Fidel Castro Leaves Them Gasping For More: Round Up And Resignation Letter
FIDEL Casto knows when to say adios. He will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power. Leave on a high. Leave them wanting more. He was ever the showman.
“I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief,” he tells the newspaper Granma.
Says US President George W Bush: “The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections.”
Better cigars for Americans is the clarion call. And it will be heard.
Says Castro: “It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am not in a physical condition to offer… To prepare the people for my absence, psychologically and politically, was my first obligation after so many years of struggle.”
Adding: “I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas. I will continue writing under the title, Reflections of Comrade Fidel. I will be one more weapon in the arsenal that you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I will be careful.”
Yeah, and watch out for the cigars…
CNN: Castro resigns as president, state-run paper reports
Fidel Castro announced his resignation as president of Cuba and commander-in-chief of Cuba’s military on Tuesday, according to a letter published in the state-run newspaper, Granma.
Michelle Malkin was up early with the first roundup, and A Newt One has lots more.
Several of Babalu’s commenters noted that Fidel’s resignation now forces a string of long delayed actions. First, Raul Castro (Fidel’s brother who is no more than a few years younger and a drunk) must now emerge from the shadow of the old leader; and equally important, US politicians especially in the Democratic party, who must face the fact that the Countdown has begun.
THE LETTER:
Fortunately, our Revolution can still count on cadres from the old guard and others who were very young in the early stages of the process. Some were very young, almost children, when they joined the fight on the mountains and later they have given glory to the country with their heroic performance and their internationalist missions. They have the authority and the experience to guarantee the replacement. There is also the intermediate generation which learned together with us the basics of the complex and almost unattainable art of organizing and leading a revolution.
The path will always be difficult and require from everyone’s intelligent effort. I distrust the seemingly easy path of apologetics or its antithesis the self-flagellation. We should always be prepared for the worst variable. The principle of being as prudent in success as steady in adversity cannot be forgotten. The adversary to be defeated is extremely strong; however, we have been able to keep it at bay for half a century.
This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fight as a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to write under the heading of ‘Reflections by comrade Fidel.’ It will be just another weapon you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I shall be careful.
Thanks.
Fidel Castro Ruz
February 18, 2008
Posted: 19th, February 2008 | In: Politicians Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
