Cuban President Castro stands down

coolpunkskater

coolpunkskater

coolpunkskater

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Sorry if a repost i cant see it any where



Cuban President Fidel Castro has announced he is stepping down as head of state and commander in chief of the country's armed forces.

The 81-year-old, who has suffered declining health for the past two years, said he would not "aspire or accept" another term of office.

He has ruled Cuba since he swept to power in an armed revolution in 1959.

In a statement published on the website of the Communist Party's Gran ma newspaper that he would not seek a new presidential term when the National Assembly meets on February 24.

He said: "To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honour in recent days of electing me a member of parliament, I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept - I repeat not aspire to or accept - the positions of President of Council of State and Commander in Chief."

The National Assembly or legislature is expected to nominate his brother and designated successor Raul Castro as president.

Mr Castro's retirement draws the curtain on a political career that spanned the Cold War and survived US enmity, CIA assassination attempts and the demise of Soviet Communism.

A charismatic leader famous for his long speeches delivered in his green military fatigues, Mr Castro is admired in the Third World for standing up to the US but considered by his opponents a tyrant who suppressed freedom.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
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After all these years its a shock i always thought he would stand down when hes in a wooden box
 
I hope the US doesn't get it's mits on Cuba - I don't want it spoilt. :( However it could do with a bit more structure, though it's not that poverty stricken, the health care is incredible and everyone has a home. from my time there it's not overly corrupt either. What would be nice to see is keeping Cuba's magic but giving it a bit more of the help that it needs.
 
I hope nothing happens before I get there on the 29th of March!

His brother has been defacto leader for a while now, so it shouldn't really change anything.
 
Such a gorgeous little island, that has managed to thrive fairly well despite the American pettiness. He may have been deluded at times but I quite like Castro. Despite the fact that many of his policies did little for Cuba, he's always come across as a likeable chap, don't ask me why. Maybe it's the cuddly beard.

Freefaller said:
I hope the US doesn't get it's mits on Cuba - I don't want it spoilt. :( However it could do with a bit more structure, though it's not that poverty stricken, the health care is incredible and everyone has a home. from my time there it's not overly corrupt either. What would be nice to see is keeping Cuba's magic but giving it a bit more of the help that it needs.
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This appears to be a well propagated semi-myth. Whilst the health service in Cuba is good, proponents of whom often cite the low infant mortality rate as evidence of this, the statistics are collated by the Cuban government. Ok they are ratified by the UN and the WHO, but they should still be seen for the statistics they are. Also, there is currently a housing shortage in Cuba, verging on a crisis.

@if ®afiq said:
I don't see much of a possibility of this without the US removing the vindictive embargo (and general vindictiveness) they have set on Cuba.
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It's easy to lay the blame for Cuba's relatively poor state all at the door of the US, and I freely admit to loathing them for the 40 year embargo, but it's not all their fault. Some poor decisions by Castro's government, the collapse of the Soviet Union all contributed.
 
I cut myself quite badly on my back whilst in Cuba and whilst I didn't need stitches (fortunately) they treated me really professionally and well as well as quickly. They have blood drives and good sexual health attitude. Ok compared to the west it might not be what we'd call top notch, but people there just seem so much fitter, healthier than they do in the grey doldrums of the UK.

I think one of the reasons for the housing crisis is owing to the fact that they can't afford to maintain what they've got and all the lovely colonial properties are falling to bits. However I didn't see a single tramp whilst I was there and talking to the people they seem to be happy with the way the housing worked. The only aggressive issue was on the awarding of casa particulares status and how that was not a very socialist regime as it meant that people who could afford to run a casa could make more money - though they do pay a lot to the government for the licence. Resentment in general is low, but there is still enough towards the heads of the country that something needs to be addressed and believe it or not there isn't a unified adoration for Castro, a lot of people want a change.

As much as it's easy to blame the embargo, which I still hold very responsible for holding Cuba back, it's a bit more complex. However it's still against the law which america doesn't give a hoot about.
 
platypus said:
This appears to be a well propagated semi-myth. Whilst the health service in Cuba is good, proponents of whom often cite the low infant mortality rate as evidence of this, the statistics are collated by the Cuban government. Ok they are ratified by the UN and the WHO, but they should still be seen for the statistics they are.
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Well done on making a statement and then giving two reasons to ignore it in the next sentence :p

I would suggest that statistics ratified by two huge organisations with many hundreds of experts stand a fair chance of being correct.
 
If Cuba is so nice, how come so many Cubans try to sail to Miami?

I hope Cuba can now get the true democracy it deserves, a leader who is not a man of violence.
 
Bigstan said:
Well done on making a statement and then giving two reasons to ignore it in the next sentence :p

I would suggest that statistics ratified by two huge organisations with many hundreds of experts stand a fair chance of being correct.
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Gah, yeah that was a silly post :p.
 
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