Fidel Castro is dead at age 90

[Roma_Victrix]

Yep. You read that correctly the first time.

This is pretty surreal, seeing how the old goat would seemingly never die. Many just went ahead and assumed he was immortal after so many attempts on his life.

So what does this mean going forward in terms of Cuba's relationship with the outside world, particularly the United States? Raul Castro has been running things for a while now, so it's not like it has any impact on existing leadership. However, it's perhaps a symbolic end of an era, the Cold War one that is. The US and Cuba have already restored their long-severed ties during Obama's tenure as the POTUS. Do you think Castro's death will improve relations even more? Or do you think all those inevitable victory celebrations in south Florida will dampen them a bit? Time to bust out those Cuban cigars!

[Prodromos]

What matters is what happens to Cubans, not a symbolic event. I highly doubt anything will change.

[nhinhonhinho]

Many just went ahead and assumed he was immortal after so many attempts on his life.

If I recall correctly there were 638 assassination attempts by CIA again him!

Still just want to say RIP for him

[Humble Warrior]

Strange... I thought he was dead ages ago.I will wish no ill on a dead man.

[swabian]

Good riddance. I kinda liked him sometimes, though. Meh...

[The Gurkhan]

Anybody with the stones and resilience enough to successfully antagonise the most powerful nation in history deserves huge respect, regardless of whatever political affiliation they fell into. Rest in Peace!

[Flavius Julius Nepos Augustus]

Rest in hell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simba_rebellion

They can do in Cuba what they like but he supported a movement who killed lots of foreigners. Relations will probaly 'improve' in the meaning of some vague love-hate relationship.

[Papay]

Rest in hell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simba_rebellion

They can do in Cuba what they like but he supported a movement who killed lots of foreigners. Relations will probaly 'improve' in the meaning of some vague love-hate relationship.

He also sent his army in Angola were thousand Cubans died

[Condottiere 40K]

Trump wants to expand casino operations to Havana.

[Tiberios]

Another tyrant dead. Good riddance. Unforunately, I don't think things will change in Cuba. Perhaps some minor changes, but I doubt we'll see anything significant. It also depends how soon-to be-President Trump decides to handle Cuba.

[Diocle]

Great day, the sanguinary beast is dead!

[ABH2]

Anybody with the stones and resilience enough to successfully antagonise the most powerful nation in history deserves huge respect, regardless of whatever political affiliation they fell into. Rest in Peace!

Yea. I mean, who cares that he never personally suffered for any of his choices, but simply impoverished the people he ruled...

[Causeless]

Yea. I mean, who cares that he never personally suffered for any of his choices, but simply impoverished the people he ruled...

He suffered greatly personally. I mean, hell, he lost his best friend to being non-judicially brutally executed and couldn't recover the body for 20 years. He lived his life in constant fear of assassination attempts. At the beginning of the revolution he lived in half a decade of constant fear and pain, travelling the Sierra Maestra while seeing the corrupt Batista government murder innocent civilians to try to force a surrender. I'd consider that psychological torture to be very real suffering.

Furthermore, it wasn't really his fault for the famines that Cuba suffered from. They suffered the worst of it after the Soviet Union collapsed, and it's truly remarkable that Cuba survived that period. Meanwhile, the U.S blockaded Cuba and did everything they could to try to collapse the country, as far as rather ironically utilising terrorist attacks against Cuba while accusing Cuba of being a state sponsor of terrorism. They'd try to paint Cuba as a prison-island while simultaneously refusing to issue the promised Visas.

If anything, Cuban officials suffered far more relative to the majority of people than the officials and politicians in the U.S do... Hell, Che Guevara received the same pay and rations as an ordinary soldier and refused anything more despite his very high position of power in the Cuban government.

From a human's rights perspective, Cuba is a better country than the U.S.A as far as I'm concerned. Cuba cares for all of its citizens with free healthcare (and yes, even political opponents), a basic human right that all civilised countries enjoy aside from the supposed bastion of freedom... Cuba actually cares for the health of it's citizens and advances in the medical sciences, whereas the U.S.A merely cares for the almighty dollar.

[ABH2]

It is very hard for me to find the motivation to refute the same old praise of comrade Fidel.

Cuba cares for all of its citizens with free healthcare (and yes, even political opponents), a basic human right that all civilised countries enjoy aside from the supposed bastion of freedom...

Americans are just so fantastically wealthy compared to the rest of the world that we don't need the government to take care of us. We don't need the government to pay for our healthcare. Of course, people weren't and aren't being denied healthcare in the US. Only people who confuse health insurance with actual care could make that claim.

