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