Simply put, the Castro brothers are the problem in Cuba and cannot be a part of the solution. Fidel Castro had every opportunity in the past three decades to build a viable socio-economic system but sacrificed all to aggrandize his power.

       Moreover, when we examine the experiences of countries in the former East bloc that have succeeded in the transition from totalitarian political systems and centralized economies to democracy and a free-market economy--such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic--the successful ones are those that prevented the bureaucracies existing at the downfall of their communist regimes from directing and controlling the reconstruction effort.

       These inept bureaucracies, totally lacking in free-market expertise and seeking only to retain their existing privileges, are incapable of carrying out a transition to freedom. Therefore, it is essential that the transition in Cuba be carried out by individuals who understand the people's needs and are committed to providing justice and equality of opportunity for all.

       Rapid, comprehensive reform

       There is another fundamental benchmark for a successful transition to a democratic government and a free-market economy: the implementation of rapid, comprehensive reform in all respects--legal, regulatory, economic, and political. It is only by setting up a true free-market system that Cuban democracy can be guaranteed. Half measures can be worse than no reform at all because failure to rapidly improve living standards and include all segments of the population in the reform process undermines political support for positive change.

       Any new leadership assuming power in Cuba will inherit a nation with virtually no financial resources, an infrastructure devastated by more than three decades of neglect, and a bitter legacy of state control over all aspects of the nation's social and political life.