Fidel Meets With US Lawmakers

Cuba appears to be serious about trying to normalize relations with the US. A day after Raul Castro met with a delegation of US congressional representatives, the big man himself did the same, Reuters reports. Fidel, replaced by his brother 14 months ago as head of state when his health began to fail, met today with three members of  the Congressional Black Caucus at his home for two hours.

Castro "looked directly into our eyes" and asked how Cuba could help President Obama change US policy, Rep. Laura Richardson told the AP. "Cubans do want dialogue," said Rep. Barbara Lee, leader of the caucus. "They do want talks." Lee said Castro appeared "very healthy, very energetic, very clear thinking." (More Fidel Castro stories.)