In October of 1962, tensions were still high from the Cold War Era. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro agreed to put nuclear missiles on Cuba, provoking a response from the United States. The U.S. then quarantine's Cuba while putting the U.S. citizens in a state of nervousness and panic. This, however, is neither the first, nor last example of tensions in the relations between Cuba and the United States, however, it is a major part in the history between these two countries. Slowly since then, these two have taken baby steps to try to establish relations and now have finally opened their borders kind of. From the Cuban revolt against Spain, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis, we have a very long and strenuous history with Cuba. So why are we just now establishing relations?
             Before we go forward, we must look back on the history between these two countries. In February of 1898, Cuba revolted against Spain. The United States sided with Cuba and forced the Spanish forces to leave. The United States stayed in Cuba and established trade with them until 1953 (Yuhas). However, things started going south after Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1958. Relations soon ended and President Kennedy called for an operation called the Bay of Pigs. In 1961, U.S. airplanes bombed Cuban airfields, and CIA-trained exiles invaded the bay. They are soon defeated, and Kennedy is left to search for other options to bring down Castro (Yuhas). Almost in response to the Bay of Pigs, Castro and Khrushchev agree to put nuclear missiles in Cuba to "deter and future invasion" (Yuhas). Again, Kennedy decides to act and puts a military quarantine on Cuba. Finally, Soviets agree to remove the missiles if the United States removes their missiles from Turkey (Yuhas).
             Since the Cuban Missile Crisis relations have improved, albeit slowly. In November of 2001, we saw Hurricane Michelle rock Cuba. In response, we send down four Amer...