Cuba libre

Washington Times ^ | August 3, 2003 | Daniel F. Somavilla/Andy Messing Jr.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Since 1959, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has outlived eight presidential administrations. Even the loss of billions of dollars of aid caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union was not enough to loosen his grip on power.

However, Mr. Castro is no match for Father Time. And, at almost 77, it is getting harder for him to hide his waning vigor, evidenced by his recent public fainting spell. He has named Raul Castro, his brother and commander of the armed forces, as his official successor, but Raul is only four years younger and has his own share of health problems. In any case, this Cuban regime has always been a personality cult centered on Fidel Castro and cannot survive unaffected without him.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Fidel Castro - Cuba

Cuban President Fidel Castro is seen during the opening of his speech Saturday July 26, 2003 in Santiago de Cuba, eastern Cuba where he is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the attack on Moncada military barracks. (AP Photo/Jose Goitia)

[onyx]

After living so long under communism, .......

many don't know anything different.

I have relatives in Cuba. This article seems a bit Pollyanna-ish.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

June 27, 2003- Lawmakers Preserve Cuba's Socialism*** HAVANA (AP) - Cuban lawmakers voted unanimously to make socialism an ``irrevocable'' part of the constitution in an effort to ensure the nation will remain socialist long after Fidel Castro is gone. More than 500 members of Cuba's unicameral National Assembly voted late Wednesday to declare that ``capitalism will never return again'' to the Caribbean island. Deputies' names were called out in alphabetical order and each one stood up and shouted ``Si!'' into a microphone. Of Cuba's 578 deputies, 559 were present and all voted affirmatively.

Deputies grew emotional and almost giddy during the tally, eventually applauding loudly after each vote. When the final vote had been declared unanimous, the deputies first stood stoically at attention for the Cuban national anthem, then held hands and swayed back in forth as they sang the socialist anthem, ``Internationale.'' Castro presided over the session and afterward personally greeted many of the lawmakers in the assembly. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes.

[MayDay72]

...Somehow I am sure that Castro will finally shuffle off this 'mortal coil' in the same manner as Pol Pot...A peaceful and quiet death in a comfortable bed after an exceedingly long life...Ain't no justice in this world sometimes...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Well, justice will be waiting for him.

[marron]

He is worried that Cuba will become a safe haven for drug smugglers after the death of Castro, when as he admits it is already a safe haven for drug smugglers. He admits that such a situation could not occur without the knowledge of the highest levels of government, but he seems to softpedal the obvious fact that that includes Castro himself.

He worries that government officials who are complicit in the drug trade might be included in a future government, when they are already in this government, doing what they do under orders from the Old Man himself.

Our experience from the fall of the Soviet Empire is that former Party bigwigs and secret police will form the new Mafia, and we will spend the next decade hunting them down and incarcerating them, those that do not get themselves elected into untouchable positions.

I do agree with his solution, except that I would further generalize it to say that anyone who served above a certain level in Castro's government should be disqualified from government service in the future Free Cuba. Anyway, it would be tough for them to serve when they are swinging from a rope.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It will be something to see. And being so close to the U.S. it will be under a microscope. I wonder how many will return to Cuba and how they will be recieved. Perhaps they will be waving at those coming to the U.S.

[snopercod]

This might interest you.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

First, good morning, CW.

onyx, those were my thoughts. And I emphasize that after three generations, they don't know anything else. They have nothing with which to compare.

Thank you for the post, CW.

[LibFreeUSA]

Hi CW,

I just wanted to send you this. Don't know if you have come accrossed it.

It is a 20-minute documentary shot in Cuba and smuggled out of the country, called:

"Dissident: Oswaldo Paya and the Varela Project,"

Clips can be viewed at:

http://www.lokifilms.com/OpeiningPageFrames.htm

If you know where the movie can be viewed, please pass this on. Tks.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you for the LINK LibFreeUSA!

[rwfromkansas]

looks good