Was Fidel Castro a good leader for Cuba

[cupoftea]

Hello, this question has been whirling around in my mind for a pretty long time, and since alot of people here know alot about history and politics, this place seemed like the right site to ask it

I have absolutly no idea about how he was, but i do think he has done some good things for his country.

Whats your view on this?

[Heathen Hammer]

Considering that Cuban economy was under constant pressure by US, he did a pretty good job, by managing to make cuban economy survive. And also beards and cigars are cool.

[attilavolciak07]

Considering that Cuban economy was under constant pressure by US, he did a pretty good job, by managing to make cuban economy survive. And also beards and cigars are cool.

A U.S. arms embargo had been in force since March 1958 when armed conflict broke out in Cuba between rebels and the Batista government. In July 1960, in response to the expropriations by the Cuban government, the United States reduced the Cuban import quota of sugar by 7,000,000 tons; the Soviet Union responded by agreeing to purchase the sugar instead, and Cuba took further actions to take over American businesses.

And besides, the embargo helps him.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Moved to the Academy.

[dogukan]

he began very well but he wanted to get above capabilities of Cuba...that screwed them big time. But he was a good leader. Did some mistakes which caused deaths but still he is a hero.

[BNS]

Heck no! He destroyed it's economy, drove the people to poverty, oppressed those who were "against" the state (those who were not brainless wanna be commies), and forced a large chunk of it's population into exile.

Considering that Cuban economy was under constant pressure by US

More like helping it's economy expand.

And also beards and cigars are cool.

So was Bacardi but it was forced to move to Puerto Rico.

And besides, the embargo helps him

Hardly, those business brought big money and jobs to the island, but not surprisingly whenever the government takes full control over the economy it s it up. Indeed, I wonder why the U.S. is such a wuss when dealing with Cuba.

Did some mistakes which caused deaths but still he is a hero.

A revolutionary hero yes, but not currently to those whom have been affected by the yolk of his government.

Batista was crap, Fidel was bigger crap.

[WrathofTulkas]

Heck no! He destroyed it's economy, drove the people to poverty, oppressed those who were "against" the state (those who were not brainless wanna be commies), and forced a large chunk of it's population into exile.


More like helping it's economy expand.


So was Bacardi but it was forced to move to Puerto Rico.


Indeed, I wonder why the U.S. is such a wuss when dealing with Cuba.

Batista was crap, Fidel was bigger crap.

Agree

If he was such a great leader then why is there such a large population of cubans in Miami? Remember during the Clinton years, when we got cubans riding on rafts

[Legionem Insanis]

Agree

If he was such a great leader then why is there such a large population of cubans in Miami? Remember during the Clinton years, when we got cubans riding on rafts

ya, how *#$%d up does your country have to be for people to jump on a @#*&ing inner-tube and hope the gulf stream carries you to the USA?!?
That wasn't seen before Castro. I know a lot of these people.
As for the US embargo, its an embargo not a blockade.

I cant believe were having this conversation. You could just as easily argue that Stalin and Hitler were good leaders. Actually those 2 did far more for their contries than Castro has.

[YuriVII]

Hardly, those business brought big money and jobs to the island, but not surprisingly whenever the government takes full control over the economy it s it up. Indeed, I wonder why the U.S. is such a wuss when dealing with Cuba.

Regime change is off the table due to an agreement with the USSR after the Cuban Missile Crisis that the US would pledge not to invade or sponsor regime change on the island. Failure to adhere to this agreement would cause some problems for the US in other parts of the world they may deem more important than Cuba.

[Viking Prince]

Regime change is off the table due to an agreement with the USSR after the Cuban Missile Crisis that the US would pledge not to invade or sponsor regime change on the island. Failure to adhere to this agreement would cause some problems for the US in other parts of the world they may deem more important than Cuba.

I agree that USA sponsored regime change is and should be off the table, but the USSR is no more and many nations have chosen to go along with the Russian Federation on continuity, but some agreements have been dropped.

More importantly thought -- this is something that Cuba's citizens need to for themselves.

[BNS]

Agree

If he was such a great leader then why is there such a large population of cubans in Miami? Remember during the Clinton years, when we got cubans riding on rafts

Lol, I am one of those Cubans! You can imagine how this fires me up.

[Sven788]

Lol, I am one of those Cubans! You can imagine how this fires me up.

lol!!!!!!!!!

[Salazar]

Better than Batista at least.
But that doesnt mean much, seeing as how batista was completely corrupt, unjust and even cooperated with all sorts of gangsters.

Today, i think cuba would be best served with a european or US style system.

[BNS]

Better than Batista at least.

Most Cubans would say no. Fidel is also similar corruption and oppresion plus the added bonus of the ideology that "everyone starves equally".

Today, i think cuba would be best served with a european or US style system

It has the potential to become a strong economic power. In a more open position it's tourism and agricultural based exports would certainly sell.

[Viking Prince]

Revolutionaries are effective to upset existing oppressive regimes but will tend to replace and become the next oppressive regime. Prevention of this problem is only possible with strong democratic principles and protection of speech, movement, and association.

The Castro family was good to free Cuba from Batista -- bad as a nondemocratic replacement. By turning Cuba into a Soviet Union lapdog, the Castro family lost all credibility for the revolution.

[Lou337]

No, he wasn't.

[Heathen Hammer]

At least Castro managed to save Cuba from US intervention. And I've been to Cuba and its pretty awesome.

[Legionem Insanis]

At least Castro managed to save Cuba from US intervention. And I've been to Cuba and its pretty awesome.

you see what they want you to see

[MaximiIian]

you see what they want you to see

That's true for any country vis-a-vis tourism, though. :hmmm:

[Mr. Scott]

No he didn't do a good job. The economy is in the gutter because he disliked America. He was so insane that the Russians even left him. They didn't want their nukes on an island owned by a nutcase.