Castro Temporarily Relinquishes Power

[playmaker15]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HAVANA -- Fidel Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, rebuffed repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise almost everywhere else, temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul on Monday night because of surgery.

The Cuban leader said he had suffered gastrointestinal bleeding, apparently due to stress from recent public appearances in Argentina and Cuba, according to a letter read live on television by his secretary, Carlos Valenciaga.

"The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," said the letter. Extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated </div>

NBC 6

I hope this bastard dies, and I don't wish that on anyone BUT HIM. My family over there has suffered so much and he basically ruined what families like mine could've had.

 

[Midnight Green]

From what I have heard his brother is even worse than he is...

 

[I-Miss-MJ]

don't you Americans have black ops agents, people who don't exist.

Surely someone could take him out.

 

[Midnight Green]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">don't you Americans have black ops agents, people who don't exist.

Surely someone could take him out.</div>
I think America has some type of peace document signed with Cuba I'm not sure though I'm Brazilian so I am not the most reliable source.

 

[playmaker15]

His bothers gay...and im not kidding either lol and he's 75 so his time is winding down as well. The US has planned for thisday for a long time. Once he dies I definately see a massive exodus of Cubans coming here, hopefully my fam.

 

[I-Miss-MJ]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">His bothers gay...and im not kidding either lol and he's 75 so his time is winding down as well. The US has planned for thisday for a long time. Once he dies I definately see a massive exodus of Cubans coming here, hopefully my fam.</div>

who is 75? Fidel or his brother?

 

[playmaker15]

his brother

 

[deception]

u guys should really consider reading what the press outside the US, specifically outside miami have to say about castro. over the years- segments of the american press, believe it or not have warmed up to castro as well. fyi, he's revered in africa, euopeans think he's cool, he's a rock star in most of asia and most latin american nations still look to castro in spite of cuba's hobbled economy, many thanks to the US embargo (Helms Burton Act) .

 

[Mag]

Yes, they've warmed up to him. [sarcasm] But since he's a commie, we can't like him, can we? I mean, we hate China, we're fighting North Korea, aren't we?

The reason I don't like Castro is because he's so sold on leaving his country f**ked up because he's too arrogant to relinquish ALL his power. Of course the South American countries love him, just like they loved Hugo Chavez and Che Guevara. . he was a revolutionary. [/sarcasm]

Now he's totally destroying his country, and acting like all-is-well. But the country is so crippled now, there's no reason for the US to do anything.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, they've warmed up to him. [sarcasm] But since he's a commie, we can't like him, can we? I mean, we hate China, we're fighting North Korea, aren't we? [/sarcasm]

The reason I don't like Castro is because he's so sold on leaving his country f**ked up because he's too arrogant to relinquish ALL his power. Of course the South American countries love him, just like they loved Hugo Chavez and Che Guevara. . he was a revolutionary.

Now he's totally destroying his country, and acting like all-is-well. But the country is so crippled now, there's no reason for the US to do anything.</div>


cuba's economy is in ruins as a consequence of the US embargo (Helms Burton Act), although, fyi before the fall of the USSR in the late 80's- cuba had the most robust economy in all of latin america; at the same time a handful of countries in the region were being backed by uncle sam. here's another fyi, the literacy rates in cuba are on par with the US; Cuba has one of the highest doctors per capita ratio in the world; the infant mortality rates are very low and there are bunch of other indicators that underscore cuba's prowess.

i strongly suggest u read up on castro.

 

[Mag]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">cuba's economy is in ruins as a consequence of the US embargo (Helms Burton Act), although, fyi before the fall of the USSR in the late 80's- cuba had the most robust economy in all of latin america; at the same time a handful of countries in the region were being backed by uncle sam. here's another fyi, the literacy rates in cuba are on par with the US; Cuba has one of the highest doctors per capita ratio in the world; the infant mortality rates are very low and there are bunch of other indicators that underscore cuba's prowess.

i strongly suggest u read up on castro.</div>

I am aware of the reasons why Cuba is so crippled economically. They chose the wrong side to pair up with, and after the fall of the Soviets, the US smacked them hard.

