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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| U.S. Diplomat Says End Is Near for Castro Government |
| 2004-12-11 |
| The top American diplomat in Cuba says the end is near for Fidel Castro and his government and that even Castro's supporters are preparing for a transition to democracy. U.S. Interests Section Chief James Cason spoke at his official residence where dissidents gathered Friday for a time capsule ceremony marking International Human Rights Day. Castro's government "is on its last legs," Cason said as dissidents filled the capsule with messages spelling out their dreams for a different kind of Cuba. "Even regime supporters are discreetly preparing for the inevitable democratic transition" on the communist-run island, the American official said. Come New Year's Day, Castro, 78, will have been in power 46 years. Cuba's communist leaders say the island will retain its current political system for many years to come. Castro's designated successor is his younger brother, 73-year-old Defense Minister Raul Castro, who is also No. 2 in Cuba's ruling Communist Party. There was no immediate reaction from Castro's government, which traditionally takes several days to respond to statements by American officials. In the past Castro has accused Cason of being a "bully with diplomatic immunity" charged by Washington with trying to provoke the island. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #14 Unlike allied assistance in the Middle East, I don't think we're going to have too many allies on this one. Always remember, FL is full of Cuban expats. If anyone is going to lead the way, it'll be the ones that decide to return home after the Castro regime is gone. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-11 9:49:15 PM |
| #13 Don: If the countries like Sweden that send millions in foreign aid to Cuba continue to do so for a few years after the commies are evicted, there won't be any problems. You know, I wonder what all the anti-NAFTA and anti-WTO types think of the embargo? We simply doing to Cuba what they want us to do to the rest of the world. |
| Posted by: jackal 2004-12-11 9:35:34 PM |
| #12 The plan is to tighten up Gitmo and blockade the Florida Straits againt Fillibuster types, listen and wait. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-11 12:33:10 PM |
| #11 I'm with RC on that one... I mean they really had some time to develop a plan. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-12-11 12:06:25 PM |
| #10 Betcha there is no coordinated plan in the US government to handle economic and humanitarian support to Cuba once the Cuban government implodes. Betcha you're wrong. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-12-11 11:41:25 AM |
| #9 My #2 yut should brought back the allowed two box of Cubans.... unfortunately neither he nor I have a clue about which ones he should have bought. I think he got floor sweepings, nice boxes tho. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-11 11:36:52 AM |
| #8 Did the ones Kennedy ordered some hours before signing the embargo run out? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-12-11 11:31:45 AM |
| #7 Can't wait for my next box of cigars... |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2004-12-11 11:27:29 AM |
| #6 "Castro’s government "is on its last legs" It was in 1993. Sex tourism saved it. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-12-11 11:27:22 AM |
| #5 Betcha there is no coordinated plan in the US government to handle economic and humanitarian support to Cuba once the Cuban government implodes. If you think the bill for Afghanistan and Iraq reconstruction is expensive, just wait. If we're willing to rebuild Falluja, we're going to be sucked into reconstituting Cuba too. Unlike allied assistance in the Middle East, I don't think we're going to have too many allies on this one. The refrain will be that since we're the runs who ran the embargo, we can be the ones to pay the cleanup. |
| Posted by: Don 2004-12-11 10:23:15 AM |
| #4 ok, 2 yrs |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-11 8:54:04 AM |
| #3 I give him a year, max |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-11 8:52:47 AM |
| #2 Nope, not until Castro dies. Which could be a decade or more off. |
| Posted by: gromky 2004-12-11 5:25:24 AM |
| #1 riight--come to neverland wendy |
| Posted by: SON OF TOLUI 2004-12-11 3:51:00 AM |