[Tomcat]

http://www.cnn.com/2...stro/index.html

He's throwing in the towel.
The man had a good run. He outlasted 9 U.S presidents, his country withstood the U.S blockade and sanctions for over 40 years, and he survived nearly 400 CIA assassination attempts.

This post has been edited by Tomcat: 19 February 2008 - 02:21 AM

[King Xander the Only]

Link doesn't work.

[Gustave5436]

This one works.

This post has been edited by Gustave5436: 19 February 2008 - 02:24 AM

[Arcturus Jefferson]

400? really?

[General Witz]

Tomcat, on Feb 19 2008, 07:12 PM, said:

...and he survived nearly 400 CIA assassination attempts.

Looks like I won't be buying that "wonder" anytime soon

This post has been edited by Ivegottheskill: 19 February 2008 - 02:29 AM

[Tomcat]

Arcturus Jefferson, on Feb 19 2008, 12:25 AM, said:

400? really?

Most estimates are in the 600 range.
http://www.guardian....duncancampbell2
http://www.historyho...history/castro/
http://www.cuban-exi...25/doc0025.html

But the Cuban secret service estimates it to be around 400.

This post has been edited by Tomcat: 19 February 2008 - 03:22 AM

[Arcturus Jefferson]

That's pretty ridiculous.

[Thomas Jefferson IV]

Conspiracy theory meeting lately eh?

[mastab]

I don't quite approve of his form of leadership, but he certainly did do a lot of good for his country. I just hope he doesn't make Raul the leader or cause instability when he leaves.

[Moridin]

Inevitable... but still really stunning.

[President Magee]

Nobody else finds this the least bit unexpected? I mean, I know he was having health problems, but still...

[Smallfrog]

Its not that long a rule. The UK has been ruled by the same person for 7 years longer.

[Daver]

Smallfrog, on Feb 19 2008, 06:31 AM, said:

Its not that long a rule. The UK has been ruled by the same person for 7 years longer.

He's the longest ruling non-monarch head of state is history. The good president and your queen are the 2 longest siting sovereigns Terra has ever known and their equally popular within their borders which is to say vary.

[Daver]

I hope the exiles don't think their going "home". The Cubans that stayed view them as traitors. I also :lol: at CNN, so much for having a Left-Wing bias. Fidel isn't the power behind the socialist system, he's just a really good salesmen and any competent person that replaces him will have no problems keeping the people wanting their free services.

[Smallfrog]

Daver, on Feb 19 2008, 12:08 PM, said:

He's the longest ruling non-monarch head of state is history. The good president and your queen are the 2 longest siting sovereigns Terra has ever known and their equally popular within their borders which is to say vary.

Queen Victoria ruled longer than Queen Elizabeth has. Come 2015 and she will be the longest ruling British monarch.

As for the Cuban exiles, I agree. I also wonder if the American ideals of liberty is what the Cubans actually want, or if they just want to be left alone.

This post has been edited by Smallfrog: 19 February 2008 - 06:34 AM

[Slavicius]

Quote

Its not that long a rule. The UK has been ruled by the same person for 7 years longer.

True, but still - its not like he only just dropped in the other day

He's been running the show there since before those grainy videos of JFK's assassination, which is quite before my time at least.

Edit: gah, spelling.

This post has been edited by Slavicius: 19 February 2008 - 06:59 AM

[Daver]

Smallfrog, on Feb 19 2008, 07:33 AM, said:

Queen Victoria ruled longer than Queen Elizabeth has. Come 2015 and she will be the longest ruling British monarch.

As for the Cuban exiles, I agree. I also wonder if the American ideals of liberty is what the Cubans actually want, or if they just want to be left alone.

Well my step-mom is Cuban and so I have a primary source (as a Cuban she can actually visit the island). From what I gather, Cubans blame the embargo (as does she despite being an exile) for the economic problems, the USA for being "exporters of democracy" despite that they are smarter, stronger and more self-sufficient then their American counter-parts and have a gov't they support (which they view as a democratic thing) , and the Cold War mentality for all their current problems. What the Cubans want tin to join OPEC to better develop their newfound oil wealth, the US to lift the embargo and for other political parties to have a chance at office.

[Psyonif]

Daver, on Feb 19 2008, 12:08 PM, said:

He's the longest ruling non-monarch head of state is history. The good president and your queen are the 2 longest siting sovereigns Terra has ever known and their equally popular within their borders which is to say vary.

Didn't that obese king of Tonga chalk up a ridiculous number of years? Or was he really old already when he ascended the throne?

Anyway, Castro is clearly the man. And a lulz-merchant, too; offering to send Cuba's electoral supervisors over to Florida during the Bush / Gore farce, and offering aid to the US after Katrina (which, allegedly, hit Cuba considerably harder, but without a single fatality. 'Cos Fidel knows what he's doing, unlike FEMA).

I'll miss his wacky antics.

This post has been edited by Psyonif: 19 February 2008 - 07:04 AM

[Daver]

Psyonif, on Feb 19 2008, 08:02 AM, said:

Didn't that obese king of Tonga chalk up a ridiculous number of years? Or was he really old already when he ascended the throne?

Anyway, Castro is clearly the man. And a lulz-merchant, too; offering to send Cuba's electoral supervisors over to Florida during the Bush / Gore farce, and offering aid to the US after Katrina (which, allegedly, hit Cuba considerably harder, but without a single fatality. 'Cos Fidel knows what he's doing, unlike FEMA).

I'll miss his wacky antics.

I remember the election thing (should have accepted it, Cuba is known for corrupt free elections). The aid is new. That would have been lulz worthy had we accepted. I can see the front page headline now: "Devastated America to be rebuilt with Cuban Aid!" and "Socialist state to offer leaders of the Capitalist World financial aid after devastating hurricane!"

:lol:

[Lamuella]

I hope he as a comfortable and enjoyable retirement. He did a lot for his country.