Castro gives up power, for now

[Papi Chulo]

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/01/Worldandnation/Castro_gives_up_power.shtml

"Cuban leader Fidel Castro temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night and told Cubans that he had undergone surgery, prompting Tampa's Cuban-Americans to ponder the Communist leader's future while residents of Miami's Little Havana crammed the streets in celebration.

Castro suffered intestinal bleeding, likely due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to the statement read on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga.

Castro said stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure."

The 79-year-old president said he was temporarily relinquishing his authority to his brother Raul, the defense minister. He said the move was of "a provisional character.""



I guess he does not have much time left.. being 80 years old!... I just hope he stays around until after Bush leaves office.

 

[papasmerf]

Lots of celebrating in the Cuban communities, here in the US.

Normalize relations with the US and get the price of cigars down.

 

[Berlin]

Fidel could very well be dead already, and the whole surgery thing can be simply a smoke screen to buy time for rank shuffling within the regime. It's interesting that a lot of Cubans here (who visit home regularly) whom I have talked to don't really know what to expect if Raul takes power.

 

[KBear]

Would it be safe to travel to Cuba now? If things fall apart, there are a lot of angry young men in Cuba.

I was planning to go to Cuba, but now not sure.

 

[danmand]

Would it be safe to travel to Cuba now? If things fall apart, there are a lot of angry young men in Cuba.

I was planning to go to Cuba, but now not sure.

Most of the angry men are in Miami.

 

[allaboutben]

Most of the angry men are in Miami.

Yep, they enjoy their bitching in Little Havana.

 

[KBear]

The people in Cuba, especially the young men, are pissed. As one example, imagine living in a country as a young man and watching other people/tourist drive by in nice cars, scooters and stuff, and being told that you, no matter how much money you have, are not permitted to drive one. You have to walk.

 

[allaboutben]

The people in Cuba, especially the young men, are pissed. As one example, imagine living in a country as a young man and watching other people/tourist drive by in nice cars, scooters and stuff, and being told that you, no matter how much money you have, are not permitted to drive one. You have to walk.

Not pissed enough it seems. If they wanted to change things they could. They outnumber Fidel's boys by a huge amount. Freedom is not free.

 

[frasier]

Yep, they enjoy their bitching in Little Havana.

While collecting US goverment handouts...yup life is tough...

....and yes...I hope he dies a painful death..

 

[basketcase]

....and yes...I hope he dies a painful death..

Nice attitude. Did Castro shit in your cornflakes? I think he made a tourist paradise (by making it free of Americans)

 

[Cinema Face]

Fidel’s my favourite murderous, totalitarian dictator!

 

[JohnLarue]

I guess the "Dennis Castro" Krammer refered to on Seinfield did not rate the job so Fiedel gave it to Rahul

 

[Asterix]

Not sure why the Cuban exiles are celebrating. Castro's younger brother Raul is even a more hard-line communist than Fidel, not to mention a notorious drunkard as well. Just what Cuba needs.

 

[slowandeasy]

Not sure why the Cuban exiles are celebrating. Castro's younger brother Raul is even a more hard-line communist than Fidel, not to mention a notorious drunkard as well. Just what Cuba needs.

Shit...it looks like things are going to get worse for my Cuban amigos and amigas..

 

[Asterix]

Shit...it looks like things are going to get worse for my Cuban amigos and amigas..

Raul won't last, but the greater problem is that Cuba has nothing to sustain itself economically. There could well be an exodus from Cuba if Fidel dies, rather than anyone willing to return.

 

[slowandeasy]

Raul won't last, but the greater problem is that Cuba has nothing to sustain itself economically. There could well be an exodus from Cuba if Fidel dies, rather than anyone willing to return.

If the economy opens up they are going to go thru some major growing pains.
Currently, the people are so afraid of the government and police that they tow the line... What happens when they don't have that big stick over their heads...

Economically, you are forgeting the US embargo, the impact that US tourism will have, and the number of Cubans who are willing to invest in their "country".. But they will still be in big trouble...

 

[allaboutben]

It says in the Star today that Raoul is more open to economic reforms like China's.
Could Cuba become a country for the manufacturing of inexpensive, quality goods like China has?
If so, things could get interesting.

Quality is somewhat subjective. China's economic scope is not even remotely comparable to a little island like Cuba. C'mon please.

 

[John Dough]

Castro

For what it is worth.... I do business in Cuba and have it from "reliable" sources. (One of my people is in TO right now and had access to his security people). that they took out some intestine.
The biggest fear with that is infection. So they have him clamped, not stitched, him back up and he is in a completely sterile room .
The care in Havana is good. Doctors are superb.. He is in good condition but will be bed rested for 2 months.
Even now though, he is coherent and sitting up.

 

[Papi Chulo]

I hope Fidel has a speedy recovery and has many more years in office.

I don't think Canadian investments in Cuba would be safe under a US puppet government

 

[frasier]

Nice attitude. Did Castro shit in your cornflakes? I think he made a tourist paradise (by making it free of Americans)

au contraire mon ami...he is a ruthless dictator and has killed many people in the name of his failed revolution...