Thread: Fidel Castro resigns Cuban presidency after nearly half-century in power

http://www.startribune.com/15760177.html

[size=12pt]Fidel Castro resigns Cuban presidency after nearly half-century in power[/size]

By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press
Last update: February 19, 2008 - 7:57 AM

HAVANA - An ailing Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he was retiring and will not accept a new term when the new parliament meets Sunday.

"I will not aspire to nor accept — I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept — the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief," read a letter signed by Castro published early Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.

Viva la revolucion!

=Z=

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.
Cuba is actually a great tourist location, and most countries, including Canada and the UK, allow travel there.
I would love to get a chance to visit.

FYI, although I do not know this from personal experience, it is possible for Americans to travel to Cuba despite the travel restrictions.
You can take a flight out of most major cities in Canada to Havana, and the Cuban immigration offers do not stamp US passports, so they can keep their (illegal) trips secret.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.
Cuba is actually a great tourist location, and most countries, including Canada and the UK, allow travel there.
I would love to get a chance to visit.

FYI, although I do not know this from personal experience, it is possible for Americans to travel to Cuba despite the travel restrictions.
You can take a flight out of most major cities in Canada to Havana, and the Cuban immigration offers do not stamp US passports, so they can keep their (illegal) trips secret.

One of my friends were there last year. He had a great time, and met many nice people there. Lobster is the big thing down there, as far as food goes.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.

Didn't read the article, eh?
I think the next El Presidente is going to be Castro's brother, Raul.

=Z=

"Zeus" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.

Didn't read the article, eh?
I think the next El Presidente is going to be Castro's brother, Raul.

=Z=

Crap.
Nope, didn't read the whole article.
Too bad...

I wonder if Jesse Ventura is looking for a job

"Zeus" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.

Didn't read the article, eh?
I think the next El Presidente is going to be Castro's brother, Raul.

=Z=

The feeling is (in a few of circles I run in
;D) it doesn't matter who it is, they will still follow Fidels policies as long as he is alive.

"Marrdro" wrote:

"Zeus" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.

Didn't read the article, eh?
I think the next El Presidente is going to be Castro's brother, Raul.

=Z=

The feeling is (in a few of circles I run in
;D) it doesn't matter who it is, they will still follow Fidels policies as long as he is alive.

Fidel's brother is actually far worse... I believe this is the same guy who temporarily took over power when Fidel had surgery.
If it is, what was reported was that he held even hard lines.
Things in Cuba and our ties to Cuba will get worse with this change.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

This is actually great news!
Hopefully whatever new president comes into power is less hard lined than Castro and relations between Cuba and the US can open up again.
Cuba is actually a great tourist location, and most countries, including Canada and the UK, allow travel there.
I would love to get a chance to visit.

FYI, although I do not know this from personal experience, it is possible for Americans to travel to Cuba despite the travel restrictions.
You can take a flight out of most major cities in Canada to Havana, and the Cuban immigration offers do not stamp US passports, so they can keep their (illegal) trips secret.

yes it is true you can travel to cuba, but it may be expensive.
you usually can not book a flight that has a connecting flight in Canada somewhere, instead you have to book two separate flights, one to Toronto, and then another one from Toronto to Cuba.
You could probably also fly out of Mexico also, but you would still most likely have to book two separate flights.

Fidel Castro's resignation letter

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/19/castro.letter/index.html