Of course, it's dishonest to claim that it's freely and fully extended to opponents of the regime. Or every citizen, for that matter. People who have studied Cuba's healthcare system have commented extensively on how it has been politicized and used as a tool to detect and suppress dissent. There is a tiered healthcare system in Cuba where in many parts of the country, there is no access to clean facilities or even basic medicines. Meanwhile, the regime runs a medical tourism industry that it turns a profit on, bringing in wealthy foreigners from elsewhere. Cuba has turned its doctors into practical slaves who are both underpaid within Cuba and abused horribly when sent overseas (often times against their will). Then we get to the whole subject of things like forced abortions...

From a human's rights perspective, Cuba is a better country than the U.S.A as far as I'm concerned.

This requires ignoring the vast bulk of what constitutes human rights, and ignoring the fact that nothing the Cuban regime provides its people (even if we take the claim that it actually provides those things at face value - it does not actually achieve what it claims) is unavailable to Americans. I'm old fashioned. My definition of human rights doesn't consist of free provided by government. Human rights, in fact, don't come from government at all!

Meanwhile, Cuban people risk their lives every year to flee that of a country and come to America where they will, in some warped view of the world, be more oppressed than they are in Cuba.

They suffered the worst of it after the Soviet Union collapsed, and it's truly remarkable that Cuba survived that period.

How long between the Revolution and the collapse of the Soviets?

When people make this ridiculous argument, they are basically saying that it isn't Fidel's fault that his country and the living conditions within it depended on Soviet subsidies. I shouldn't even have to elaborate on what's wrong with that, but suffice to say, your success as a nation isn't really sustainable when you are relying on a foreign government to give you handouts.

Meanwhile, the U.S blockaded Cuba and did everything they could to try to collapse the country, as far as rather ironically utilising terrorist attacks against Cuba while claiming they were a state sponsor of terrorism. They'd try to paint Cuba as a prison-island while simultaneously refusing the issue the promised Visas.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was always free to trade with Cuba (it was not a 'blockade), but mostly decided not to. And it's not because of America's policies, but for obvious economic reasons. Among the many issues I have with America's policies towards Cuba is that it has allowed the left to continue to cry and blame the boogieman for the failures of its awful ideology. But, then again, its not like we are talking about people afraid to construct entire alternate versions of reality to preserve the reputation of socialism, anyway.

[Causeless]

It is very hard for me to find the motivation to refute the same old praise of comrade Fidel.

Americans are just so fantastically wealthy compared to the rest of the world that we don't need the government to take care of us. We don't need the government to pay for our healthcare. Of course, people weren't and aren't being denied healthcare in the US. Only people who confuse health insurance with actual care could make that claim.

Seriously? Does that include the 500,000 homeless people in the U.S? Or do they not deserve basic human rights?

Sure, America, as the abstract concept, is greatly wealthy... but most of the actual American people aren't. The wealth isn't in the hands of those who need it, merely those who have the means to acquire it. Whether those means are equal, legal, moral or ethical be damned...

Of course, it's dishonest to claim that it's freely and fully extended to opponents of the regime. Or every citizen, for that matter. People who have studied Cuba's healthcare system have commented extensively on how it has been politicized and used as a tool to detect and suppress dissent. There is a tiered healthcare system in Cuba where in many parts of the country, there is no access to clean facilities or even basic medicines. Meanwhile, the regime runs a medical tourism industry that it turns a profit on, bringing in wealthy foreigners from elsewhere. Cuba has turned its doctors into practical slaves who are both underpaid within Cuba and abused horribly when sent overseas (often times against their will). Then we get to the whole subject of things like forced abortions...

My father has worked with Cuban doctors and scientists on vaccines. I'd put for more faith in his word of men eager to advance the sciences and who legitimately enjoy their work, moreso than the frankly absurd word of the immensely biased U.S government which tries to pretend that every doctor over there is miserable and forced into that position.

This requires ignoring the vast bulk of what constitutes human rights, and ignoring the fact that nothing the Cuban regime provides its people (even if we take the claim that it actually provides those things at face value - it does not actually achieve what it claims) is unavailable to Americans. I'm old fashioned. My definition of human rights doesn't consist of free provided by government. Human rights, in fact, don't come from government at all!

Meanwhile, Cuban people risk their lives every year to flee that of a country and come to America where they will, in some warped view of the world, be more oppressed than they are in Cuba.

Yes, of course some Cubans want to leave. Many want to escape to Miami where they have family, or perhaps they do want greater political freedoms, or perhaps they view the U.S as this idealistic wonderland as it's so often painted as. Cuba doesn't really fight this. Cuba has tried to get visas for it's citizens. Hell, it's easier for a Cuban to visit the U.S than vice-versa.

How long between the Revolution and the collapse of the Soviets?