On top of all that I was agreeing with what you were saying.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">I am aware of the reasons why Cuba is so crippled economically. They chose the wrong side to pair up with, and after the fall of the Soviets, the US smacked them hard.

On top of all that I was agreeing with what you were saying.

</div>

i think the americans choose sides for them; since u're well versed on cuban history u know that castro toppled the us backed, fascist batista- so when cuba (it was a popular revolution) did that, they become an overnight adversary of the US.

and where exactly did u agree with me?

 

[Mag]

My sincere aplogies, deception. . I closed my sarcasm tags in the wrong place! Will edit that.

 

[Apollo]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">From what I have heard his brother is even worse than he is...</div>
Really, I heard he was more leaniant...

 

[playmaker15]

As someone who's heard the stories of family members he is the reason Cuba has gone under. Cuba used to be the gem of the caribbean until the damn revolutioaries got a hold of it. Fidel has sentenced people to death for not agreeing with his government, how can you respect a man who does that to his own poeple? Also, deception wtf are you pro-castro to have him in your avy? Little do you know all the **** he's done to his country. How can you respect a communist?

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">As someone who's heard the stories of family members he is the reason Cuba has gone under. Cuba used to be the gem of the caribbean until the damn revolutioaries got a hold of it. Fidel has sentenced people to death for not agreeing with his government, how can you respect a man who does that to his own poeple? Also, deception wtf are you pro-castro to have him in your avy? Little do you know all the **** he's done to his country. How can you respect a communist?</div>


its hard to type while laughing so hard. if your offended by my avatar u would be outraged by what i've said in this thread.

 

[playmaker15]

Yea I am pretty fricken man. Your prolly sittin there with your Che t-shirt on n your little Castro army jump suit typing about **** you don't even know about. You talk about Castro like a he's a savior but you haven't seen the **** he does. Are you some sick pro-communism guy? I guess so.

 

[Chutney]

Dude, you're being too biased. You're not going to want to call out deception, because the man knows what he's talking about. I know you have a personal stake in what happens in Cuba, but being a communist doesn't make you evil.

 

[Midnight Green]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Dude, you're being too biased. You're not going to want to call out deception, because the man knows what he's talking about. I know you have a personal stake in what happens in Cuba, but being a communist doesn't make you evil.</div>
If you?re of Cuban heritage I don?t think you can talk about Castro without being extremely against the man. You can?t stand there and take a neutral approach when you have family living in a communist government because of Casto. If someone had a picture of Hitler in their avatars, I?m pretty sure a lot of people would be offended.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">If you?re of Cuban heritage I don?t think you can talk about Castro without being extremely against the man. You can?t stand there and take a neutral approach when you have family living in a communist government because of Casto. If someone had a picture of Hitler in their avatars, I?m pretty sure a lot of people would be offended.</div>

comparing castro to hitler is laughably absurd. hitler dabbled in racial cleansing, along with other nefarious projects while castro inconvenienced the lives of those that were to loyal to the fascist, dictator batista who castro ousted in the revolution. those "inconvenienced" members of cuban society just transplanted themselves to miami, clearly life in miami must suck cause u guys can't stop bitchin.

 

[playmaker15]

^^I bet life is better here than in...Markam...So your saying the Cubans here are facists? I'm sure they didn't like the authoritarian government either. No one compared him to Hitler, BKS just said it's offensive to Cuban's to have a Pro-Castro avy as it would be to Jews is someone had a Nazi avy. Tell me deception are you a commy? Do you believe in excecuting those who don't believe in your government.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">^^I bet life is better here than in...Markam...So your saying the Cubans here are facists? I'm sure they didn't like the authoritarian government either. No one compared him to Hitler, BKS just said it's offensive to Cuban's to have a Pro-Castro avy as it would be to Jews is someone had a Nazi avy. Tell me deception are you a commy? Do you believe in excecuting those who don't believe in your government.</div>


read something other than the miami herald!!! hitler killed jews, communists, political rivals, catholics, ethnic minorities in the surrounding areas and anybody else he could get his hands on. and btw, i'm a capitalist cause it confers freedom, not political ones or material but rather creative ones and u kinda need to have read something other than slam magazine to know why.

and btw, i'd much rather live in markham cause the crimes rates are much lower and the people are much nicer.

