Fidel Castro Resigns!

[GAThrawn]

I guess everyone has been expecting this but Cuban leader, Fidel Castro has resigned.

From the BBC Fidel Castro announces retirement (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7252109.stm)

Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power.

"I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma.

The 81-year-old handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent surgery.


US President George W Bush said the news should mark the beginning of a transition towards democracy for Cuba.

"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," he told reporters in Rwanda.


This should be a period of democratic transition for the people of Cuba
US President George W Bush

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"And we're going to help. The United States will help the people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty."

Mr Castro has ruled Cuba since leading a communist revolution in 1959.

In December, Mr Castro indicated that he might possibly step down in favour of younger leaders, saying "my primary duty is not to cling to any position".

Soon afterwards, Raul Castro appeared to suggest that his older brother still had an important political role to play, saying the president still had full use of his mental faculties and was being consulted on all important policy issues.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Cue invasion of Cuba in 3...2...1.

[Primus]

Power vacuum!

Send some SEALs!

[TrackZero]

If he gives it to his brother, I mean....c'mon. Is there any more lame way to show you're running a dictatorship?

[Citizen Philip]

Oh great, now you friggen 'mericans can use the Cuban resorts! Well.. maybe.

[51|RandoM]

If he gives it to his brother, I mean....c'mon. Is there any more lame way to show you're running a dictatorship?

Oh I don't know, how about if your son becomes President... or maybe your wife?

[Rock Bandit]

Cuba's ailing leader Fidel Castro has said he will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power.

"I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," he told the newspaper, Granma.

Aw that's cute, he actually tried to make it sound like anyone in Cuba ever had a choice in who their dictator president was.

[nnanji]

Oh I don't know, how about if your son becomes President... or maybe your wife?

That's probably the funniest thing I'll read all day.

[bstiff]

Aw that's cute, he actually tried to make it sound like anyone in Cuba ever had a choice in who their dictator president was.

Lol I had the same thought but you know EVERYONE in Cuba loves Fidel. (at least while the guns are pointed at them) Although it's easy to criticize the government they have actually been doing pretty well for their citizens as far as health care goes and on much less money than we spend in the US.

[Johan]

He's been effectively out of power for many months. I believe they waited to officially announce it to maintain order and prevent potential chaos, which didn't occur anyways.

[Savok]

Cue invasion of Cuba in 3...2...1.
Nah, JFK died decades ago, no one wants to invade Cuba now.

[bKangy]

Say what you will, but he had a pretty good run all things considered.

[CaptStu]

Can I get some legal cigars now?

[Savok]

Say what you will, but he had a pretty good run all things considered.
When you're being propped up by a superpower (now-ex and no longer propping) you can have a plank of wood running the place

[Johan]

Can I get some legal cigars now?

I got a friend...

and let me tell you, they are excellent cigars! :D

[Dag-Sabot]

Must be a bittersweet moment for the CIA.

[bKangy]

When you're being propped up by a superpower (now-ex and no longer propping) you can have a plank of wood running the place

Yeah, but he's survived several revolutions, an invasion/civil war, near nuclear obliteration and reportedly 600 assassination attempts. Right or wrong, he's done pretty well to make it to 81.

[Generation ABXY]

Bah, Fidel's brother bothers me as much as Fidel himself...I wonder if Raul will be any easier to kill.
That was a joke, BTW

[Deadend]

This is turning into the year of "the brother". Next I expect to see Casey Affleck staring in a movie.

[stmfuller]

It is interesting news. I wonder how/if this will change cuba/american relations.

[Suave Peanut]

Did anybody else hear Bush talking about this? And did it make you sick when he suggested that we help them become a democracy?

[CoachCrazyMcScot]

Money will talk. The next Cuban government will ask for it, and the next playground of the stars will be Havana.

Of course, the Chinese will probably own it in 5 years...

[bKangy]

Money will talk. The next Cuban government will ask for it, and the next playground of the stars will be Havana.

Of course, the Chinese will probably own it in 5 years...

Eh, I don't think Cuba actually matters though, it was just symbolic. I doubt the next US government will care that much either way.

[Citizen Philip]

Yeah, but he's survived several revolutions, an invasion/civil war, near nuclear obliteration and reportedly 600 assassination attempts. Right or wrong, he's done pretty well to make it to 81.

He gets the best score in Tropico then.

[bKangy]

He gets the best score in Tropico then.

That game kicked all kinds of ass.

[Voodoo]

Cue invasion of Cuba in 3...2...1.

I invaded plenty of Cubans while growing up in South Florida. :D

[Schnoogs]

What a shame...he was so....misunderstood ;)

[Voodoo]

What a shame...he was so....misunderstood ;)

Totally. When I think of Castro, I imagine him being in one of those paintings like the one with the dogs playing poker. There is such melancholy in his eyes, like a crying Latino angel.

lulz.

