Castro calls it quits

This AP report on the retirement of Fidel Castro reads like an obituary. In fact, given that news agencies maintain draft obituaries for public figures which can be quickly published in the event of a notable death, I've got a hunch that the AP did just that and replaced the word "died" with "retired".

Castro's younger brother, Raoul, will assume the presidency and doesn't appear likely to make sweeping changes to Cuba's communist state, George Bush's hopes notwithstanding. But at just five years Fidel's junior, I wouldn't expect him to hold the office for very long, so who knows...maybe Cuba will see democratic reforms in our lifetimes.