 

[Chutney]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">If you?re of Cuban heritage I don?t think you can talk about Castro without being extremely against the man. You can?t stand there and take a neutral approach when you have family living in a communist government because of Casto. If someone had a picture of Hitler in their avatars, I?m pretty sure a lot of people would be offended.</div>
It all depends on your political stance. Obviously, everyone in Cuba isn't opposed to his regime. I just think you can't write off what he has done, by just labelling him a communist and calling him evil. It's too juvenile and ignores the complexity of the issue.

 

[dunksworth]

Say what you will about Castro, but for god sake, stop lowering yourself by calling other people commies... It's just as absurd as randomly calling people terrorists in today's society. People need to stop the whole "you're either with us or against us" mentality that the gov't is creating. Communists aren't any more evil than capitalists...

 

[playmaker15]

I think he's dead. He would've commented by now and so would've Raul. I think they are getting ready for the aftermath of this and the mayhem it will cause on the island.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">I think he's dead. He would've commented by now and so would've Raul. I think they are getting ready for the aftermath of this and the mayhem it will cause on the island.</div>

stop listening to the mean spirited gossip coming from miami. published reports
have him going back to work soon.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">stop listening to the mean spirited gossip coming from miami. published reports
have him going back to work soon.</div>

Deception, you do bring up some interesting points. Do you have any books/links that you'd suggest I use to read about castro? Just wondering...

 

[Vintage]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">comparing castro to hitler is laughably absurd. hitler dabbled in racial cleansing, along with other nefarious projects while castro inconvenienced the lives of those that were to loyal to the fascist, dictator batista who castro ousted in the revolution. those "inconvenienced" members of cuban society just transplanted themselves to miami, clearly life in miami must suck cause u guys can't stop bitchin.</div>


He inconvenianced them to 3rd world country status.

Regardless of US embargo, the Cuban gov't gives LITTLE to its people.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vintage:</div><div class="quote_post">He inconvenianced them to 3rd world country status.

Regardless of US embargo, the Cuban gov't gives LITTLE to its people.</div>

The Cuban government estimates that the total direct economic impact caused to Cuba by the U.S. embargo is $70 billion, including loss of export earnings, additional import costs, limiting the growth of the Cuban economy, and social damage. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates an ongoing annual loss to U.S. exporters of $1.2 billion. Nevertheless, the embargo had a limited effect on Cuba in its first few decades as the island nation was heavily subsidized by the Soviet Union and the Comecon nations which supplied Cuba with cheap oil, consumer goods, and subsidies. This peaked in the 1980s, when Cuba received around $6 billion per annum.

The collapse of the Soviet bloc in 1989 and of the Soviet Union itself two years later resulted in an economic crisis in Cuba and in the embargo, having its greatest effect by denying Cuba the ability to replace Soviet imports with U.S. imports. Cuba has developed trading relations with the rest of the world, including a substantial amount of official (as well as much unofficial) trade with the U.S. but since the U.S. is the closest geographic entity to Cuba and the dominant producer in the region, the necessity of importing goods from elsewhere (such as Europe) made these goods more expensive due to transportation costs. Despite the difficulties created by the embargo in the 1990s, Cuba defied predictions that without Soviet support it would quickly collapse. The blow was partly softened by Cuba opening up to tourism.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States...go_against_Cuba

The embargo does matter. They're lucky to have not completely collapsed.

 

[deception]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vintage:</div><div class="quote_post">He inconvenianced them to 3rd world country status.

Regardless of US embargo, the Cuban gov't gives LITTLE to its people.</div>

before u speculate about the motivations of the cuban government, i suggest u brush up on your grammar and arguments. what is a "third world country status"? run-on sentence for starters and fyi- the cuban government gives a lot to its people, hence the term "socialism".

And huevonkiller- i suggest u read the british press, they usually have the best grasp on world events. although, honestly anything outside of miami tends to be fair.