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Ear to the Ground

Castro Retires

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Posted on Feb 19, 2008
Fidel Castro
AP photo / Javier Galeano

Castro outlasted no fewer than nine American presidents after taking power in 1959.

Fidel Castro announced on Tuesday that he “neither will aspire to nor will I accept the position of president of the Council of State and commander in chief.” He had stayed in firm control of Cuba for nearly 50 years despite all the best efforts of a superpower some 90 miles away. In the end, he was forced from office not by coup or assassination, but trouble with his intestine.


BBC:

Cuba’s ailing leader, Fidel Castro has announced he will not return to the presidency in a letter published by official Communist Party paper, Granma.

“I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the Council of state and commander in chief,” he wrote in the letter.

Mr Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 when he underwent intestinal surgery.

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, February 21, 2008 at 8:02 pm Link to this comment

Viva Sharon!

I wish the U.S. would treat Israel as they do Cuba.

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By lilmamzer, February 20, 2008 at 5:36 am Link to this comment

“All I know is that I love Fidel Castro, and his beard. “

You ARE his beard, if you know what I mean.

MWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

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By lilmamzer, February 20, 2008 at 5:34 am Link to this comment

“Now, don’t be hatin’! “

Spoken by a true genocidal moron who doesn’t even know that’s what he is, sitting in his delusional pious coccoon in cushy Southern California.

What a frickin’ hoot. And an asshole.

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By jackpine savage, February 19, 2008 at 9:54 pm Link to this comment

I was being sarcastic…i know how to get to Cuba if i want to/decide to.  I have a number of stamps in my old passport that don’t look so good coming home: some of the best places i’ve visited.

And i learned in Bali that the best time to vacation is within the fright zone after a terrorist attack.  $80/night for a top flight room at the Hilton, which wasn’t as good as smaller places.

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By voice of truth, February 19, 2008 at 7:36 pm Link to this comment

What is this, my murdering dictator is better than yours??  And Batista wasn’t a fascist.  You people throw that word around so much you don’t even know what it means.

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By voice of truth, February 19, 2008 at 7:35 pm Link to this comment

What is this, my murdering dictator is better than yours???  And Batista was not a fascist.  You liberals throw that word around so much you don’t even know what it means.

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By Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, February 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm Link to this comment

I’d be careful about going to Cuba.  First of all, they’re Commies.  Don’t get mixed up with the Commies.  Second, Bush doesn’t want people going there.  They’re evil.  That’s why we don’t do business with them.  You should consider maybe Aruba or some place like that. 

There are a lot of places in tropical islands for Commies to hide.  You’d have no fun because you’d be watching your back all the time.  There are a lot of terrorist Commies there, too, you know. Bombers and knife weilders.  Naw.  You wouldn’t have any fun.  Better yet, just stay home where you belong, in The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

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By desertdude, February 19, 2008 at 5:43 pm Link to this comment

You are kidding right? We have no democracy. Give me
a break. Grow up we live in a wonderfull country it is just that the nuts are taking over. I would rather throw money at Cuba than 1.6 trillion we just spent in Iraq. Go out and visit other countries and learn what you have.

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 5:34 pm Link to this comment

Yeah, really - I thought maybe it was anti-Castro people who thought Kennedy betrayed them in the Bay of Pigs. They sure are sore losers, these people.

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, February 19, 2008 at 5:19 pm Link to this comment

When the first “Survivor” reality TV show came out I use to joke with my friends about Castro being the real winner.

Americas foreign policy towards Cuba is shameful and an embarrassment, especially if you travel abroad.  Fidel proved himself in the eyes of the world by defying the big U.S. stick and time has proven him right.  The U.S. government still pisses in his backyard (NAB Guantanamo) and thinks itself to be a good christian neighbor.

Our representatives who are opposed to normalized relations have to be in the pockets of the sugar lobby or those South Florida expat Cuban exiles, many of whom are nothing more than terrorists themselves.  To believe Fidel had a hand in Kennedys death is ludicrous.  That was the work of LBJ, Hunt, Dulles, alot of Republicans and those Bay of Pigs cubans prodded by their out of control CIA handlers.

I hope we establish relations with that nation once again.

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By Ga, February 19, 2008 at 5:10 pm Link to this comment

A “mass murderer?” Depends on the definition of the term. There were many executions right after the revolution, right after “Bay of Pigs,” for example. Many of the executed were not so innocent as you imply—not that executing anyone is ever the right thing to do by my standards; but even this country executes criminals and has supported “brutal dictators”  thoughout history. Remember the phrase, “He may be a son of a bitch, but he’s our son of a bitch”? (extra point for knowing who said it, 10 extra points for who the SOB was).

If Castro was the only head of state with blood on his hands you would have a point. But he is not.

