1. Fidel Castros Death
Fidel Castro is dead! One of the worlds longest-ruling dictators died at the age of 90 on Friday November 25 2016 at 10:29 pm in Havana Cuba. His communist military dictatorship was imposed to the island nation of Cuba since January 1959 and survived Fidels death until April 18 2018 when Ral his brother and current Cuban president until that date resigned (a move he announced in February 2013).
Fidel governed Cuba for 47 years as prime minister (1959-1976) and president in office (1976-2008). On July 31 2006 due to medical reasons he transferred his presidential powers to his brother Ral.
Ral Modesto Castro was the countrys minister of defense for almost 50 years (1959-2008) but his military abilities as a revolution" leader were unclear. He was not the second in command" like Ernesto Che" Guevara (who led the turning-point battles of Las Mercedes and Santa Clara in July-August and December 1958). Nor was he Camilo Cienfuegos the first head of communist Cubas armed forces in 1959 (the hero of the battle of Yaguajay in December 1958). El Comandantes younger brother was like his middle name suggests quite modest in having significant military victories that he could claim on his own.
What is really interesting about Ral though is his special connection (since 1953) with Nikolai Leonov the Russian President Vladimir Putins long-time friend a former boss and mentor senior KGB officer and expert in Latin American issues.
Cubas military has been the backbone of the national economy while its revolutionary armed forces" enabled the country with the Soviet Union assistance to conduct missions abroad supporting other leftist movements.
Such missions took place in: Ghana 1961; Bolivia during the 1960s; Algeria 1963; the Congo 1964-1965; Syria 1973; Ethiopia 1978; Angola 1975-1989; Mozambique before and after 1975; Grenada 1983; Nicaragua and El Salvador during the 1980s and elsewhere.
In retrospect what else was Fidel Castro for his people other than an aggressive idiot? He was in a continuous state of rebellion trying to fight with his old-fashioned rifle against economics and free market laws. He forced everybody around him to go his way or to take the highway. His Socialismo o muerte!" slogan was the Cuban more aggressive version of one of Lenin s famous quote. In a 1920 speech Lenin said: It is with absolute frankness that we speak of this struggle of the proletariat each man must choose between joining our side or the other side. Any attempt to avoid taking sides in this issue must end in fiasco."
At least Lenin gave the other side a choice albeit purely theoretical.
Like another lost-minded individual (Obama) Castros obsession was to impose a free" medical and education system and have control of pretty much everything in society. One of Castros famous credos was History Will Absolve Me."
The truth of the matter is that in terms of history Fidel Castro was one of the Cold Wars many creatures who were not relevant any more as soon as the Cold War was over.
2. The Litmus Test Outside the United States
The news about the dictator´s death have been welcomed with jubilation in the United States and particularly in Florida (where most of the Cuban exiles reside) but received with sorrow and nostalgia by many in the rest of the world (and a few in the United States).
If you want to know who Americas friends really are look no further than the plethora of world leaders statements after the brutal dictators demise. Some of them are listed below by their nations importance for the United States in terms of alliance" and partnership."
At Vatican Pope Francis upon receiving the sad news" expressed sorrow" over the death of the former Cuban leader sending a telegram to Castros brother Ral and offering prayers for the deceased. Francis signed the telegram breaking from the Vaticans usual practice of have the secretary of state send such messages that are sent traditionally only when a leader dies in office.
In Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement expressed deep sorrow" after learning of the death of Cubas longest serving president" a larger than life leader" and a legendary revolutionary and orator" who made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation" although later on he admitted he was a dictator."
In Mexico President Enrique Pea Nieto tweeted that Fidel Castro was a friend of Mexico promoting bilateral relations based on respect dialogue and solidarity."
In United Kingdom Peter Hain a former member of the British Cabinet and anti-apartheid campaigner stated that there were indefensible human rights abuses but Castro created society equality free health and education international solidarity despite USA siege."
The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated that the communist dictator was one of the historic figures of the past century and the embodiment of the Cuban Revolution" and with the death of Fidel Castro the world has lost a man who was a hero for many."
In France the then-President Franois Hollande described Castro as a great figure of the 20th century" who embodied hopes and disappointments" of the Cuban revolution and demanded that the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba should be lifted immediately after Castros death.
It is also worth mentioning that Hollande was the first Western leader to visit Cuba (in May 2015) since the December 2014 announcement by Cuba and the United States that they would normalize relations. He was also the first French president to ever visit Cuba since the 1898 Spanish-American War.
In Spain a government statement hails Castro as a figure of enormous historical importance."
In India President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted: Heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Cubas revolutionary leader former president & friend of India Fidel Castro" while Prime Minister Nerendra Modi said on Twitter: India mourns the loss of a great friend."
