King Fidel the Magician

still clinging to power, King Fidel continues to delay Cuba's progress. his death could free his brother Raul to initiate more sensible reforms than Fidel is capable of (don't forget, Raul runs the tourism industry and the Army, the two things that work in Cuba).

instead, Fidel continues to try and cast his almost-half-a-century old magic ... despite several operations and a long convalescence, King Fidel continues to improve (does he seriously believe all Cubans are equal? do all Cubans have access to foreign doctors like he does?)

the reality: Fidel is a military dictator who has ruled over a single-party system in Cuba since 1959 without open and free elections and who has presided over the economic ruin of one of the Caribbean's once-leading economies ...

the magic: from his sick bed, Fidel riles against the US and capitalism ... who can provide their citizens a better standard of living than he can ...

alas ... the old magician fumbles his once impressive tricks