BREAKING: FIDEL CASTRO undergoes surgery in Cuba, hands over power to brother Raul.

archangel003 · 08-01-2006, 03:55 AM

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/cas...198125483.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5233556.stm

Cuban President Fidel Castro, one of the world's most enduring leaders, handed over power provisionally to his brother and underwent surgery, he said in a statement read out on state television today.

Castro, who has led Cuba since his unkempt guerillas swept down from the Sierra Maestra hills to overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959, said he overexerted himself this month on a trip to a summit of South American leaders and celebrations of his 1953 assault on a military garrison.

The next few days should prove very interesting for Cuba. Miami is going apeshit, but according to the first link, Havana remains calm.

motivez · 08-01-2006, 05:23 AM

Castro's days are really numbered as he gets up there in age.. it's going to be very interesting to see what changes happen in that country after he's gone.

Thorgrim · 08-01-2006, 06:34 AM

As much as I don't approve of Castro, he's an interesting character, I always thought it was cool that at his extremely advanced age he still gave in-person lectures to huge audiences for hours and hours on political policies and philosophies

ballz2wallz · 08-01-2006, 08:29 AM

his brother is supposed to be worse

Phantom · 08-01-2006, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

his brother is supposed to be worse

he could be bad enough to spark a revolution

SoFlaJDM · 08-01-2006, 10:46 AM

i think fidel's coming back... sounds temporary to me

Stylerod · 08-01-2006, 11:40 AM

My best friend escaped Cuba with his family in the late 60's. I love being around him and his family and being part of their culture. Jorge, my friend, visited his family in Cuba about 8 years ago and found it wonderful and depressing all at the same time.

Pretty much everyone is poor. No toilet paper. No nice things. He tried to discuss politics with his family but they said they normally don't talk about it because if they say the wrong thing and the wrong person is listening they could get in trouble. He said there were police stationed at every corner. The state stopped giving his grandmother medicine. At a certain age people aren't entitled to things anymore because the state feels it's a waste of resources.

When he left he left with a pair of shorts and an uncles old t-shirt. He didn't bring home anything he brought with him, including his suitcases so that his family could sell them at market and make a little extra money.

I know he is hoping Castro dies and somehow, someway Cuba opens up. Once Cuba opens it would be a celebration like when the Berlin wall came down.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 11:50 AM

As a Cuban-American living here in Miami, I can tell you that this huge.

Years before, when the Revolution was merely beginning, the majority of Cubans were relentlessly urging on the Communist guerillas. Those that saw the true motives behind Fidel Castro's Revolution left the island immediately.

A huge portion of Cuba is brainwashed. No outside media from the United States or from any other part of the world is exposed to Cuban airwaves, unless, of course, if any Cuban 'companero' (equivalent to, say, the USSR's 'Comrade') is clever enough to somehow wire an antenna to possibly receive outside feed.

But there is only a miniscule percentage of Cubans who have access to outside media.

Miami is full is anti-Castro exiles. Last night, as the news was beind announced on Miami television, countless people took to the streets.

I didn't though, too lazy :-p.

Most think that the shift of power from Fidel to Raul will spark a revolution. Most Miamians (?) would like the United States to somehow intervene indirectly should a revolution begin.

I'm actually a bit excited. I was born here in the United States, but I have always wanted to visit Cuba to see where my parents lived.

ethyl · 08-01-2006, 12:03 PM

Damn Castro. My ancestors had a big plantation in Cuba before Castro took it.

They had Chinese slaves and everything... had to move shop to Louisiana.

Castro has had a long time to prepare for this. I think the status quo will remain with his brother in charge... unless the US tries something.

ballz2wallz · 08-01-2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by ethyl

Damn Castro. My ancestors had a big plantation in Cuba before Castro took it. They had Chinese slaves and everything... had to move shop to Louisiana.

Castro has had a long time to prepare for this. I think the status quo will remain with his brother in charge... unless the US tries something.

my great-grandparents had a huge plantation there as well...big mansion and everything.

TheMrs · 08-01-2006, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

As a Cuban-American living here in Miami, I can tell you that this huge.

Years before, when the Revolution was merely beginning, the majority of Cubans were relentlessly urging on the Communist guerillas. Those that saw the true motives behind Fidel Castro's Revolution left the island immediately.