In Russia President Vladimir Putin praised Castro as an outstanding statesman" who is considered to be a symbol of an era in the modern history of the world and a sincere and reliable friend of Russia."
What a shocker!
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency that Fidel survived and strengthened the country during the most severe U.S. blockade while there was enormous pressure on him and still led his country out of the blockade on the road of independent development."
In China President Xi Jinping said Castro made immortal historical contributions to the development of socialism around the world" (at least this statement is true!).
And the list goes on and on but the litmus test has shown us already the ugly truth.
The ugly truth is that in the eyes of many Castros death was reported more favorably than Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatchers. There was no controversy nor mentions about: his summary executions after the revolution; his demand to the Soviet Union to nuke the United States; his abuses of human rights; his bringing the Cuban nation to poverty. Cuba an emergent economy in the 1950s has remained throughout its Castro regime with the same decrepit buildings and cars like in the same 1950s.
If one had ventured to imagine where Cuba without Castro would have been we should look no further than Puerto Rico (although some argue that differences would not have been so staggering).
3. The Litmus Test Inside the United States
Inside the United States the then-President Obama and then-President-elect Trumps statements on the same subject offered a stark contrast.
Obama stated: At this time of Fidel Castros passing we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. (…) During my presidency we have worked hard to put the past behind us (…)."
I wonder how the Democratic President John F. Kennedy who imposed the 1962 embargo on Cuba would have reacted to Obamas statement which is a good illustration of a weak and incompetent administration.
Trump first reacted with a four-word Twitter message: Fidel Castro is dead!"
Then he acknowledged the event in a statement: Today the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. Fidel Castros legacy is one of firing squads theft unimaginable suffering poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights. While Cuba remains a totalitarian island it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve."
On his turn then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence tweeted: The tyrant Castro is dead. New hope dawns. We will stand with the oppressed Cuban people for a free and democratic Cuba. Viva Cuba Libre!"
Trump and Pences statements give us a clear image about the Trump administrations stance in the post-Fidel Castro Cuba.
Trump will be having a long and hard way in his mission to Make America Great Again. But he need not be concerned. Despite the worlds mourning for Fidel Castros death he has aside the most important ally: the American people. And thats all that matters.
NOTE - A version of the article was published previously in CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW!
Tiberiu Dianu has published several books and a host of articles in law politics and post-communist societies. He currently lives and works in Washington DC and can be followed on MEDIUM.
*****
1. Fidel Castros Death
Fidel Castro is dead! One of the worlds longest-ruling dictators died at the age of 90 on Friday November 25 2016 at 10:29 pm in Havana Cuba. His communist military dictatorship was imposed to the island nation of Cuba since January 1959 and survived Fidels death until April 18 2018 when Ral his brother and current Cuban president until that date resigned (a move he announced in February 2013).
Fidel governed Cuba for 47 years as prime minister (1959-1976) and president in office (1976-2008). On July 31 2006 due to medical reasons he transferred his presidential powers to his brother Ral.
Ral Modesto Castro was the countrys minister of defense for almost 50 years (1959-2008) but his military abilities as a revolution" leader were unclear. He was not the second in command" like Ernesto Che" Guevara (who led the turning-point battles of Las Mercedes and Santa Clara in July-August and December 1958). Nor was he Camilo Cienfuegos the first head of communist Cubas armed forces in 1959 (the hero of the battle of Yaguajay in December 1958). El Comandantes younger brother was like his middle name suggests quite modest in having significant military victories that he could claim on his own.
What is really interesting about Ral though is his special connection (since 1953) with Nikolai Leonov the Russian President Vladimir Putins long-time friend a former boss and mentor senior KGB officer and expert in Latin American issues.
Cubas military has been the backbone of the national economy while its revolutionary armed forces" enabled the country with the Soviet Union assistance to conduct missions abroad supporting other leftist movements.
Such missions took place in: Ghana 1961; Bolivia during the 1960s; Algeria 1963; the Congo 1964-1965; Syria 1973; Ethiopia 1978; Angola 1975-1989; Mozambique before and after 1975; Grenada 1983; Nicaragua and El Salvador during the 1980s and elsewhere.
In retrospect what else was Fidel Castro for his people other than an aggressive idiot? He was in a continuous state of rebellion trying to fight with his old-fashioned rifle against economics and free market laws. He forced everybody around him to go his way or to take the highway. His Socialismo o muerte!" slogan was the Cuban more aggressive version of one of Lenin s famous quote. In a 1920 speech Lenin said: It is with absolute frankness that we speak of this struggle of the proletariat each man must choose between joining our side or the other side. Any attempt to avoid taking sides in this issue must end in fiasco."
At least Lenin gave the other side a choice albeit purely theoretical.
Like another lost-minded individual (Obama) Castros obsession was to impose a free" medical and education system and have control of pretty much everything in society. One of Castros famous credos was History Will Absolve Me."
