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Fidel Castro, left, and his brother, Raul, are preparing to pass the torch of power to a new generation.
By Carlos Rajo, Telemundo
News analysis
(Editor's note: An earlier version of this article led to a correction)
Raul Castro’s recent announcement that he will leave power in 2018, and his appointment of 52-year-old Miguel Diaz-Canel as first vice president and his de facto successor, are signs of the glacial pace of political change in Cuba.
Certainly, these announcements won’t satisfy those who for decades have been waiting for the Castro brothers’ exit.
Nevertheless, the move marks the beginning of the passing of the torch of power to a new generation.
For the first time in half a century, there is the real possibility that a person who did not fight in the Cuban Revolution will lead the country. Diaz-Canel was not even born when Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. Since then, a Castro has been in power in Cuba: first the now-retired, 86-year-old Fidel, and from 2006 to now, his younger brother, Raul, 81.
This generational change does not mean that Cuba will move to a different political system. There is no going back to capitalism, Raul Castro told the National Assembly on Sunday. Nevertheless, the move toward a generational change must be seen in the context of other reforms implemented by the younger Castro.
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Cuba's new Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, right, was not even born when Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista in January 1959.
These reforms already are changing the face of Cuban socialism. Castro has introduced private farms, cooperatives in industries and activities outside agriculture, and an array of small business. Granted, these are restricted and heavily regulated, but still they are earning profits and starting to create a segment of wealthier, successful entrepreneurs. Cubans are also now allowed to sell houses and cars, and more recently, to travel abroad if they can get a visa from another country.
While little is known of Diaz-Canel’s ideology, it is likely that as the appointed Castro successor he is on board with the reforms.
The U.S. State Department reacted tepidly to Castro’s announcement and made clear that it would not be sufficient to prompt a lifting of the U.S. trade embargo. Although President Barack Obama doesn’t have election constraints in formulating a Cuba policy in his second term, the issue remains emotionally and politically charged in the U.S., and Congress is not likely to change its mind and lift the embargo while a Castro remains in power.
That doesn’t mean relations can’t change, however.
For instance, the Obama administration could remove Cuba from the list of states that sponsor terrorism. Cuba had been on that list since 1982, when it had the financial support of the Soviet Union and could afford to help guerrilla groups in Central and South America.
Cuba doesn’t have the resources to help armed groups - or even the political will to do so. Cuba is not Syria, North Korea or Iran in terms of being a threat to the U.S.
However, the lifting of the embargo is likely only after a period of more normal relations between the countries. There is also a legal obstacle: According to the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, the U.S. will recognize the legitimacy of a Cuban government only when someone other than a Castro is in power. For now, at least, it seems that won’t happen until 2018.
Demotions
The generational change in Cuba is real. Not only does Diaz-Canel take the place of the 83-year-old Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, but the composition of others organs of power is younger as well. Eighty percent of the members of the National Assembly were born after the revolution, and the average age of members of the Council of State is 57, with about 60 percent having been born post-revolution.
As is the tradition in Cuba, Diaz-Canel owes his influential position to one of the Castros -- in this case, Raul. As far back as 2003, the younger Castro talked about the “solid ideological firmness” of the electrical engineer, who also has served as a university professor and party boss in the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara and Holguin. Notably, Diaz-Canel served in the armed forces under Raul Castro and earned a reputation as a good manager of the military’s diverse commercial enterprises.
A look at the life and times of the Cuban leader who has outlasted nine U.S. presidents.
Diaz-Canel will have to be careful. There have been several young leaders who once looked like they had been chosen as a Castro successor but later fell from grace. In every case -- Roberto Robaina, Carlos Lague, Felipe Perez Roque -- they went from being the heir apparent to being suddenly demoted without much ceremony or explanation. The difference is that all were put in their positions of power by Fidel Castro and were demoted when they fell out of favor with him. Diaz-Canel is said to be Raul Castro’s favorite.
Assuming that nothing extraordinary happens before 2018, that Raul remains healthy and that there are no ideological purges – “corruption” is the favorite accusation of the Cuban leadership when it comes to making demotions -- the big question for Cuba, and for Diaz-Canel himself, is the success of Raul’s reforms.
