Kid, I have few major life dreams on my list, having fought hard to attain most, but to visit a free Cuba is one of them. It means the world to me, as it is so symbolic to freedom the world over. For you, and for all of us, viva Cuba libre, indeed “LA ISLA MAS BELLA”.

Mojave Mark, if that turd (Chavez) executes step 2), I sure hope we have the cojones to use the occasion to wipe him out instantly, for the sake of Venezuela, the U.S., and the world, really.

1) Fidel dies
2) Riots ensue, Chavez sweeps in
3) American Special Operations invades to restore order.
4) Free Cuba established
5) Let the good times roll

I see that the rumors are still out there about Castro’s oxygen intake reduction and his contributions to reducing global warming emissions by holding his breath permanently. However, the only proof will be when the Cuban government officially admits….

Espero que tenga gusto del fuego caliente del infierno.

Unfortunately things are not panning out towards the rumors being true, but they are strong so we can all only hope that this man’s death is the beggining of the liberation of many.
From Babalu:
Again, I am loathe to publish the title as I did in…

The Cuban government, however, has very little to gain and a lot to lose if and when they make an official announcement.

Fidel Castro has cultivated a cult of personality that spans two centuries and five decades. At the present time there is no one Cuban political figure that would be able to hold the country together…

…the reality is that things will change, and will change rapidly immediately following the news of the death. Everything, from large-scale civil upheaval from a people long-oppressed by a cruel government, to a large number of exiled Cubans seeking to reunite with their relatives by bringing them to the USA, to a total collapse of Cuban society, can not be dismissed as a possibility.

:O# #

God help me, I sound like a LOLcat.

DavePa on August 24, 2007 at 5:11 PM

Well damn, you already picked the low hanging fruit. Oliver Stone will totally be there. I know there’s more, but I’ll let others play.

AllaPundit over at Hot Air is saying he’s heard more than the usual chatter about Fidel Castro assuming room temperature (That means he may be dead, for those of you in Rio Linda). If he does leave this world, things won’t change in Cuba. Raul has be…

Long term, Raul may prove unable to fill Castro’s corpse-filled shoes, and he may have to allow some reforms towards more freedom in order to avoid a coup or otherwise keep the country afloat. Castro wasn’t one to delegate a lot of authority, however he and Raul had plenty of time to make arrangements to maintain power.

Let’s come up with the list: when Fidel finally does humanity a favor and kicks the bucket, who, besides Comrade Jimmy Carter of course, will attend his funeral?

Plus, I’d like to buy a 55 chevy fom one of their used car lots.
Masscon on August 24, 2007 at 3:47 PM

I want a 55 Chevy speedboat.

Castro (or the image of Castro) is so strong that his passing will not be a whimper.
The tricky part of the exit question is HOW it will matter. Castro is iconic. His going room temp will make a difference but it is up in the air as to what the consequences will be.

Truth be told, I think Castro is already dead. What’s going on now is media management by the Cuban status quo who fear what will happen in the aftermath of Castro’s death. These rumors are really testing the waters to figure out the time when they can best break the “bad news” to the world without danger of finding themselves joining El Presidente in hell.

Some of the overriding questions, yet to be answered:

Will the Cuban people rise up and say “no mas” if Raul Castro takes over?

What will the Cuban military do?

Long-term, what will America do? Will the USA decide it was all about Castro or all about the Cuban government? This nation has normalized relations with countries far worse than Cuba’s oppressive regime (China and Saddam’s Iraq come to mind).

What will Hugo Chavez do? I wouldn’t put it past the bastard to invade Cuba if he can get away with it.

——

My money is on the following scenario.

Cuba becomes less socialist. The pace of reform could be quick vis-a-vis the fall of the Berlin wall or could be glacially slow. A lot depends on how much control the status quo will be able to maintain in the power vacuum that will be created. My initial thought is that reform will be quick to very quick due to external (read Cuban-American) pressures.

There will be great interest in American investment in the new Cuba which will also supercharge the reform process. Intial grandiose plans will boil down to significant investments in tourism and related industries. All the cool kids will want to go see Cuba for a few years, at least.

The sham of Cuban healthcare will be so exposed that Michael Moore might just shut up for a couple weeks.

In five years of reform starting, Cuba will be far along its way of being a good neighbor.

Within 10 years, the U.S. will decide to leave GITMO, opening up huge tourism development potential on that part of the island. Truth be told, the US probably would have left about 20 years ago were it not for the fact that we could stick it to Castro by staying.