Because, of course, decades of brutal rule were somehow distractions to their "real" intentions all along.
Sadly, the media echoes this narrative.
But don't forget to read the fine print at the end.
For example, this morning CNN reports:
"Starting next year, Cubans traveling abroad will face fewer hurdles leaving the country.
The official news site Granma reported Tuesday that the Cuban government will no longer require a travel permit and a letter of invitation.
The move is part of the reforms that President Raul Castro promised when he took office in 2008."
But don't forget the fine print:
"The new change, however, does not mean that anyone wanting to travel will get a passport.
'The ordinary passport will be issued to the Cuban citizens who meet the requirements of the Migration Law,' which is being modified, according to the report in Granma.
While the report does not say how the law will be altered, it does add that the government will fight brain -- and money -- drain 'from the aggressive and subversive plans of the US government and its allies.' It will do so by leaving in place measures to preserve 'human capital created by the Revolution from the theft of talents practiced by the powerful nations.'"
In other words, nothing is really changing, other than the verbiage.
Last week, the BBC ran a similar narrative on Raul's housing "reforms."
The headline read: "Cuban property market booms after limited reforms"
But after a long story, full of the usual dicta, it concludes at the very end:
"While anecdotal evidence points to a boom in property sales, official statistics from January to August only record about 15,000 transactions, while the number of property donations is twice that."
Turns out it was all "anecdotal".
