Somehow this is not the way anyone really expected Fidel Castro’s rule to reach its conclusion — with a resignation that indicates he has achieved an undeniable state of infirmity. I think we all assumed he would die, and that with his death, his regime would basically topple. Its legitimacy, or rather its fearsome control over is based in Castro himself. And therein lies a potential tragedy. News reports indicate that on Sunday, Fidel’s brother Raul will be anointed the new dictator. Given the orderly nature of the transition, there seems little reason to hope for a regime collapse. And one should expect, by simple logic, that Raul’s first and last order of business will be to make it clear that he is in charge, is going nowhere, and that the regime will stand strong. Which suggests that things are about to get worse in Cuba, not better, and that the long-standing dream of the Cuban people’s almost instantaneous liberation is not going to be a reality any time soon.