Changing of a Regime?

Fidel Castro stepped down as the leader of Cuba last Sunday. The media covered it for a couple of days but it was not a huge news story. Fidel has been in power for 50 years and has been a thorn in America's side for just about the same amount of time. The American government has taken a huge stand against Cuba by having an embargo against the country. You would think that Fidel stepping down would have caused bigger shock waves in the United States. The United States has had a plan to transfer Cuba to a democracy when the time was right. Obviously it is not the right time. Fidel is not longer the head of the country but that does not mean he is gone. Raul, Fidel's younger brother was named the official head of Cuba. In all reality though Raul has been in charge since last summer when Fidel had surgery. Could that be why there was not a bigger reaction. It can be argued the transition from Raul to Fidel happened months ago and nothing changed. Cuba is still a communist country. Freedoms are still limited and nothing has changed. It seems that the US stance on Cuba has been wait it out, Fidel is old and will eventually leave. That day has come and there are no changes. How many more "Castros" are there. It seems like the United States needs to take a different approach. Raul himself acknowledged that Fidel would still by Commander and Chief. Fidel no longer has the formal title but he is far from gone.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/24/AR2008022400963.html