Fidel Castro Tells Cuba He Will Step Down

[Whilletal]

ABC News: 'Devoid of Drama'? It's the End of an Era as Fidel Castro Steps Down

After almost half a century in power, Cuba's Fidel Castro is stepping down. He made the announcement overnight on the online edition of the Cuban Communist Daily paper Granma. "I will neither aspire to nor accept the positions of president of the state council and commander in chief."

I think its interesting that he decided to step down instead of dying in office. I'm sure he will still have power via his brother. Either way its the end of an era. Do you think he was a bad ruler? Sometimes an iron fist is necessary to keep control. Thoughts?

[Pookie]

Wow! I really thought he'd die in office. I'd bet he will have a lot of influence still through his brother, Raul. But, I wonder if the Cuban people are going to stick with Communism.
That remains to be seen.

[G. Adams]

It's not up to the Cuban people, it's up to those with the guns. If the government want to stick with communism, and don't mind shooting a few hundred protesters and arresting many more to do so, then nothing will really change. With any luck though they are tired of being tyrants and will allow the transition to liberalism.

As for whether an iron fist is neccesary for tight control, that presumes control is desirable.

[Suburbanite]

Quote by: Whilletal ABC News: 'Devoid of Drama'? It's the End of an Era as Fidel Castro Steps Down I think its interesting that he decided to step down instead of dying in office. I'm sure he will still have power via his brother. Either way its the end of an era. Do you think he was a bad ruler? Sometimes an iron fist is necessary to keep control. Thoughts?

I'm fearful that the whole truth about him can not be surmised in the wake of the massive amount of misinformation being espoused by us and communists.

[Whilletal]

Suburbanite I agree. Its far to easy to label a ruler as a tyrant. Im not claiming Castro was a nice guy but I wonder how much of what we know is just governmental manipulation. And before I get stoned with big pointy rocks I am not pro communist.

[Kite]

In light of the anti-communist attitude in the time period Castro came to power, I am led to question the validity of some of the reports about him.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Whilletal ABC News: 'Devoid of Drama'? It's the End of an Era as Fidel Castro Steps Down I think its interesting that he decided to step down instead of dying in office. I'm sure he will still have power via his brother. Either way its the end of an era. Do you think he was a bad ruler? Sometimes an iron fist is necessary to keep control. Thoughts?

I can imagine that event :
- Fidel just fell asleep at his desk office, forever :-)
A burial ceremony would last for several days (at least). A sort of modern-communism-era carnival. Stalin should be delighted :-)))

[The Decider]

I can smell those great big fat Monte Cristos already. Havana vacations. Pristine beaches. Inland trekking. Great food. Superb music and dancing.

Damn, I wish they would hurry up with normalization. Maybe President Obama will make the historic move!

[sevendogs]

Castro's stepping down does not matter much. Without Soviet support, Cuba is not very important politically. The regime will break down naturally. Just wait a little more.

[G. Adams]

Quote by: Kite In light of the anti-communist attitude in the time period Castro came to power, I am led to question the validity of some of the reports about him.

Considering the actions of his government that are known factually, and the actions of Cuba's communist allies, I tend to believe the reports about him.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: The Decider I can smell those great big fat Monte Cristos already. Havana vacations. Pristine beaches. Inland trekking. Great food. Superb music and dancing.

Fidel is about to kick the bucket.
The whole Cuban polit-bureau is on a verge of ideological breakdown, and you think about partying and dancing only.
Try to present a doze of compassion, please :-)))

[The Decider]

Quote by: Rainbow Fidel is about to kick the bucket. The whole Cuban polit-bureau is on a verge of ideological breakdown, and you think about partying and dancing only. Try to present a doze of compassion, please :-)))

I'll show you some compassion for Fidel and his Politburo comrades. Pass me a Monte Cristo and lighter. Please. :)

[The Decider]

Quote by: sevendogs Without Soviet support, Cuba is not very important politically. The regime will break down naturally. Just wait a little more.

FYI: The Soviet Union disintegrated back in 1989. Soviet support ended too. Cuba defaulted on most of its international loans in 1986. Cuba relies on limited foreign investment and meager exports now.

[Nono]

Quote by: Decider Maybe President Obama will make the historic move!

President Obama would have his nuts in the same political vice as all previous US presidents.

[The Decider]

Quote by: Nono President Obama would have his nuts in the same political vice as all previous US presidents.

That's why I included the qualifier "maybe" in my comment. We'll see if your unqualifed prediction about Obama's nuts holds true. To be continued....

[Nono]

Well at least I qualify it enough to use the conditonal "would" instead of "will".

[MariKine]

Maybe it's just because of Scarface, but I've always seen Fidel in a negative light.


Dunno what to think about this really..


Cigars!..?

[Nono]

Whatever his faults, Fidel really gave the finger to the pompous, overbearing US. Imagine -- a dinky banana republic a mere 90 miles from the shores of the mighty United States, which nurtured Cuba's brutal mafioso/dictator Fulgencio Batista. Cuba was a playground for wealthy Americans but peopled by dirt-poor Blacks and Latinos.

Castro organized a guerrila group that, after years out in the boonies, finally took power. He expropriated the ill-gotten property of the mafiosi (who fled to Miami) and set up a government that gave its people -- this in Latin America, believe it or not -- free education, medical care, etc.

Of course, he embraced the Soviet Union -- what could he do? And he set up a nasty police state -- what would you have done?

And Cuba is pretty poor to this day -- well it's been squeezed pretty damned hard by US embargo for the best part of half a century.

For my part, I have to have a sneaking admiration for the dude.

[MariKine]

Quote by: Nono Whatever his faults, Fidel really gave the pompous US the finger. Imagine -- a dinky banana republic a mere 90 miles from the shores of the mighty United States, which nurtured Cuba's brutal mafioso/dictator Fulgencio Batista and was a playground for wealthy Americans but peopled by dirt-poor Blacks and Latinos. Castro organized a guerrila group that, after years out in the boonies, finally took power. He expropriated the ill-gotten property of the mafiosi (who fled to Miami) and set up a government that gave its people -- this in Latin America, believe it or not -- free education, medical care, etc. Of course, he embraced the Soviet Union -- what could he do? And he set up a nasty police state -- what would you have done? And Cuba is pretty poor -- well it's been squeezed pretty damned hard by US embargo for the best part of half a century. For my part, I have to have a sneaking admiration for the dude.

Pshh. America may be pompous. But.

.. Well, yeah we are pretty pompous. :/

[thebuescherman]

Fidel gone can only be a good thing. Raul has been more for letting private businesses take place, and has even gone as far as to allow the public to voice their opinions of the government in select gatherings. He's a far cry from a fair leader, but surely an improvement from Fidel.

Perhaps will shall see an open Cuba in the future, though unlikely. If Cuba were to open its ports to Americans, they wouldn't be standing in line for hours waiting for bread within months.