If only heads of state that are our enemies have blood on their hands you would have a point. But many an ally of ours were/are run by “mass murders.”

George W. Bush is a “mass murder” by another definition of the term, for he started the war on Iraq and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

Oh, and yeah, sure, people get “detained” by the Cuban police. Yeah, well, many of our allies that do worse things to their citizens.

And more and more people are starting to be “detained” in this country every year. How far would you like to see it go?

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 5:09 pm Link to this comment

I just heard Michelle Obama say that for the first time in her adult life she feels really proud of her country, because hope is back.

Well, Pat Buchanan got down on her really hard for this as anti-Americanism. But I know how she feels. It has been imposssible to be very proud of this country since Kennedy was assassinated…and the Gulf of Tonkin non-incident… and the Vietnam War…and Cambodia…and King was assassinated..and Malcom X was assassinated…and another Kennedy was assassinated ...and the Southern Strategy….and Nixon was elected twice…and Watergate…and Nixon was pardoned by the man he appointed to succeed him…etc.etc. ... to the ultimate horror of Bush-Cheney, 9-11 and the Iraq War. Nothing there to be proud of.

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 4:19 pm Link to this comment

I just heard Chris Matthews say on Hardball, that Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, a left-wing nut who was a member of the Fair Play for Cuba committee and thus an agent of Castro.

I suppose this remains the official story. Does anybody in the 21st century still believe this besides Matthews?

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 4:08 pm Link to this comment

Re By voice of truth, February 19 at 1:12 pm #

So, are you one of those people who believes Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, a member of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, and thus an agent of Fidel Castro?

I just heard Chris Matthews say this on Hardball.

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Blackspeare's avatar

By Blackspeare, February 19, 2008 at 4:07 pm Link to this comment

Remember that Fidel Castro replaced Fulgencia Batista, a fascist dictator (did I mention corrupt?) support by the US (he WAS anti-communist) and highly favored by the Cuban elite because he made them richer.  Between fascist policies and corrupt practices Batista and his henchmen created a vast underclass that led to the socialist revolution. The first people to flee Cuba were from the elite class——I wonder why?

Life under the Castro regime was no picnic, but if you minded your p’s&q;’s you received a good education, decent housing, and the all-important medical services.  Cuba’s medical expertise is noted throughout the Latin world.

The response to socialism in US policy was both neurotic and myopic.  Imposing economic sanctions on Cuba was vindictive and amounted to collective punishment against the Cuban people.  Perhaps if we had maintained open trade with Cuba things may have played out differently!

Now what——will the next president ease the Cuban embargo?

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By voice of truth, February 19, 2008 at 3:32 pm Link to this comment

That is one of the most idiotic comments I have heard on this site.

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Paul_GA's avatar

By Paul_GA, February 19, 2008 at 3:24 pm Link to this comment

...Desertdude, the USA needs democracy a lot worse than Cuba does—-particularly after more than seven years of Bush and Cheney!

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 2:56 pm Link to this comment

Now, don’t be hatin’!

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By desertdude, February 19, 2008 at 2:38 pm Link to this comment

now all we need is the Government of the United States and open its eyes as to what an opportunity
America has to help bring Democracy to Cuba. Never happen I am afraid, we have to many dunderheads in
Washington.

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By voice of truth, February 19, 2008 at 2:12 pm Link to this comment

You people are so wrapped up in your hate Bush, hate American crap, that you can’t even see a mass murderer when he is right in front of you.  Yes, Castro is a mass murderer.  I know too many people there who had family members taken away in the middle of the night, never to see them again.  You bitch and moan about the loss of liberty in the US, yea right, and yet you have no idea what it is like to be a Cuban living in Cuba.  Go down there and write blathering commentary in a blog.  You’ll be in jail before you even realize they’re pissed at you.

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By Maani, February 19, 2008 at 12:56 pm Link to this comment

JS:

There has been a virtual “Westerners-only” resort and enclave on the southwestern portion of Cuba for over 15 years.  You can get there through Mexico or, if you know someone, Canada.

Peace.

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By guy ashby, February 19, 2008 at 10:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

i’ve admired castro since 1966.  i’m embarrassed by the u.s. treatment of cuba.  cuba has a kind of integrity that few countries have.

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 10:03 am Link to this comment

^ despotic ruin; the US is. Just to clarify my previous comment.

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 9:47 am Link to this comment

America still has a chance to reclaim itself, but I’m pessimistic regarding its will to do so.  Fear rules and is the worst taskmaster one can have.  America is at a crossroads and must understand that the very policies implemented at home reflect the reality of its world vision.  If we fail to protect our own values and freedoms here, then what does that portend for the world?  Our policies over the last 40+ years regarding the Americas should be a text book for the example of what a failed policy is.  Cuba is an ongoing example of a despotic course to ruin.

