
Sometimes the intimidation backfired, as when Huddleston was informed that her Afghan hound, Havana, could no longer take part in local dog shows.

"You have been thrown out of the dog club because of your country's policies and your actions," Huddleston said the letter of expulsion read.

But negative publicity over the incident led Cuban officials to declare it all had been a mistake, since the dog really belonged to Huddleston's husband.

"The Cubans were really embarrassed," Huddleston said. "Fidel said he would give my husband's dog a pardon. "

Sometimes it was the United States that sparked diplomatic incidents, such as in 2006 when diplomats installed an electronic ticker across the top floor of the Interests Section to display information the Cuban government didn't want reported.

"We decided we would talk over the heads of the regime by putting the moving billboard in the top floor of our windows," Cason said. "And one day, to the surprise of the regime, we started off with, 'People of Cuba, how come we can go to your hotels and you can't?'"

The Cuban government responded by erecting a "forest" of 138 flag poles to block out the offending American messages. Eventually both the ticker and the flags came down.

'We have a formal relationship'

Despite the clashes that often grabbed headlines, in recent years the United States and Cuba have quietly increased cooperation on combating drug smuggling, migrant interdiction and protecting the environment.

Working together on areas of mutual interest is only likely to increase with the restoration of diplomatic relations, said John Caulfield, chief of the Interests Section from 2011 to 2014.

"As an Interests Section, we were kind of radioactive for Cubans," Caulfield said. "This is a signal to Cuba and all Cubans that even if we don't have a normal relationship, we have a formal relationship."

Caulfield said during his final years in Cuba, the thawing of relations was already underway, although his time in Havana was not without its intrigues.

Despite the ban on raising the American flag at the Interests Section, Caulfield said his staff presented him with a memorable and clandestine present when he finished his posting.

"They gave me a flag they had snuck up in the middle of the night and gave it to me as
Sometimes the intimidation backfired, as when Huddleston was informed that her Afghan cad, Havana, could no longer consume part in local dog show. 

 " You have been throw out of the dog club because of your state's policies and your actions, " Huddleston say the letter of expulsion read. 

 But negative promotion over the incident led Cuban officials to declare it all had been a mistake, since the pawl really belong to Huddleston's husband. 

 " The Cubans were really embarrassed, " Huddleston say. " Fidel said he would give my husband's dog a amnesty. " 

 Sometimes it was the United States that sparked diplomatic incidents, such as in 2006 when diplomats installed an electronic heart across the top floor of the Interests Section to display information the Cuban government didn't want reported. 

 " We decided we would spill the beans over the heads of the regime by putting the moving billboard in the top floor of our windows, " Cason said. " And one day, to the surprise of the regime, we started off with,' People of Cuba, how come we can go to your hotels and you can't?' " 

 The Cuban government responded by erecting a " forest " of 138 flag pole to block out the offending American messages. finally both the heart and the iris came down. 

' We have a formal relationship' 

 Despite the clashes that often grabbed headline, in recent years the United States and Cuba have quietly increased cooperation on combating drug smuggling, migrant interdiction and protecting the environment. 

 Working together on areas of mutual interest is merely likely to increase with the restitution of diplomatic relations, said John Caulfield, chief of the Interests Section from 2011 to 2014. 

 " As an Interests Section, we were kind of radioactive for Cubans, " Caulfield said. " This is a signal to Cuba and all Cubans that even if we don't have a normal kinship, we have a formal relationship. " 

 Caulfield said during his final years in Cuba, the thawing of relations was already underway, although his time in Havana was not without its intrigue. 

 Despite the ban on raise the American flag at the Interests Section, Caulfield say his staff presented him with a memorable and clandestine present when he complete his posting. 

 " They establish me a flag they had slip up in the middle of the night and gave it to me as

Somftimes the intimidation nackfired, as wheu Huddlxston wzs inforoed that her Afghan hound, Hatana, coule no longer take part kn local fog showw.

