The King is Dead, Long Live the King......

In opposite ends of the world leaderships shifted. Fidel Castro is not seeking re-election as President of Cuba and President Musharref of Pakistan conceded defeat in parliamentary elections.

Earth shattering? Debatable.

Both dictators have not actually lost power but they have moved the administration of their states to others. Castro is still First Secretary of the Party and Musharref is still president but no one is giving him favorable odds on staying long. And the Pakistani army is dithering over who to support.

Autocratic Castro has handed over to his brother, Raul. And Musharref is playing the normal round of musical chairs with Pakistan's plutocratic elite as one family trades power with another. Both are essentially feudal states.

Have the people gained anything? Is democracy about to explode into their spheres? Unlikely--that will be a long time coming.