So Fildel Castro calls it quits.

[Jefe]

HAVANA (AP) - Ailing leader Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president early Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying in a letter published in online official media that he would not accept a new term when the newly elected parliament meets on Sunday.

"I will not aspire nor accept—I repeat I will not aspire or accept—the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief," read the letter signed by Castro and published quietly overnight without advance warning in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.

The new National Assembly is meeting Sunday for first time since January elections to pick the governing Council of State, including the presidency Castro holds. There had been wide speculation about whether he would accept a nomination for re-election to that post or retire.

The 81-year-old Castro's overnight announcement effectively ends his rule of almost 50 years over Cuba, positioning his 76-year-old brother Raul for permanent succession to the presidency.

Over the decades, the fiery guerrilla leader reshaped Cuba into a communist state 90 miles from U.S. shores and survived assassination attempts, a CIA-backed invasion and a missile crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Since his rise to power on New Year's Day 1959, Castro resisted attempts by 10 U.S. administrations to topple him, including the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.

The United States' discovery of nuclear-armed missiles on the island led to a showdown of the world's then-superpowers before the Soviet Union agreed to remove them.

Monarchs excepted, Castro was the world's longest ruling head of state.

His ironclad rule ensured Cuba remained among the world's last few remaining communist countries, long after the breakup of the Soviet Union and collapse of communism across Eastern Europe.

Castro's designated successor was his brother Raul, five years younger and No. 2 in Cuba's power structure as defense minister. Raul Castro had been in his brother's rebel movements since 1953.

Castro had already temporarily ceded his powers to his brother on July 31, 2006, when he announced that he had undergone intestinal surgery.

More than a year after falling ill, the elder Castro still had not been seen in public, appearing only sporadically in official photographs and videotapes and publishing dense essays about mostly international themes as his younger brother began to consolidate his rule.

But the United States, bent on blocking Fidel Castro's plans for his younger brother to succeed him, built a detailed plan in 2005 for American assistance to ensure a democratic transition on the island of 11.2 million people after his death.

Castro and other Cuban officials long insisted "there will be no transition" and that the island's socialist political and economic systems will live on long after he is gone.

Castro's supporters admired his ability to provide a high level of health care and education for citizens while remaining fully independent of the United States.

But his detractors called him a dictator whose totalitarian government systematically denied individual freedoms and civil liberties such as speech, movement and assembly.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

Think there will be any changes in relations between the US and Cuba, politics here with the presidential campaign (to appeal to cuban voters)? I mean, not like communism will end, they can just get another dictator.

PS: HD DVD died today too: http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2008_02/pr1903.htm What a day for them reds!

[thestalkmore]

[wyrmtung]

correction: not dictator but "elected" president for life.

[Ishido]

That's pretty significant news, though I doubt too much will change if Raul comes into power (which is probably the most likely situation).

[evilbau]

yes, big news. From what I read, his brother Raul is not much different from Fidel so I don't expect radical change.

[Fhqwghads]

His brother is also old as dirt just like Castro. I have no idea if both of them being out of power would do much of anything, because I doubt that their government would allow anyone with ideas pertaining to change anywhere near office, but one can hope.

[shaqswede]

I think they're only about 5 years apart. At least this is a start that the Castro family is getting up there in age and hopefully all on their way out. It will be a great day when the regime folds.

[Xavier]

American's foreign policy of waiting it out with Cuba will prove victorious in the end, eventually everyone dies!

-------------------------------------------

Was listening to CBS News Radio this morning and apparently his brother is more open to different views but I can't really imagine the apple falling too far from the tree. I honestly thought Fidel would die in power rather than step down too.

[*Shinzon*]

According to Cubans, his brother is actually worse than Fidel. So, nothing is gonna change, probably get worse for the people there.

[Kiro]

Gotta give him props for all the shit he's survived throughout the years.

NIGGA HAS BALLS OF STEEL.

[Deejay]

Fidel Castro quits? Welcome to about 2 years ago.

His brother is like 77, cubans are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnell.

[Dmitry]

Glad everyone read the article before posting

[zimzy]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... hoto6.html

if anything cuban life is just unglamorous, void of creative thought.

although at the same time they are less the slave to popular culture.

[The Blackrose]

Five dollars says he bought the farm months ago and the government is just now getting out of "OH SHI- EVERYONE PANIC!" mode.

[Souj]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/photogalleries/cuba/photo6.html

if anything cuban life is just unglamorous, void of creative thought.

although at the same time they are less the slave to popular culture.

and better health care.

endless debate /start?

[zimzy]

Five dollars says he bought the farm months ago and the government is just now getting out of "OH SHI- EVERYONE PANIC!" mode.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...008afp203b.jpg

according to cbs this picture was taken jan 15th, 2008 during a meeting with brazil's president.

where's my money

[Kuya]

Five dollars says he bought the farm months ago and the government is just now getting out of "OH SHI- EVERYONE PANIC!" mode.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...008afp203b.jpg

I'd hit it.

[guartz]

I wonder if anybody can answer the following semi-scholarly, without bullshit propaganda.




Why does U.S treat Cuba like this?

[Kurp]

An 80 year old president sporting an Adidas jacket to meet with foreign leaders... pimp.

[Beckwin]

I wonder if anybody can answer the following semi-scholarly, without bullshit propaganda.




Why does U.S treat Cuba like this?

Because communism is evil. duh.