Castro steps down from power

[Blitzkommando]

An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba’s president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday.

The end of Castro’s rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006. President Bush said he hopes the resignation signals the beginning of a democratic transition.

“My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath,” Castro wrote in a letter published Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma. But, he wrote, “it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer.”

I'm not sure whether I'm more surprised he's letting someone else take over before he dies or the fact he's still alive. In any event it seems not much will change other than the name of the leader.

Source

Ketchup edit: Fixed link.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Ketchup345 on 2008-02-19 09:34 ]</font>

[Kylie]

Maybe it can be good for Cuba; it can't get much worse anyway.

[Sol_B4dguy]

Did horror movies teach you nothing, Ky? NEVER say that.

In other news, I'm more surprised he's still alive than anything; thought he kicked the bucket a while ago and some other jerkbag dictator had taken over.

[Randomness]

On 2008-02-20 19:21, Sol_B4dguy wrote:
Did horror movies teach you nothing, Ky? NEVER say that.

In other news, I'm more surprised he's still alive than anything; thought he kicked the bucket a while ago and some other jerkbag dictator had taken over.

He had something go on with his stomach that ALMOST did him in, he handed power over to his brother during that, but he never died...

Stupid American media never following a story through.

[Sol_B4dguy]

That explains it then. And yeah, American media isn't that great at following up "foreign" stories. Hence, my news comes from Reuters.

[Jehosaphaty]

If by steps down you mean that he now has someone to pose in photographs and take care of media releases, then yes, Castro has stepped down. However, if by step down you mean that Castro is forever gone and Raul now calls the shots then you are badly mistaken. Castro is a proud man and one who has been quoted saying that if things go poorly he would act. (unfortunately I've lost the particular article in mind) Regardless, he continues to write his perspectives in a Cuban news outlet...We'll be dealing with Castro's swamp of Socialist shit for years. Maybe he's physically gone, but that's about it.

[Raine_Loire]

It's amazing that a country as looked down on as Cuba with leadership that American's are taught from a very young age is "terrible" has better health care than America...

Or that's Michael Moore's story... And it's our experience as well, but that's comparing Cuban Drs to US Army Drs...

[Zorafim]

“it would be a betrayal to my conscience

The bastard has a conscience?

[Dangerous55]

On 2008-02-21 12:37, Raine_Loire wrote:
It's amazing that a country as looked down on as Cuba with leadership that American's are taught from a very young age is "terrible" has better health care than America...

Or that's Michael Moore's story... And it's our experience as well, but that's comparing Cuban Drs to US Army Drs...

It doesn't. Michael Moore ejoys twisting reality as much as he does a nice greasy Quad stacker from Bk.

[InfinityXXX]

On 2008-02-21 15:42, Dangerous55 wrote:

It doesn't. Michael Moore ejoys twisting reality as much as he does a nice greasy Quad stacker from Bk.

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will agree, that Michael M is not this knight in shining armor/truth bringer he think he is...he has a habit of stretching certain things.....but i enjoyed his movies...