A huge portion of Cuba is brainwashed. No outside media from the United States or from any other part of the world is exposed to Cuban airwaves, unless, of course, if any Cuban 'companero' (equivalent to, say, the USSR's 'Comrade') is clever enough to somehow wire an antenna to possibly receive outside feed.

But there is only a miniscule percentage of Cubans who have access to outside media.

Miami is full is anti-Castro exiles. Last night, as the news was beind announced on Miami television, countless people took to the streets.

I didn't though, too lazy :-p.

Most think that the shift of power from Fidel to Raul will spark a revolution. Most Miamians (?) would like the United States to somehow intervene indirectly should a revolution begin.

I'm actually a bit excited. I was born here in the United States, but I have always wanted to visit Cuba to see where my parents lived.

Indirectly, how?

Stylerod · 08-01-2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by TheMrs

Indirectly, how?

(

at AV change.)

Let the CIA support financially and in other ways to have a takeover of the government

Concept · 08-01-2006, 12:49 PM

Fiscal, Armaments, etc... Similar to the former policy of 'Containment' that American exercised against the USSR.

I'm sure plenty of people would like to see the U.S. settle things in the island, but I doubt this will happen. I would expect the CIA or some other organization to support any revolution that would spark should power be transfered to Raul.

I could be wrong, maybe the United States will do something very different, but should Castro fall during this American administration, one that has shown a fair amount of concern over the island, America will have much influence in Cuba.

Stylerod · 08-01-2006, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Concept

Fiscal, Armaments, etc... Similar to the former policy of 'Containment' that American exercised against the USSR.

I'm sure plenty of people would like to see the U.S. settle things in the island, but I doubt this will happen. I would expect the CIA or some other organization to support any revolution that would spark should power be transfered to Raul.

I could be wrong, maybe the United States will do something very different, but should Castro fall during this American administration, one that has shown a fair amount of concern over the island, America will have much influence in Cuba.

Unlike the change in government in Iraq, a change to a democratic government in Cuba would be amazing. I could see Cuba being a very rich society within 10 years if that could happen.

Just the re-immigration of wealthy retired Cubans to Cuba would be a HUGE income source for the country. Investers would be there in seconds.

Concept · 08-01-2006, 12:58 PM

And imagine how the economy of the Untied States would be affected. Renowned Cuban cigars would be flooding the ports of the United States, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, etc.. could expand their itiniaries (spelling?), tourism, media, etc..

The American media could be exposed to Cubans who have been kept away from the world by the government-controlled Cuban media. It would be huge. Cuba has so much potential. It would benefit both the economy of the United States and many Caribbean islands for Communism to fall.

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Let the CIA support financially and in other ways to have a takeover of the government

Although I am all for the Cubans revolting against a leader they don't want and all that, this is what I am against.

We can't be behind every falling dictator. And people cherish the freedom they obtain when they fight for it themselves...Just because we have many freedoms here, doesn't mean that we should be into every country laying money down for people to overthrow their own governments.

But I don't have a say, and we would never find out if they were funding it anyways.

ballz2wallz · 08-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Although I am all for the Cubans revolting against a leader they don't want and all that, this is what I am against.

We can't be behind every falling dictator. And people cherish the freedom they obtain when they fight for it themselves...Just because we have many freedoms here, doesn't mean that we should be into every country laying money down for people to overthrow their own governments.

But I don't have a say, and we would never find out if they were funding it anyways.

how can leaders of the free world be leaders if they don't lead?

IminWonderland · 08-01-2006, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

how can leaders of the free world be leaders if they don't lead?

First, America isn't the world. Our "leader" is not the Leader of the World, he is the Leader of America. There are ways of being a leader that don't involve monetary support. And since when is it in America's M.O. to "spread" our freedom everywhere? We have a hard enough time keeping it straight for ourselves.

TheMrs · 08-01-2006, 01:58 PM

Sorry, but I'm of the belief that the U.S.A. could better help Cuba by opening up trade. I don't understand why suddenly, we are to be the bandages on every previously wounded and now healing country?

We can't even take care of the citizens here in the United States - and we're supposed to help fund another country's coup?

I think not.

ballz2wallz · 08-01-2006, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

First, America isn't the world. Our "leader" is not the Leader of the World, he is the Leader of America. There are ways of being a leader that don't involve monetary support. And since when is it in America's M.O. to "spread" our freedom everywhere? We have a hard enough time keeping it straight for ourselves.

that's what he's called