When has direct dialog with a modern tyrant had good results?

Just off the top of my head... last year when North Korea finally agreed to shut down their Nuclear programs? Was George Bush embracing Kim Jong-il?

There's no doubt that having dialog is not a magic wand, and in many cases it reaps little or no progress. But NOT talking and falling back on labels "axis of evil" has had an opposite effect.

What does proactive mean? Conceding something for promises?  

It could. Or it may not. "If you let your political prisoners go free, we will lift a small portion of our economic sanctions. If you also do this and that, we will do more".

Talks MAY end with no results whatsoever. If it does, so what? At least we tried and perhaps we can continue to try.

If, as you seemingly believe, it's just arrogant for the U.S. to think it confers a certain cache by holding formal talks with a country, i.e. that there is no such cache, then what does it matter if they're not held?

I'm not understanding your "cache" metaphor, but I think I understand where you're going with this. The US being an enormous economic and military powerhouse certainly can have influence. But that does NOT mean simply talking to them gives them "great status", like driving a Porsche.

What about Raul Castro is brand new to you? He's been in the forefront as long as his brother, and by some accounts, is much worse. Do you contend he has been a democratic seedling all this time, just waiting for the right moment for the U.S. to water him?

Cuba Signs UN Rights Pacts Fidel Castro Opposed

I change my mind. We should ignore this guy.

I just realized when I hit send my reply title is exactly the same as yours.