[LilBunnyFuFu]

This is turning into the year of "the brother". Next I expect to see Casey Affleck staring in a movie.

here. (http://us.vdc.imdb.com/title/tt0443680/)

My girlfriend and her family are Cuban, so I am waiting for the call to go over and get drunk tonight. Toast some Dom and smoke some Partagas Havana.

[Phanto]

Good thing that name is pretty popular and well known because thats the name I use on Quake Wars :D.

[MrBeowulfe]

Can I get some legal cigars now?

It's actually not that hard to get cigars from Cuba now...although you'll pay quite a bit for em. I know a guy that has a few in his humidor right now actually :cool: Check out http://www.montecristonline.com/ Just for educational purposes of course :D

[[GH-SC]Ryctor]

I wonder if Cuba will finally start cashing all those Gitmo checks now..

[xcalibur]

Does anyone expect anything to change? It seems that he is simply passing the reins of the dictatorship over to his brother, keeping it in the family.


-X

[Slack3r78]

Can we drop all these pointless and unhumanitarian embargoes now?

[Deadend]

Can we drop all these pointless and unhumanitarian embargoes now?

No, because that would humanitize Cuba and possibly give them hope of having a good economy.

[Schnoogs]

Can we drop all these pointless and unhumanitarian embargoes now?

Aren't most Cuban Americans staunchly in favor of those embargo's?

[Slack3r78]

Aren't most Cuban Americans staunchly in favor of those embargo's?

Quite frankly, I don't care whether they are or not. The embargoes haven't been effective and I don't see the point in staying the course with a policy that's continually failed for nearly 50 years.

[Flatpicker]

3am huh.
You figure Fidel passed on and they tried to get the news out during the hrs nobody would be paying much attention?

[IrishWhiskey]

Musharaff loses the election, Castro resigns, and Hillary looks to be losing to Obama is several primaries.

Not a bad start to the day.

[Johan]

Quite frankly, I don't care whether they are or not. The embargoes haven't been effective and I don't see the point in staying the course with a policy that's continually failed for nearly 50 years.

I believe we see eye to eye on this, and have in the past.

Now...sarcasm ON:

To sum it up, we have to maintain the embargo *China* because this evil communist nation *China* must be sanctioned *China* so that the regime can be changed *China* and the people can have a democratic society *China*.

We obviously *China* have a consistent policy *China* in this regard *China*. It's not the size *China* of the nation's economy *China* but the absence *China* of freedom *China* for the people *China* that matters!

:D

[Schnoogs]

Quite frankly, I don't care whether they are or not. The embargoes haven't been effective and I don't see the point in staying the course with a policy that's continually failed for nearly 50 years.

I guess I value their opinion over the average American in regards to Cuba...no offense to you or anyone else.

[Slack3r78]

I guess I value their opinion over the average American in regards to Cuba...no offense to you or anyone else.

No, I can understand that. I just think that the hatred of Castro amongst the Cuban-American community tends to be intense enough that it colors their opinions to the point of irrationality. The embargoes have done nothing to remove Castro from power; he was eventually removed from power not by US influence but by old age and poor health.

I'm all for a limited embargo of certain items, but this blanket embargo garbage doesn't work and only serves to hurt the people of the nation on the receiving end.

[Xerxes]

Can we drop all these pointless and unhumanitarian embargoes now?

Obama would. :rolleyes:

[Oxonian]

I'm all for a limited embargo of certain items, but this blanket embargo garbage doesn't work and only serves to hurt the people of the nation on the receiving end.
Isn't the obvious argument that the problem with the embargo is that it's not tight enough? If Europe and Latin America also restricted trade with Cuba, we might actually create enough pressure to institute change a la South Africa. The current situation is the worst of both worlds: the sanctions are tight enough to seriously damage the Cuban economy, but not quite tight enough to "heighten the contradictions" and topple the government.

[Slack3r78]

Isn't the obvious argument that the problem with the embargo is that it's not tight enough? If Europe and Latin America also restricted trade with Cuba, we might actually create enough pressure to institute change a la South Africa. The current situation is the worst of both worlds: the sanctions are tight enough to seriously damage the Cuban economy, but not quite tight enough to "heighten the contradictions" and topple the government.

The problem is that you're almost never going to get unanimous international support for an embargo and will thus always have just the problem you're describing. They're not an effective policy instrument for effecting regime change and it's a bit self-delusional to believe otherwise.

[IrishWhiskey]

Obama would. :rolleyes:Is that an insult based on your agreement with unilateral embargoes, or a suggestion that he wouldn't drop them? I don't understand.

[cp#]

Resigned or dead?

[Shadowstorm]

I got a friend...

and let me tell you, they are excellent cigars! :D

You always struck me as a person who would like a fine tasting cigar.

[Xerxes]

Is that an insult based on your agreement with unilateral embargoes, or a suggestion that he wouldn't drop them? I don't understand.

No, but I recall him saying he would ease the restrictions.