uneasiness was already perceptible in the ranks of the Cuban government. For sure, President Raul Castro knew how much his regime could benefit from a historic event that would signal, better than anything else, the thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations. He was no less aware, however, of the risks associated with hosting an American president who was intent on openly defending the cause of human rights and liberty during his journey.
The ruling government's anxiety was all the more understandable considering that a poll carried out in April 2015 found President Obama's popularity among Cubans (80 percent) soaring well overhead that of the Castro brothers (47 percent for Raul and 44 percent for Fidel).
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WNU Editor: President Obama's 'tear down this wall' moment in Cuba was not the same as President Reagan's moment at the Berlin Wall. People in eastern Europe knew that President Reagan was a committed anti-communist and knew that he would give them moral support .... many perceive President Obama as a committed leftist, or at least someone who is sympathetic with many international leftist ideas. But President Obama's trip did start a discussion in Cuba, and President Obama was successful in giving some Cuban people the idea that there is something better out there, and for that I will say his trip to Cuba was a success.
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