punisa
5th March 2010, 08:59
After his convalescence, the ailing dictator reimposed his authority—quashing hopes of internal reform and détente with the United States.
http://ndn3.newsweek.com/media/33/fidel-raul-castro-wide-horizontal.jpg
When Raúl Castro became president of Cuba in 2006, he raised hopes, at home and abroad, that he would usher in a new era of reform. His brother, El Comandante Fidel, was struck with some sort of intestinal illness and rendered incapable of governing. So in stepped Raúl with promises to undertake "structural" change in the country. He distributed parcels of idle land to farmers. He encouraged young people, many of whom feel restive about their country's system, to "fearlessly debate" the country's problems. He decreed that Cubans could finally buy cell phones and computers, and could stay at tourist hotels that had previously been off-limits to them. When it came to relations with the United States, he said (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/17/us.cuba/index.html) last April, "We are prepared to discuss everything—human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners—everything, everything, everything."
But over the past year, some prominent Cuba analysts say, Fidel has steadily reasserted his authority and applied the brakes to these efforts. Despite his convalescence far from public view, Fidel is once again the arbiter on all critical matters facing the state, says Brian Latell, a former CIA analyst and now a senior research associate at the University of Miami. "I think Fidel decided that Raúl was going too far, that Raúl was playing with fire," he says. As evidence, Latell points to recent shuffling of the leadership ranks that he considers an affront to Raúl and to Fidel's backsliding commentary in more than 100 "Reflections" he has published in the Cuban press during the past year. Any hope of warmer relations with the U.S. has been dashed, says Latell. "I don't see any progress possible in the foreseeable future."
It seemed at first like Fidel had relinquished control when his intestinal disease laid him up (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16658409/) three and a half years ago. "He was gravely ill" between the summer of 2006 and the spring of 2007, says Andy Gomez of the University of Miami. He stopped showing up in public, stopped running government meetings, and appeared to yield the reins to Raúl. Yet in the past year, "there's no question that Fidel's condition has improved," says Gomez. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reported (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/24/world/main6240523.shtml) that Fidel was "exceptionally well" after visiting him in Havana last month. Since Fidel's condition remains a state secret, analysts can only read tea leaves. But other indicators suggest he is back, and he's not pleased.
full article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/234446
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:castro: is really one hell of resilient guy, no doubt. But this article doesn't actually provide any facts other then opinions that Fidel "might" be still running the show.
But couldn't it be that perhaps Raul is not exactly the type the western media wished he would be?
I remember back in 2006 when Raul took charge over Cuba, political analytics in mainstream media came out strong in endorsing Raul as some sort of closet cappie just waiting to take Cuba back to a "glorious" Batista era.
Although I really like comrade :castro: and wish that he lives at least 10 more years, would situation in Cuba be all that different once he is dead and gone?
I wouldn't bet on it.
http://ndn3.newsweek.com/media/33/fidel-raul-castro-wide-horizontal.jpg
When Raúl Castro became president of Cuba in 2006, he raised hopes, at home and abroad, that he would usher in a new era of reform. His brother, El Comandante Fidel, was struck with some sort of intestinal illness and rendered incapable of governing. So in stepped Raúl with promises to undertake "structural" change in the country. He distributed parcels of idle land to farmers. He encouraged young people, many of whom feel restive about their country's system, to "fearlessly debate" the country's problems. He decreed that Cubans could finally buy cell phones and computers, and could stay at tourist hotels that had previously been off-limits to them. When it came to relations with the United States, he said (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/17/us.cuba/index.html) last April, "We are prepared to discuss everything—human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners—everything, everything, everything."
But over the past year, some prominent Cuba analysts say, Fidel has steadily reasserted his authority and applied the brakes to these efforts. Despite his convalescence far from public view, Fidel is once again the arbiter on all critical matters facing the state, says Brian Latell, a former CIA analyst and now a senior research associate at the University of Miami. "I think Fidel decided that Raúl was going too far, that Raúl was playing with fire," he says. As evidence, Latell points to recent shuffling of the leadership ranks that he considers an affront to Raúl and to Fidel's backsliding commentary in more than 100 "Reflections" he has published in the Cuban press during the past year. Any hope of warmer relations with the U.S. has been dashed, says Latell. "I don't see any progress possible in the foreseeable future."
It seemed at first like Fidel had relinquished control when his intestinal disease laid him up (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16658409/) three and a half years ago. "He was gravely ill" between the summer of 2006 and the spring of 2007, says Andy Gomez of the University of Miami. He stopped showing up in public, stopped running government meetings, and appeared to yield the reins to Raúl. Yet in the past year, "there's no question that Fidel's condition has improved," says Gomez. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reported (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/24/world/main6240523.shtml) that Fidel was "exceptionally well" after visiting him in Havana last month. Since Fidel's condition remains a state secret, analysts can only read tea leaves. But other indicators suggest he is back, and he's not pleased.
full article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/234446
-------------------------------------------------------------------
:castro: is really one hell of resilient guy, no doubt. But this article doesn't actually provide any facts other then opinions that Fidel "might" be still running the show.
But couldn't it be that perhaps Raul is not exactly the type the western media wished he would be?
I remember back in 2006 when Raul took charge over Cuba, political analytics in mainstream media came out strong in endorsing Raul as some sort of closet cappie just waiting to take Cuba back to a "glorious" Batista era.
Although I really like comrade :castro: and wish that he lives at least 10 more years, would situation in Cuba be all that different once he is dead and gone?
I wouldn't bet on it.