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Tony Wicher's avatar

By Tony Wicher, February 19, 2008 at 9:30 am Link to this comment

All I know is that I love Fidel Castro, and his beard.

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By GW=MCHammered, February 19, 2008 at 9:23 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Castro would never drink the red & white & blue Kool-Aid. We demonize those that won’t drink our drink.

Kool-Aid: the psychology used to control the masses, The Drama Triangle (a.k.a. the power game). You see it most in our overbearing media. Fox News often plays the role of Persecutor and CNN the Rescuer so that the viewer assumes the remaining role on The Drama Triangle: helpless Victim.

It’s plain in his speech and gestures that GWB strives to remain in the first two roles so Democrats-Congress-We The People-The World are left in the final role too. The only way off this triangle is to move toward the middle and focus on problem solving. And boy are we left with problems. But to do so, we must hold the Persecutor accountable for their destructive manipulations.

Accountability is the Kool-Aid antidote.

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By Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, February 19, 2008 at 9:12 am Link to this comment

I just don’t see how people, living in a nation (the US) that wants to be the most powerful in the world and to be the world’s controller, can pay the price for that and be happy at the same time.  What do they call that, a catch 22 or some sort if an oxymoron?  Heavy rests the head that wears the crown. I wonder if the numbers realizing the price is too high to pay and moving out are increasing.

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By jerrid, February 19, 2008 at 8:18 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Bush stated that Cuba should be on it’s way to democracy. When are we going to realize that not every country is made to be a democracy? We cannot force our ideals on other countries because we think it is right. Cuba should be allowed to do whatever the hell it wants. But I’m sure Bush 43 is going to try and take over Cuba and force democracy on yet another country. Democracy doesn’t work everywhere and we need to realize that. Iraq for example. They had elections and it just caused more problems. We need to stop interfering with others interests and worry about our own problems. Oh like the 9 trillion dollar debt that Bush 43 has racked up!

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 8:00 am Link to this comment

^ Cuba is such a missed opportunity for us; and it’s all because of twisted ideology.  This government, our government, has long ago forgotten what it’s all about.  Lost vision, lost ideals, lost morality, lost ethics; a mere shadow of its once great vision for humanity and the world.  If only history were the great teacher; then we would transcend the everyday.  But history is lost in the day to day rhetoric we deal with in our everyday world.  Fear has replaced hope; and we worry the food on our table for our next meal.  Cuba has much to teach us about a different view of the world.  Just look at all of the medical personnel they have put in so many countries in South America.  Despite our criminal embargoes, they have done much in humanitarian gifts to the Americas.  Maybe most importantly; many of my friends who have visited Cuba say the people there are very happy.  What a concept; happiness.  I have me some of that.

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 7:25 am Link to this comment

^ been great.  The US government is so screwed regarding Cuba!

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 7:20 am Link to this comment

I was told don’t go to Lao because it’s a communist country and it wouldn’t look good in my passport…..HA, I said, I’ll go where I damn well please and did.  Wonderful experience.  I returned to the states for the first time in 5 years for a visit and no problem.  Go to Cuba; my friends said it was fantastic…......a real eye opener to US bullshit.  I am an American and I will go where I please, including Burma.  Not too cool there, but interesting.  Live free or die!

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Paul_GA's avatar

By Paul_GA, February 19, 2008 at 7:16 am Link to this comment

...it would’ve been so cool if Fidel had outlasted even Bush Jr., and could’ve sat in his president’s chair on January 21, 2009, and said triumphantly, “I’ve now outlasted ten gringo presidents!” (from Eisenhower onwards)

Ah, well, it was fun while it lasted, I guess.

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 7:10 am Link to this comment

^ go visit.  Many of my friends have gone through Mexico….just be careful about bringing home any of Castro’s famous Cigars.

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By Expat, February 19, 2008 at 7:07 am Link to this comment

^ column here, you just crack me up sometimes.

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By Ken Mitchell, February 19, 2008 at 6:33 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I’d like to think that Cuba after Castro will be like Spain after Franco. I fear that it will be more like North Korea after Kim Il Sung.

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By Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, February 19, 2008 at 6:00 am Link to this comment

You gotta give Castro credit. 

Bush has had a huge problem with his intestine for two terms and hasn’t had the brains to see it. 

The real problem is that the whole USA needs a good, cathartic bowl movement.

The American people are standing around with a giant jug of Fleet in their hands and either don’t know what to do with it or choose to do nothing. 

Com’on, folks!  Shove it up their asses—and squeeze hard.

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By jackpine savage, February 19, 2008 at 5:38 am Link to this comment

So can i go to Cuba now…or are they still so evil that its unpatriotic for me to visit?

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