When Raúl Castro became president of Cuba in 2006, he raised hopes, at home and abroad, that he would usher in a new era of reform. His brother, El Comandante Fidel, was struck with some sort of intestinal illness and rendered incapable of governing.

So in stepped Raúl with promises to undertake "structural" change in the country. He distributed parcels of idle land to farmers. He encouraged young people, many of whom feel restive about their country's system, to "fearlessly debate" the country's problems.

He decreed that Cubans could finally buy cell phones and computers, and could stay at tourist hotels that had previously been off-limits to them.

When it came to relations with the United States, he said last April, "We are prepared to discuss everything—human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners—everything, everything, everything."

But after his convalescence, the ailing dictator Fidel reimposed his authority—quashing hopes of internal reform and détente with the United States.

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