If they work well, perhaps the regime will develop a sort of hybrid socialism-communism with a dynamic, state-controlled capitalist economy. Or maybe day by day the reforms will penetrate Cuban society and ultimately destroy one the few communist systems left in the world. Diaz-Canel, meanwhile, will start toying with the torch of power.
Only time will tell whether -- when the day comes in 2018 or sooner -- the Cuba that Diaz-Canel has known will still be there for him to rule.
Telemundo is NBC News' Spanish-language partner.
Related:
Fidel Castro makes 1st extended public appearance since 2010
Cuba pushes swap: its spies jailed in US for American contractor held in Havana
Leave a Comment:
The embargo might be the best thing that has ever happened to Cuba as it has kept the Americans out. People seem happier and generally better off than those in most Latin American countries where US influence has been prevalent.
Cuba is no socialist paradise but thanks to Castro's education policies the next generation of Cubans will be well educated and be able to adeptly handle this transitional time in the country's history. With any luck they will build on Castro's positive reforms, address policies that have had adverse effects, and move the Revolution forward.
You know people are literally dying to get out of there, right?
I applaud his literacy efforts. However, he had a tighter grip on what Cubans read than the Texas school systems have on their school libraries. Some stuff was/is not allowed.
I do not know where you get your info from, but most people in Cuba live in poverty. They are barely able to subsist on what the government gives them. Many countries in South America have better standards of living than Cuba. About the only positive you can say about Cuba is that there is not a lot of crime outside of official corruption. When the Castros are finally gone things may change. If the country ever opened up to meaningful foreign investment, which would mean a shift to capitalism, their economy could do quite well. They could build up a booming tourism industry if they could get the influx of investment needed to develop resort properties. Cuba has some fantastic beaches and a great year round climate and could easily outdo Jamaica and other Caribbean islands in the tourist trade.
You have to be kidding me. I live in Florida and know many Cubans who still have family in Castro's kingdom. You're not going to find many laptop computers in Cuban homes, and the education is political indoctrination. I don't think there is anything more disgusting than a Castro loving, American liberal. Cubans are wonderful people who have been cursed with the worst rulers, and Castro will be proven to be the worst.
While it may be true that Cuban people will do much better under a free market economy, the fact is that free market economy is not what the US has propogated to countries of its influence.
US would rather have dictatorships that allows to extract resources from those countries. Ironically that includes not just small fishes like - Chile, Nicaragua, Panama, Indonesia, Liberia etc ... but even big countries like China where US never allowed human rights to come in the way of a good trade.
Cuban people are much better under castro than when American companies exploited it. Only if US truly propogated free market economies rather than dictatorships around the world.
"You know people are literally dying to get out of there, right?"
Most of the people I met there seemed genuinely happy. One student made the point that the people could obviously have more, but the same can be said of people in just about any country. What was important to him is that everyone has something and there isn't much economic disparity in the population. It wasn't a great vote of confidence but it wasn't a condemnation either. He believed many of the Revolutionary principles could be advanced for the people's greater benefit, that Cuba could positively change without becoming a Americanized.
"They could build up a booming tourism industry if they could get the influx of investment needed to develop resort properties."
You do know they already have one, right? Just because it's not swarming with big loud Americans doesn't mean their tourism industry is negligible. It is in fact their main industry and there are quite a few resorts already.
Cuba is a communist country.. not socialist? Castro is a dictator and has never allowed free elections... as far as the education system.. Cuban's have higher IQ's than most other countries from around the world. As far as any American influence.. Cubans have always been more European in culture than American.. even the Cuban people in Miami is 100% Americans after almost generations... Cubans are capitalists by nature..After all, Castro made billions choking the island because of his greed and need to oppress and control. Cubans always find a way to make money.. whether over or under the counter, they will not like paying taxes... When the last Castro finally dies.. you will see a different Cuba for sure... the young are restless but patient.. and Cuba will once again begin to experience true freedom and free trade, which I hope inspires America to find their way back from 8 year nightmare Obama has become..
