It will be very difficult, because (as we have seen in Eastern Europe) the bankrupt regime is bankrupt. It has used the savings/investments in the country's infrastructure, that has taken generations to build up. Leaving the country with no proper exports, mean that it is not possible to finance the rebuild, because such pumping out of public spending/investment will make the balance of payment go under the cellar floor.

One of the major factors is who takes over, and how. Raoul Castro, Fidel's younger brother and head of the military is technically the number two man. He's pretty old school, and would if he could toss out the foreign capitalist investors there now and watch everyone starve. Not the brightest boy mama Castro churned out. It would appear Fidel is grooming alternate more moderate choices sort of like a Cuban Gorbachov if you will.

I think the easing of restrictions will help things, already the US Government is passing legislation (whether or not the other house lets it pass is questionable) to allow US citizen visit the country. By allowing these people in, more and more Cubans will accept the benefits of democracy (from experience I can tell you it is a really poor country), and stop believing that America is the enemy (not that any of them seemed to think that anyway). We can then go on to intoduce democracy to the country.

If Castro dies, I think there will be a great deal of uncertainty and instability. US should threaten to intervene militarily unless Cuba holds democratic elections monitored by the UN. This is the only way to ensure a democratic transition.

If Castro dies, I think there will be a great deal of uncertainty and instability. US should threaten to intervene militarily unless Cuba holds democratic elections monitored by the UN. This is the only way to ensure a democratic transition No! Nuke them till they glow!

Why is it that everybody is asking if it will be possible to install Facism in Cuba, and not asking if it is in fact the best thing for them? **** Now replace Facism with Democracy... **** Just because Democracy suits us best, while we tend to despise other forms of government, does not make it best for them..

"Just because Democracy suits us best, while we tend to despise other forms of government, does not make it best for them" The 20th Century has clearly shown that Liberal Democratic Capitalism is the only system that really works and it works in every culture. Look at Germany, Japan, India, South Korea, South Africa, Costa Rica, Turkey and dozens of other countries. It would work just fine in Cuba too... just wait and see.