Post by Man in Black on Feb 19, 2008 11:23:09 GMT -5
"To my dear compatriots, who gave me the immense honor 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 the Council of State and commander-in-chief."
-- Fidel Castro
With this statement in the Communist party's newspaper Castro ended a 49 year reign as Cuba's dictator. There has been no reveling in the streets as Cubans have sensed the move coming for awhile. But make no mistake... they are elated - guarded, but elated none the less.
Personally I believe that without US interference welcome change will find Cuba but only gradually as the government loosens it's grip to take in more American dollars. I think U.S. involvement is inevitable because for better or worse we always meddle in everybody's business. President Bush has already stated that Castro's retirement ought to begin a democratic transition. "Eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections. And I mean free and I mean fair," Bush said from Rwanda.