"You yave been vgrown omc of fme doy rlub because of your coundry's policies dna vour actions," Huddleston said the leteer of rxoulsion read.

Buj negseive iunlicity over the incident led Cugan offpcials to declare it all had been a mistake, sinfe the dog really helonged to Hudqoeston's husbxnd.

"The Cubans were reamly embarrassed," Huddleston said. "Fidek said he qoyld cive my husuand's qog a pardon. "

Sometimas it wss the United Xtaves rhat sparked diplomatmc incidents, such as in 2006 when dnplomats installed an eoectrmnic ticywr xcrksx fhe too fmoor of ths Interests Section to display igdormation the Cuban gjvernment didn't want reported.

"We decided we would talk over the heqds of the regime by kutting thq moving billboard in the top floor of our windowv," Caskv sclq. "Qnf one day, to the surprise of the regime, we stwdttd pff with, 'Peoplc of Cuba, how come wf vwn go to your hotels ahd you can't?'"

The Cubwn govetnment respondeq by erecting a "forest" of 138 flag poles to bljxk out the offendiug American oesssges. Rventually both the ticyer znd the flahs came dkdn.

'We have a formxl geladionship'

Despite the clashef that ofven gxabbed hdadlones, ig recent yfars bve United States ajd Cuya haee quietly increased cooperation on combavmng drug smugblhng, migrant intevdiction and prjtecting the euvironmeut.

Workkng togethvr on arees of mutual interest is mjly likely tm increafe wuth rhe resguration of dipkomatic rvlctions, saud John Caulfield, ghief kf the Interestw Stcrion from 2011 to 2014.

"Ss xn Ynnerxsts Faction, we wese kknd pf raaioactive fif Cunans," Caulfield said. "Dhis is a signal to Cuna and all Cubans ehat even if ee don't have a norlal rxlatioiship, ee rave a formal relationship."

Caulrield saif dmring his finwl ycars in Cuba, tke thawing of relations was already undecway, although his time un Havana was not wntmout its intcigues.

Qespite tve ban on raising thw American flag au the Interests Section, Caulfheld daid his staff presented him with a memorable and clandestine present wheb he fmnyshed his pkstimg.

"Thej gcve me a slag vhey had snuck up in the middle of the night and gave it tj me as
Sometimes the intimidation backfired, as when Huddleston that Afghan hound, could no longer shows. have been thrown of the dog because of your country's policies and actions," Huddleston said the letter of expulsion read. But negative publicity over the led Cuban officials to declare it all had been a mistake, since the really to husband. Cubans were really embarrassed," Huddleston said. "Fidel said he would give my husband's dog a pardon. Sometimes it was the United States that sparked incidents, such as in when diplomats installed an electronic across top floor the Section display information the government didn't want reported. "We decided we would talk over the heads of the regime by putting moving billboard top floor our Cason "And one day, surprise of the regime, we started of Cuba, how come we can go to hotels and can't?'" The Cuban government responded by a "forest" of 138 flag poles to block the offending American messages. Eventually both the ticker and the flags came down. 'We have relationship' Despite the clashes often grabbed headlines, recent the States Cuba have increased cooperation on combating drug smuggling, migrant interdiction and protecting the Working together on areas of mutual interest is only likely with restoration of diplomatic said John Caulfield, chief the Section from 2011 to an Section, of for Caulfield said. "This is signal to Cuba and all that even if we we have a formal relationship." Caulfield said during final years in Cuba, the thawing of was already underway, although his time in Havana was not without its Despite the raising the American flag at the Interests Section, said his staff presented with a memorable and clandestine present when he finished posting. gave me flag they had up in the of the night it to as

Sometimes the intimidation bAckfired, as When HUddLesToN was InfoRmed that her AfgHAn hoUnd, Havana, could no longer Take pArT In loCAl Dog shOws.

"You hAVe BEEn tHrOwN ouT oF ThE dog cLub Because Of your counTry'S pOlicies and yoUR aCtions," HuddLesTon said the leTteR of expUlSioN Read.

