The Limited Incentive Of U.S. Friendship

After describing Cuban strongman Raúl Castro's tepid response to U.S. overtures as well as his crackdown on reformers at home, the "Economist" waxes pessimistic about short-term possibilities for positive change:

There will be no stars under Raúl Castro, no individual young leaders on whom outsiders can pin their hopes. This is the scenario that Mr Obama’s measures are intended to influence—and change. But on their own, they look unlikely to do so.

So now tyrants in both Tehran and Havana are trying to figure out if they can survive without the foreign enemy that helps them stay in power. I pray for it, but I wouldn't bet on it.