When people make this ridiculous argument, they are basically saying that it isn't Fidel's fault that his country and the living conditions within it depended on Soviet subsidies. I shouldn't even have to elaborate on what's wrong with that, but suffice to say, your success as a nation isn't really sustainable when you are relying on a foreign government to give you handouts.

A country which trades will always do better. That's bloody obvious. If anything, the fact Cuba didn't collapse despite absolutely no trade and the U.S blockades truly shows that Cuba is sustainable, and doesn't rely on foreign handouts.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was always free to trade with Cuba (it was not a 'blockade), but mostly decided not to. And it's not because of America's policies, but for obvious economic reasons. Among the many issues I have with America's policies towards Cuba is that it has allowed the left to continue to cry and blame the boogieman for the failures of its awful ideology. But, then again, its not like we are talking about people afraid to construct entire alternate versions of reality to preserve the reputation of socialism, anyway.

The U.S put immense pressure on governments to not trade with Cuba. I know, at the very least, that Japan didn't trade with Cuba due to U.S pressure. The most powerful country in the world doesn't need to explicitly ban something to stop it happening, it just needs to shove a little and give threatening under-the-table gestures.

[tgoodenow]

Seriously? Does that include the 500,000 homeless people in the U.S? Or do they not deserve basic human rights?

Last time I checked, everyone is accepted to project housing, welfare, food stamps, etc. Which of their basic human rights are being denied?

Cuba is not sustainable. Their economy is kept afloat from Venezuelan oil subsidies. The lack of cheap oil has caused:


"Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca on Monday acknowledged that the island’s economy, hammered by the Venezuelan crisis, would not achieve the government’s prediction of 1 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product this year.

Over the summer, the government announced cuts in electricity and fuel supplies, primarily at state enterprises. The central government assigned tight quotas to each enterprise and warned that if they went over, they would be forced to shut down and send employees home “on vacation.”"

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nati...112094082.html

[The Gurkhan]

Yea. I mean, who cares that he never personally suffered for any of his choices, but simply impoverished the people he ruled...

Has no bearing whatsoever on if grit and determination can be admired. This can be said of many a controversial figure in any position of authority in any country at any time. Including any number of the other tyrants your people (are you a Yank?) support/provide apologia for. Crocodile tears as usual.

It's also a tad since he did genuinely fight a successful guerrilla campaign as well as thwart genuine attempts by the US to topple him.

[Abdülmecid I]

Whatever his and the Cuban government's shortcomings might be, his contribution to overthrowing a blood-thirsty, corrupted dictatorship is invaluable and for that, we should all be grateful for. A meaningful lesson that truly popular revolutions do not need foreign interventions to succeed and, in fact, may be capable of remaining in power, despite said interventions. Cuba is unfortunately still controlled by an authoritative, undemocratic regime, but that should not prevent us from recognizing the significant improvements in the Cuban people's quality of life, although the poor country has suffered greatly from a trade embargo, established due to the revolution nationalising the property of American corporations, thus undermining their interests. Rest in peace, Fidel Castro.

[Ludicus]

Whatever his and the Cuban government's shortcomings might be, his contribution to overthrowing a blood-thirsty, corrupted dictatorship is invaluable and for that, we should all be grateful for. A meaningful lesson that truly popular revolutions do not need foreign interventions to succeed and, in fact, may be capable of remaining in power, despite said interventions. Cuba is unfortunately still controlled by an authoritative, undemocratic regime, but that should not prevent us from recognizing the significant improvements in the Cuban people's quality of life, although the poor country has suffered greatly from a trade embargo, established due to the revolution nationalising the property of American corporations, thus undermining their interests. Rest in peace, Fidel Castro.

This.
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Donald and the others,

President-elect Donald Trump,

a brutal dictator

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President Obama,

Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro's family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people...history will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him

Ex President Jimmy Carter,

We remember fondly our visits with him in Cuba and his love of his country

French President Francois Hollande,

Fidel Castro was a towering figure of the 20th century...he had been able to represent for Cuban people the pride of the rejection of external domination

Pope Francis,

sad news

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,

It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest-serving president.. a larger than a life leader who served his people for almost half a century. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.

