Likelihood of Success

You don’t have to go to Persia to see cultural and technological history go in reverse. That’s why we have Cuba. (UPDATE:  More on Cuba’s decay.)  It’s not that surprising, though: Fidel promised half a century ago that history would absolve him. He and Raul therefore like history so much — for even they must agree that no one and nothing else will absolve them, besides perhaps each other — that they want to go back in time. And, of course, take this miserable island back with them, by any means necessary.

UPDATE: Get out the bailing wire and formaldehyde.