Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Castro in surgery
It must be serious, since he decided to cede power formally to his little brother, something that he has never done before. Let's hope that the quality of health care in Cuba isn't nearly as good as lefty apologists claim that it is.
And, yes, I did just say that I hope Castro dies.
Here's a photo of Fidel and little brother Raul taken around five years ago. From the look on Fidel's face, you have to wonder whether he trusts even his brother. Maybe he shouldn't...
And, yes, I did just say again that I hope Castro dies.
So does this woman, who joined friends dancing in the streets of Miami's "Little Havana" last night. If Castro goes, Florida electoral politics may never be the same...
Here's another picture of Fidel looking much more trusting of Raul. The Agence France-Presse caption is both typical and priceless:
Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) is assisted to his seat by his brother Raul Castro, Minister of the Armed Forces, in Havana in December 2004. Castro, Latin America's sole surviving Communist strongman, has ceded power to his brother Raul on a temporary basis for the first time in 47 years, after undergoing what he called delicate intestinal surgery.
Really? If Castro dies, watch for Venezuela's Hugo Chavez -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new best friend -- to try to take over de facto control of Cuba. That is why Chavez has been underwriting the Cuban economy to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars a year. He is buying his way in.
6 Comments:
By 
Final Historian, at
Tue Aug 01, 01:19:00 PM:
I think Fidel is dead, and Raul is simply using this time to try and secure his hold on power.
By ScurvyOaks, at
Tue Aug 01, 02:20:00 PM:
TH, what's your view of the US embargo?
Castro's is on my short list of anticipated graves I'd most like to piss on, but the embargo doesn't make sense to me. Wouldn't we lay the groundwork for change in Cuba more effectively by giving the Cuban people a taste of life in the US via trade, cultural exchange, &c.?
By Final Historian, at
Tue Aug 01, 02:24:00 PM:
I second Scurvy. I have never been a huge fan of the embargo, at least, since the Soviet Union fell. Greater trade will only show the Cubans how much they are missing out.
By Gordon Smith, at
Tue Aug 01, 04:10:00 PM:
I'm no fan of the embargo either, but the political power of the cuban community in S. Florida has kept anyone from trying to lift it.
I think a McDonalds on every corner could provoke regime change a lot faster.
Can we do this in Iran? Maybe some Starbucks and a Home Depot?
By ScurvyOaks, at
Tue Aug 01, 06:35:00 PM:
Good idea, Screwy. But in light of the "elastic loaf" development, Starbucks would have to come up with some new names. Maybe a "venti" would be "caliphate-size."
By 
, at
Tue Aug 01, 11:51:00 PM:
Joining TigerHawk.
I also hope the pig dies.
Vilmos
