Raúl Castro can count on many comrades and friends to help him rule Cuba.

[Say_What]

From the Oligarch's Daily aka Miami Herald

<clips>

For all of his public life, Cuba's Raúl Castro has surrounded himself with trusted friends and aides whose help he will need to rule the island if his brother, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, is unable to recover from surgery.

Almost all veterans of the 1950s revolution and ''international missions'' to wars in places like Africa and Latin America, they could help Raúl consolidate his jump from minister of defense to the island's ruler.

...''Raúl's power will be based on these people for a long time,'' said Alcibiades Hidalgo, Raúl's former secretary, who defected in 2002. El Nuevo Herald consulted with Hidalgo and other experts on just who these trusted Raúlistas are:

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/special_packages/fidel_castro/15247778.htm

[Robbien]

1. Could a headline be any more biased?

Given the mind of the group of far righter Miami Cubans I suppose another headline spewed out could be, but aw come on . . .

Comrades and friends?

There is a Cuban government which supports the current policy of the leader of the country. How is that any different than the US?

[Judi Lynn]

2. No panic in Havana

No panic in Havana
Albor Ruiz

~snip~
This scenario was never envisioned by the White House or by the ultraconservative Cuban-Americans who practically dictate U.S. policy toward Cuba. Every plan, every idea, every wishful thought contemplated a change of power in Cuba after the death of Castro, not before.
(snip)

There is no increased police presence. Tourists from Japan, Sweden and Argentina calmly walk around Old Havana with their digital cameras, and Cubans express more concern about the well-being of "Fidel" than about potential disruptions in the future of their nation.
(snip)

Yet Terry was on to something. Washington's and Miami's long-standing predictions of chaos, massive popular uprisings and a gigantic boat exodus once Castro was no longer in power turned out to be flat wrong; nothing of the sort has happened.

Ten days have gone by since Castro's operation was announced and life goes on in Cuba with no more and no fewer problems than usual.

But during these last 10 days, something has become clear: Succession plans in Cuba already were in place. Castro's illness has served as a dress rehearsal of sorts for when he is no longer around, although at the moment it seems that he is recovering quickly.

It is also clear that after Fidel, Cuba will be ruled by a collective government in which Raúl will not be the only player.
(snip/...)

http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/442098p-372387c.html

[Say_What]

3. Brazil Economist Lauds Fidel Castro

Compared to El Mono in the WH who is obviously without a brain.

<clips>

Havana, Aug 11 (Prensa Latina) "I have known several politicians, but none has ever had Fidel Castro's deep intellectuality and human dimension," said outstanding Brazilian economist and university professor Theotonio Dos Santos.

In an article published by Granma newspaper Friday, Dos Santos states that, "no politician has managed to maintain the systematic study of a problem for hours and hours in all details and aspects like Fidel does."

"None," said the economist, "is capable of being in an academic meeting for hours, much less for several days, from 9:00 in the morning to 12 midnight, as I have seen him do several times."

The Brazilian professor noted, "When Fidel Castro addresses a meeting is very difficult to stop him. He listens, takes down notes, responds exactly to what he is questioned, and expresses human respect, but above all he is the only politician at head of State level who debates openly with those who differ from his points of view."

http://www.escambray.cu/Eng/news/Ccastro0608111122.htm

[Say_What]

4. "ask any Cuban in the street"...

From the article:

...Ask any Cuban in the streets of Havana about U.S. plans to "usher democracy" into their country, and more often than not you will get a curt: "Like in Iraq?"

Visions of apocalyptic scenarios have obviously been proven wrong, and Washington should shelve the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba and its misguided report. Leave Cuba alone to decide its own future once and for all.

[Say_What]

5. Who's who in the Cuban Government?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2438233&mesg_id=2438302