The longtime dictatorial tyrant and despot of Cuba for nearly a half a century, Fidel Castro, announced his "resignation" on Tuesday19 February. This largely superfluous and meaningless act will not result in any changes for Cuba, however. The new dictator, younger brother Raoul Castro, will largely continue the status quo on the isolated island for the foreseeable future, Any issues will still receive the usual input from Fidel who, despite being in poor health, will still have the upper hand and the greatest major decision making role in the "leadership" of Cuba. But a more significant change is in the distance. The Castro brothers will both be dead within a decade, and a younger more pragmatic generation of leadership is likely to emerge. This new generation could take steps to open up the Cuban economy to modernization and perhaps even foreign investment. Cuba could follow the model of contemporary Communism as practiced in China, with a largely totalitarian government opening their doors to American corporations bringing money and jobs to the almost exclusively impoverished Cuban masses. A strategy like this could backfire, however, as there may be an unknown swelling and movement for democracy and freedom from the masses once less entrenched leadership takes the helm of this nation. But for now, nothing will change, including the United States' longtime political and economic embargo of the island nation.*****
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