Posted on 02/19/2008 11:45:11 AM PST by Dawnsblood
As North America awoke this morning, it was confronted with the news that Fidel Castro has decided that he will “neither aspire to nor accept the positions of President of the State Council and Commander in Chief.” In essence, the elder Castro is stepping aside officially in favor of the 76-year-old dauphin, his brother Raul.
What does this mean for the people of Cuba? In the short run, nothing. The elder Castro has been out of commission since his health failed him in July 2006. The nature of the illness is a state secret, but it’s apparent to any observer that Fidel has not wielded the reigns of power in Cuba since that time.
What has occurred in the interim is paradoxical. While Fidel’s prolonged illness has been useful to Raul (by allowing him to consolidate his power and get the Cuban people comfortable with the idea of life without the Maximum Leader), it has also served to create mounting expectations of change — and not just among everyday Cubans but also those in the upper echelons of power.
Self-proclaimed “Cubanologists” in the United States have made it fashionable to refer to Raul as “the pragmatic one” and “the reformer.” Of course, in contrast to Fidel who was notoriously capricious, arbitrary, egomaniacal, and stubborn, anyone short of Stalin could be legitimately labeled as pragmatic. Even Raul, who as Fidel’s right-hand man since the days of the rebel insurgency and head of Cuba’s armed forces, has just as much blood on his hands — if not more.
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
There will be a great wailing and gnashing of teeth in Hollywood. A movie lionizing Fidel is surely on the horizon.
My assumption is that Raul will be as bloodyminded and repressive as his brother politically, but will allow for more economic flexibility - Cuba will take a modified form of the Chinese path.
Hey Fidel, give my best to Che!
I’ve been convinced that since his original illness Fidel has been senile. That’s why they can get all the pictures but he does not appear or speak in public. His face has a vacant look.
The gospel by Antonio Gramsci or Alinsky..
To be codified by Hillary or Obama..
OR John McLaim..
Let’s not forget, Fidel offered Hope, Change and was for the “future”.
You mean Obama stole Fidels campain slogans? Guess it fits since his campaign crew fly the 'Che' flag!
What Raul might do differently is really only significant in the short term. Longer-term, while he inherits the office, Raul won't inherit Fidel's cult of personality. He'll be much more vulnerable to pressure from the streets.
One way to deal with that, as you point out, would be to adopt the Chinese model. Folks are less motivated to agitate for political freedoms when they're busy making money,
That makes sense. Someone 80+ can have a sharp decline in mental function from any major surgery -- at that age, the pain, pain meds, and especially general anesthesia are traumatic. My grandmother had some signs of Alzheimer's, but after she broke her hip and had surgery, she declined sharply almost overnight.
New and improved, eh?
Whenever I hear that term I think of the poor SOB that has to make verify that underarm deoderant and dog food are new and improved.
Pragmatic one? If anything he is the more dedicated classic Communist of the two. Fidel is an OK Commie, but the guy he really admires is Mussolini. Raul is also far more dangerous to than Fidel could ever dream of being because whereas Fidel is a disorganized flibbertigibbet (accent on the gibbet) Raul is cold as ice. He's always been the hitman. And, these two summabeeches have always worked hand in bloody glove.
Vulnerable to pressure from the street? I predict that Raul is going to PRETEND to open up ... but that he won't make the same mistakes as Gorbachev ... Cuba Libre? Mañana, dude.
Actually, the Dauphin is traditionally the eldest son of the King.
The King's brother is known as "Monsieur".
Just picking a nit here.;-)
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