Raul Castro takes the reins in Cuba

It’s official:

HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba’s parliament named Raul Castro president on Sunday, ending nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel but leaving the island’s communist system unshaken. In a surprise move, an old guard revolutionary leader was named No. 2, suggesting that major changes are not likely anytime soon.

The retirement of the ailing 81-year-old president caps a career in which he frustrated efforts by 10 U.S. presidents to oust him.

Raul Castro stressed that his brother remains “commander in chief” even if he is not president by proposing to consult with Fidel on all major decisions of state — a motion approved by acclamation.

Jose Ramon Machado, who fought alongside the Castro brothers in the Sierra Maestra during the late 1950s, was named to the No. 2 slot that Raul Castro had previously held. He is 76 years old, like Raul Castro.

Cabinet secretary Carlos Lage, who many had expected would move up into the first vice president slot, maintained his spot as one of five other vice presidents on the governing Council of State.

The other four vice presidents included Juan Almeida Bosque, 80, a historic revolutionary leader; Interior Minister Abelardo Colome Ibarra, 68; Esteban Lazo Hernandez, 63, a longtime Communist Party leader, and Gen. Julio Casas Regueiro, 71, who was Raul Castro’s No. 2 at the Defense Ministry.

So much for Raul the “reformer,” says the Babalu Blog.

Steve Skubinna says:

February 24, 2008 at 5:47 pm

Only an idiot would have expected Raul’s accession to power to be a precurser to a transition to democracy. Another idiot mught have expected somebody other than a hard line apparatchik to take the number 2 spot.

Face it, the peaceful “withering away” of the state Communists keep promising is as believeable as any of their other promises. They lie and steal and murder to take power, and to keep it. They’ll never voluntarily give it up so long as they grasp the reins. Who would be so stupid as to think Fidel would give up power if there was the slightest possibility he’d ever be held accountable for his crimes?

Severian says:

February 24, 2008 at 6:59 pm

I don’t know why you’re so cynical Steve. People said the same thing when Kim Il Sung died and was replaced by Kim Jong Il, and look at the massive changes and democracy that’s sprung up in N. Korea since then.

camojack says:

February 25, 2008 at 1:37 am

I wonder if this means Fidel is dead.

February 25, 2008 at 5:27 am

Good point, Sev. I was on duty in Korea one Sunday during the ’80’s. Radio called and said they had an operational immediate message – the only higher priority is flash, which would have probably meant the Norks were swarming over the DMZ. So it was with some trepidation that I took custody of the envelope.

The message reported that intercepted transmissions from the North claimed Kim Il-sung had been assassinated and the army was in an upheaval as several candidates for succession presented themselves. The regular NK stations were off the air. Throughout the day we received a few more messages, basically adding detail without providing any clear picture. Needless to say it was a tense Sunday.

By mid Monday things were back to normal, or what passes for it up north. Kim had been seen publicly and was still in power, there was never any mention of what had happened or even any acknowledgement that anything had happened. Maybe the intel guys know what it was about, but my guess was that Kim Senior set it all up to flush out any potential threats to Wonder Boy’s accession.

One day that entire moribund regime’s dead hand will be lifted from the backs of those brutalized people, and maybe the true history will be written. I think it’s going to be uglier than any of us knows. I’ve been to Panmunjom, I’ve stood on the north side of the DMZ and looked into that bestial hellhole. Generations of people have had their lives stolen by the filthiest, most evil Really Bad Idea humanity has even come up with.

February 25, 2008 at 11:57 am

Interesting Steve, reminds me of what the Roman emperor Caligula did. He would send out rumors that he’d died and watch the reaction, people who rejoiced and celebrated were arrested and executed, with typical Roman vigor and creativity. Interesting how little despots have changed over the past 2000 years eh?

Fidel, you’re invited to the ex-world leader club. Bring cigars by Bill Clinton on News Groper - Fake Political Blogs, Cigar Humor, Funny Presidential Satire says:

February 26, 2008 at 2:28 pm

[…] Now that Raul is President for “Until-I-Don’t-Wanna-No-More,” you are eligible for membership in the ex-world leaders club. We meet once a month at an abandoned theater in Branson Montana. Pull that anti-capitalist stick out of your ass and come on up. […]