| Is communism now losing its grip on Cuba? The | | | | trip to Rwanda, urged the international |
| answer is yes; however, the question of how | | | | community to help Cuba shift toward democracy |
| long is open to debate. Fidel has officially | | | | and specifically said, "Eventually, this |
| stepped down. It's no longer a temporary | | | | transition ought to lead to free and fair |
| move. Raul will be selected as the new Cuban | | | | elections - and I mean free, and I mean fair |
| president come this Sunday. Raul is opne to | | | | - not these kind of staged elections that the |
| talking with the United States, but that will | | | | Castro brothers try to foist off as true |
| have to wait until January 20th, 2009, when a | | | | democracy." |
| Democrat takes over as president of the US | | | | |
| since Bush will not even talk with Raul. | | | | Every nation has a different idea about what |
| | | | is fair and it is not encumbent upon America |
| An ailing Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's | | | | to dictate what's fair, nor to impose our |
| president Tuesday after nearly a half-century | | | | ideas on other sovereign nations. Kosovo just |
| in power, saying he was retiring and will not | | | | did things their way, not the American way. |
| accept a new term when the new parliament | | | | |
| meets Sunday. "I will not aspire to nor | | | | When one examines how we select a president |
| accept - I repeat, I will not aspire to nor | | | | (can you say super delegates), one has to ask |
| accept - the post of President of the Council | | | | how can that be fair or democratic? How can |
| of State and Commander in Chief," read a | | | | the people vote one way and that vote be |
| letter signed by Castro published early | | | | overturned by a handful of seasoned |
| Tuesday in the online edition of the | | | | politicians? |
| Communist Party daily Granma. | | | | |
| | | | May our State Department reach out and try to |
| The announcement effectively ends the rule of | | | | take a different approach in this season |
| the 81-year-old Castro after almost 50 years, | | | | where there is a new leader in Cuba- one who |
| positioning his 76-year-old brother Raul for | | | | is not quite as antagonistic as his older |
| permanent succession to the presidency. Fidel | | | | brother. The younger Castro has raised |
| Castro temporarily ceded his powers to his | | | | expectations among Cubans for modest economic |
| brother on July 31, 2006, when he announced | | | | and other reforms, stating last year that the |
| that he had undergone intestinal surgery. | | | | country requires unspecified "structural |
| | | | changes" and acknowledging that government |
| I would hope that there would be some chnage | | | | wages that average about US$19 a month do not |
| in our U.S. policy regarding Cuba, but as | | | | satisfy basic needs. |
| long as George Bush is president, that | | | | |
| doesn't seem likely. Bush, speaking during a | | | | May we take advantage of this opportunity! |