EU Leader Jean-Claude Juncker,

with the death of FidelCastro, the world has lost a man who was a hero for many

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini,

a man of determination and an historical figure

Portuguese President Marcelo, last European President to visit Cuba, last month,

my deepest condolences to the Government and people of Cuba

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spain's Prime Minister Rajoy,

My condolences to the government and authorities of Cuba for the death of ex-president Fidel Castro, a significant historical figure

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

Under former President Castro, Cuba made advances in the fields of education, literacy and health

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend

Nelson Mandela Foundation,

our deepest condolences to the people and government of Cuba on the passing of Fidel Castro. President Mandela had a close relationship with President Castro and always remembered his solidarity with the anti-apartheid movement

Chinese President Xi Jinping,

China lost an intimate and sincere friend

President Putin,

Free and independent Cuba built by him and his fellow revolutionaries has become an influential member of the international community and serves as an inspiring example for many countries and peoples

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Roundup: Latin America

Brazil,President Temer,

Fidel Castro was a leader of convictions. He marked the second half of the 20th century with the firm defense of the ideas in which he believed

Argentina,President Mauricio Macri,

condolences to the Cuban government for the passing away of Fidel Castro.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto,

a friend of Mexico, who had promoted bilateral relationships based on respect, dialogue and solidarity

El Salvador’s President Salvador Sánchez Cerén,

a dear friend...live in the hearts of the people who fight for justice and dignity

Bolivia, President Evo Morales,

Fidel Castro left us a legacy of having fought for the integration of the world's peoples

Equador, President Rafael Correa,

a man...with so many principles and so many values

[ABH2]

Your understanding of freedom is limited to free-exchange of commodities/capital in the market.
Access to education, healthcare and housing provides more freedom to poor masses of the periphery world.

My understanding of freedom begins and ends with the individual. Any other concept of rights is inherently contradictory and an excuse to suppress the individual. Freedoms are rights, and rights are derived from the non-aggression principle. This is important because the first principle of libertarianism has nothing at all to do with capitalism or markets. And if the 'periphery world' suffers from anything, it's from suppressing individuals. They have listened to the claptrap pushed by the shysters of the left too much for too long.

Access to education, healthcare, and housing are freedoms that fit perfectly within the framework of libertarianism. What you are talking about isn't access to anything, but some sort of artificial guarantee to education, healthcare, and housing which must necessarily come at the expense of someone else and which limits the autonomy of all. Libertarians believe in freedom of association, and by extension, the freedom of contract. These rights are, by my estimation, naturally occurring phenomenon. Humans anywhere and everywhere engage in them when left to their own devices. They are not given, but can be infringed upon and limited.

A free and prosperous society is a prerequisite to people having widespread access to good education and healthcare. Socialists, communists, Marxists etc. confuse effects for causes. Despite supposed improvements in education, it is noteworthy that Cuba has become no more prosperous or wealthy.

And in order to survive, the Castro regime had to accept reforms predicated on the principles I espouse. One handouts from the Soviets dried up, they were compelled to accept market reforms based upon economic laws that you reject. The only reason it has been able to limp along the way it has, like the communists in China, is because they ultimately accepted that their own ideology conflicted with that awful liberal reality that you dismiss as a mere social construct.

Cubans have access to a whole lot more stuff than many in the Latin America and the rest of the world at the moment.

What stuff is this, exactly? They have high literacy rates, but that isn't really 'stuff.' Of course, now that more people can read, the Cuban government has found it necessary to restrict what they are allowed to read. They have access to, on average, poor healthcare that comes with a number of strings attached, and in which the level of care is dependent upon obedience to the state.

Cuba is basically a perfect example of every moral hazard libertarians worn about when the subject of governmental power is discussed. Nothing provided to the people is free or even guaranteed, and anything provided has been used to empower the state.

The American backed regime was quiet bloody and un-includive without the benefits of Fidel's regime.

I have done very little to no defending of American policies with regards to Cuba or Latin America as a whole. It is completely unnecessary when discussing the failures of Castro. Yet, it seems like a great deal of his support here and elsewhere is based on mere opposition to the US regardless of what consequences that has had for the Cuban people.

You don't have to take the word of a dogmatic American libertarian. I think any objective outsider would look at the fact that Cuba is an armed prison state that has to fight to keep its own people within its borders and quickly identify where the propaganda is primarily coming from.

To be fair, Cuba did not ask for ambargos.

No. It just aligned itself with the Soviet Union fully knowing the consequences of such a move. Castro had opportunities before the Bay of Pigs to avoid antagonizing the US, but he couldn't help himself. And before there was any embargo, he had already made a point to show that foreign investors weren't welcome. He attempted to have US oil corporations refine oil for the Soviets, and then stole their assets when they refused.

The real myth of the embargo is that people would have rushed to invest and trade with a nation operating this way. Which is, again, one of the reasons I oppose the very notion of any such embargo. It provides these poor excuses for the failures of socialism which reoccur everywhere.

But, see, there's no actual principle upon which socialists/communists/Marxists or anyone who doesn't believe in freedom of association can oppose the embargo. The argument being presented is utterly childish. Businesses would have rushed to invest and trade in Cuba when the regime was severely restricting not only who they could trade and do business with, but a threat to steal any hard assets they could get their hands on? It's nonsensical. Trade of the sort the embargo cut off is only possible with a guarantee of things which would have undermined the core tenants of Castro's regime.