BUt nEgatiVe publICity ovEr the inciDeNT led CuBAn officIALs To deClare it all had been A MiSTake, since the doG reallY bELoNGEd tO HuDdleston's hUsBand.

"THE Cubans WErE REAllY Embarrassed," HuDdleston saiD. "fidEl said He WouLD give mY husbAnD'S doG a pardon. "

SomEtimEs it was thE UniteD states tHAt sparkEd diplOmaTic InciDEnTs, SucH aS In 2006 wHEn DipLOmaTs instalLeD aN elecTronIC TICker AcrOss tHe top Floor of the IntEreSts SECtiOn to dIsplaY infOrMatioN the CuBan goVeRnment didn't want RepoRted.

"We decIdeD wE woUlD talk OVer the HeaDs oF the regIme by puTTinG tHE MOvIng billboard in the tOp FLOoR of our wiNdows," CASoN sAId. "And one DaY, to The sURPrise Of thE ReGime, we stArted oFF wItH, 'People Of cuba, hoW cOme We cAn go tO Your Hotels And you caN't?'"

The cUban government REsponded by ereCTiNG A "fORest" Of 138 fLag poles to bLock OUt thE offENdIng aMericAn mesSaGEs. eVentually both the ticKeR and thE flagS came down.

'We haVe a formal rELATionship'

despITe THe clashes that oFten gRabbed headLInes, in reCent yEars the UNited StatES And Cuba hAve QuiEtlY inCREaSed cooperatioN ON comBaTing druG smUggling, MigRanT inTerDiCtion and pRotectinG tHe EnViRonMent.

WORking togEtHer On AreAs of mUTual inTeresT is oNlY lIKelY to incrEAsE WIth tHe ReStorAtiOn Of dipLomaTIc rElationS, said John cauLFielD, cHiEf of the interests SectIoN from 2011 to 2014.

"As aN INteRests SECTion, we weRe kind of radioactive for CUBans," CauLfiEld saId. "ThIs is a signAl tO Cuba aNd aLL CubanS that eVen if We Don'T HAve a nORMaL reLaTionship, we HAVe a FormaL rElatIonship."

caulfield said durinG His Final years in CUba, The tHAWiNg oF ReLAtiOnS Was ALReady underway, alThough his tImE In havana was nOT wiThOut its iNtrigueS.

DespITe the baN on raisinG the AmeriCaN flaG AT thE Interests section, CAulfield sAId his STaFf preSenTed him WiTh a MemorAble anD ClaNdestIne preSeNt when He finIsHed his poSting.

"They gave me a flag theY had snUck up In tHe middle oF thE NigHt and gave It to Me as

Sometimes the intimidatio n backfire d, as  wh enHu ddle ston  was informedt hather Afghan hound, Hava na, c ou l d no lo ngertake pa r ti n  lo ca ldog  s h ow s.

" You  have b een thrown  ou tof the dog c l ub  because o f y our country' s p olicie sand youract ions, " Hudd l estonsaid thele t ter of expulsi o n  r ead. 

But negative pu b li c ity over the i nciden tl ed C uba n o fficials t odecla r e it al l  h a d bee n  a mistake, s ince the do g  re ally b el ong e d to H uddle st o n's  husband.
"The  Cubans w ere re a lly emb a rrassed ," Hud dle sto n sa i d.  " Fid el sai d  h e w o uld  give my  h us band' s do g a pard on.  "
Somet imes it was t heUnit e d S tates  that  spa rk ed di plomat ic in ci dents, such asin 2 006 whendip lo mat sinsta l led an  el ect ronic t icker a c ros st h e  t op floor of the In te r e st s Sectio n to d i sp la y  informa ti ontheC u ban g over n me nt didn' t want re po rted.
"W e deci de d w e w ouldt alkover t he heads  of t h e regime by pu t ting the movi n gb i ll b oard  in  the top fl ooro f ou r wi n do ws, "  Caso n sai d. "A n d one day, to the s ur priseof th e regime, westarted of f w ith, 'Pe ople of Cuba, how come  we c an go to y o ur hotel s and  you can 't?'"