The truth of the matter is that in terms of history Fidel Castro was one of the Cold Wars many creatures who were not relevant any more as soon as the Cold War was over.
2. The Litmus Test Outside the United States
The news about the dictator´s death have been welcomed with jubilation in the United States and particularly in Florida (where most of the Cuban exiles reside) but received with sorrow and nostalgia by many in the rest of the world (and a few in the United States).
If you want to know who Americas friends really are look no further than the plethora of world leaders statements after the brutal dictators demise. Some of them are listed below by their nations importance for the United States in terms of alliance" and partnership."
At Vatican Pope Francis upon receiving the sad news" expressed sorrow" over the death of the former Cuban leader sending a telegram to Castros brother Ral and offering prayers for the deceased. Francis signed the telegram breaking from the Vaticans usual practice of have the secretary of state send such messages that are sent traditionally only when a leader dies in office.
In Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement expressed deep sorrow" after learning of the death of Cubas longest serving president" a larger than life leader" and a legendary revolutionary and orator" who made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation" although later on he admitted he was a dictator."
In Mexico President Enrique Pea Nieto tweeted that Fidel Castro was a friend of Mexico promoting bilateral relations based on respect dialogue and solidarity."
In United Kingdom Peter Hain a former member of the British Cabinet and anti-apartheid campaigner stated that there were indefensible human rights abuses but Castro created society equality free health and education international solidarity despite USA siege."
The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stated that the communist dictator was one of the historic figures of the past century and the embodiment of the Cuban Revolution" and with the death of Fidel Castro the world has lost a man who was a hero for many."
In France the then-President Franois Hollande described Castro as a great figure of the 20th century" who embodied hopes and disappointments" of the Cuban revolution and demanded that the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba should be lifted immediately after Castros death.
It is also worth mentioning that Hollande was the first Western leader to visit Cuba (in May 2015) since the December 2014 announcement by Cuba and the United States that they would normalize relations. He was also the first French president to ever visit Cuba since the 1898 Spanish-American War.
In Spain a government statement hails Castro as a figure of enormous historical importance."
In India President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted: Heartfelt condolences on sad demise of Cubas revolutionary leader former president & friend of India Fidel Castro" while Prime Minister Nerendra Modi said on Twitter: India mourns the loss of a great friend."
In Russia President Vladimir Putin praised Castro as an outstanding statesman" who is considered to be a symbol of an era in the modern history of the world and a sincere and reliable friend of Russia."
What a shocker!
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency that Fidel survived and strengthened the country during the most severe U.S. blockade while there was enormous pressure on him and still led his country out of the blockade on the road of independent development."
In China President Xi Jinping said Castro made immortal historical contributions to the development of socialism around the world" (at least this statement is true!).
And the list goes on and on but the litmus test has shown us already the ugly truth.
The ugly truth is that in the eyes of many Castros death was reported more favorably than Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatchers. There was no controversy nor mentions about: his summary executions after the revolution; his demand to the Soviet Union to nuke the United States; his abuses of human rights; his bringing the Cuban nation to poverty. Cuba an emergent economy in the 1950s has remained throughout its Castro regime with the same decrepit buildings and cars like in the same 1950s.
If one had ventured to imagine where Cuba without Castro would have been we should look no further than Puerto Rico (although some argue that differences would not have been so staggering).
3. The Litmus Test Inside the United States
Inside the United States the then-President Obama and then-President-elect Trumps statements on the same subject offered a stark contrast.
Obama stated: At this time of Fidel Castros passing we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. (…) During my presidency we have worked hard to put the past behind us (…)."
I wonder how the Democratic President John F. Kennedy who imposed the 1962 embargo on Cuba would have reacted to Obamas statement which is a good illustration of a weak and incompetent administration.
Trump first reacted with a four-word Twitter message: Fidel Castro is dead!"
Then he acknowledged the event in a statement: Today the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. Fidel Castros legacy is one of firing squads theft unimaginable suffering poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights. While Cuba remains a totalitarian island it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve."
On his turn then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence tweeted: The tyrant Castro is dead. New hope dawns. We will stand with the oppressed Cuban people for a free and democratic Cuba. Viva Cuba Libre!"
Trump and Pences statements give us a clear image about the Trump administrations stance in the post-Fidel Castro Cuba.
Trump will be having a long and hard way in his mission to Make America Great Again. But he need not be concerned. Despite the worlds mourning for Fidel Castros death he has aside the most important ally: the American people. And thats all that matters.
NOTE - A version of the article was published previously in CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW!
Tiberiu Dianu has published several books and a host of articles in law politics and post-communist societies. He currently lives and works in Washington DC and can be followed on MEDIUM.
*****
