President Obama should pursue measures aimed at ending the Cuba embargo

President Obama’s handshake with Cuban President Raúl Castro at Nelson Mandela’s funeral last December prompted speculation that after more than 50 years of its embargo against the country, the U.S. may be becoming open to a more normal relationship. Natalie Allen takes a close look at the history and effects of the U.S. embargo against Cuba, and argues that it has largely failed as a policy. She writes that while there is currently little likelihood of Congress overturning the embargo in the current political climate, President Obama should use his executive power to ease some of the its restrictions and to formalize diplomatic relationships between the two countries.