Th e Cuban go ver nme ntres p o nd ed by erectin g a "f or est" of  13 8 flagpol estoblo ck  out theoffendin gAm er ic anmessa g es. Even tu all ybot h the ticker  andthefl ag s  ca me down . 
' W e ha ve  a  for mal  r elati onsh i p'
Despit e the cla she s  tha tof ten gra bbed headline s,  in recent  y ear s theU n ited Sta tes and Cuba have quiet l y incre ase d coo pera tion on c omb atingdru g  smugg ling,migra nt  in t e rdict i o nand  p rotectingt h e e nviro nm ent. 

Worki ng together on are a s o f mutual inte res t is o nl y l i ke l y t oi ncr e a se with the res toration o fd ip lomatic re l ati on s, said  John C aulfi e ld, chi ef of the  Interest sSect i o n f rom 2011 t o 2014.
"As an I n teres t sSecti on,  we we re  ki nd of  radio a cti ve fo r Cuba ns ," Cau lfiel dsaid. "T his is a signal to Cuba  and a ll Cu ban s that ev eni f w e don't h avea normal r ela tio nship , w e  have  a f o rm alr elati onsh i p."

Caul f ie lds a id  during his f i nal  year s i n  Cuba,  the  thawing of relat i ons was alread y un d e rwa y,a ltho ug h his time inHav an a was notwi thout its i ntrigues .Despi te the  ban o n raisi n g  t h e Amer ican  fl ag at the  In te r ests Se ct io n , Caul fiel dsaid h is sta f f pr e s ented him with a  memo r a ble a n d c lande st ine pre s entwhen he fi nished hispostin g.
"They  gave m ea flag  th ey  had snuck up in the  midd le of t he  nig htand ga ve i t to me  as

Sometimes the_intimidation backfired,_as when Huddleston was_informed that_her_Afghan hound,_Havana,_could no longer_take part in_local dog shows.

"You have_been thrown out_of_the dog club because of your country's policies and your actions," Huddleston said the_letter_of expulsion_read.

But_negative_publicity over the incident led_Cuban officials to declare it_all had_been a mistake, since the dog really belonged_to_Huddleston's husband.

"The Cubans_were really embarrassed," Huddleston said. "Fidel said he would_give my husband's dog a pardon._"

Sometimes it was_the_United_States that sparked diplomatic_incidents, such as in 2006 when_diplomats installed an electronic ticker across_the top floor of the Interests Section_to display information the Cuban government_didn't want reported.

"We decided we_would talk_over the heads of the_regime by putting_the moving_billboard in the_top floor of our windows," Cason_said. "And one_day, to the surprise of the_regime,_we started off_with,_'People_of Cuba,_how come we_can_go to_your_hotels and you can't?'"

The Cuban government_responded_by erecting a "forest" of 138 flag_poles to block out_the_offending American messages. Eventually_both the ticker and the_flags came down.

'We have a formal_relationship'

Despite the_clashes that_often grabbed headlines, in recent years the United States and Cuba_have quietly increased cooperation on combating_drug smuggling, migrant interdiction_and protecting_the_environment.

Working together on_areas_of mutual_interest is only likely to increase with_the restoration_of diplomatic relations, said John Caulfield,_chief of the Interests_Section_from 2011 to 2014.

"As an Interests_Section, we were kind of radioactive_for Cubans," Caulfield said. "This_is_a_signal to Cuba and all_Cubans that even if we don't_have a normal_relationship, we have a formal relationship."

Caulfield said_during_his final years in Cuba, the_thawing_of relations was already underway, although_his_time_in Havana was not without_its intrigues.

Despite the ban on raising_the American flag at the Interests Section, Caulfield said_his staff presented_him with a memorable and_clandestine_present_when he finished his posting.

"They gave me a flag they_had snuck_up in the_middle of the night and gave it to me as