Cuba and Haiti are adjoining Caribbean countries ruled by dictatorships hostile to the U.S., and lately Washington has followed nearly identical policies toward them. It has enforced tight embargoes against trade and travel and even sent warships to prowl off both coasts. Starting last month, refugees fleeing both islands have been plucked from the waters off Florida and interned in side-by-side tent cities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
But last week U.S. policies toward the two countries suddenly veered in opposite directions. American and Cuban officials are talking to each other -- albeit on a narrowly defined agenda --...