Pagpag, you are one sick, confused piece of work. Try to sell that trash in parts of Miami and see how it goes fro you.
A US trade embargo against Cuba Is really quite stupid of the US. Gwaddamn! What am I saying? To hell with the US. It's quite good for Cuba. Keeps the gwaddamn exploitative Americans out.
Papay-3094648: Sorry, didn't see your post until I had written mine. I am in total agreement with you. Regards
So all those boat loads of people that wash up on the Florida shores just want to go to Disneyworld, right?
And the pictures we see of 1950 cars driving the streets of Cuba just show that the guys there like the vintage cars, right?
You need to talk to a friend of mine that escaped Cuba many years ago. She still has family there.
if we normalized relations with Cuba; they would throw off Communism in a year , within two years they would again be the tourist Mecca of the Caribbean; enough of this madness, grow up and realize the island is not going to disappear, it was once a American possession, they do not dislike Americans, only American politicians.
GrammaCarolou812#1.11: And you need to talk to some friends of Mine who yet live in Cuba. Always a few who think the grass is greener somewhere else. Cuban Americans hope to go back there and take the place over. American politicians hope so too, so they can exploit the hell outta the place. Native Cubans aren't having It. Good for them!
papag: It's easy to seem happy when your life depends on it. Be seen as criticizing the regime, and your life becomes hell. Come to think of it, that's not unlike our present regime. The press certainly knows that if they don't fall in line with the regime mandate, then they are horsemeat.
It's time to end the insanity, and open the doors to trade, and stop punishing the Cuban people because of stupid political and economic ideology. This has gone on for way too long. What has it accomplished? Zero, nada, zilch. We have not punished the Castro brothers, we've punished the people of Cuba because they refused to over throw the Castors. Tell me how that was supposed to happen.
Does this mean our government might give up telling us what kind of cigars we can smoke?
"Cuba is a communist country.. not socialist?"
Communism and socialism are almost interchangeable. Being a big 'C' communist means you officially belong to the Communist Party while being a small 'c' one makes you more or less a socialist.
It's your right to think that I'm "one sick, confused piece of work" but I've done my homework as wellas visited the place in question and talked to the people. What have you done that's comparable?
Oh, and "It's easy to seem happy when your life depends on it"? Most of the people living in Havana speak limited English. I had a free exchange of ideas with a Cuban student because out of him, myself, and the cab driver only two of us spoke fluent English. I've talked to several Cubans in environments where government intervention is but a paranoiac's worst case scenario.
The Americanized ideal of Cuba seems to be very far from the reality. Fly up to Toronto (because despite your mindless attacks and jargon, you're always welcome) en route to Havana and see it for yourself before you tell me all Cubans hate it, live in wretched poverty, and are clamouring for a way out.
Good luck Cuba.
You guys are sitting on some sweet real estate.
It had to happen eventually. Not even in Cuba are people immortal.
I wonder how Joann Chesimard is making out in Cuba. Anyone still remember her?
Nope.
I'm trying to figure out why this is the top news story on NBCNews.
*crickets* Anyone?
I lived in Miami, Florida for twelve years. The embargo of Cuba is an embarrassment to America. It's sole purpose now is to curry the favor of the Cubans in Florida and they are not worthy of it. After watching the way they react against anyone who disagrees with them (yes, people right in Miami) they do not deserve to have the backing they do. Anytime anyone did something they did not like they acted like bullies who have no respect for freedom of speech, etc. Why is it that we have no problems doing business with China, but not Cuba? Time for America to grow up and lift the embargo. By the way.... while I was in Miami I freely enjoyed smoking Cuban cigars-- brought in directly from Cuba! My way of protesting I guess!
America and President Obama should end the embargo of Cuba NOW. Communists in China don't bother Uncle Sam but he can't stand them in Cuba. If you got Cuban cigars smoke them. They are the best in the world.
You would think President Obama would embrace his Communist brothers and give them a hand up .....oh!well!you did note the sarcasm?.....The Democrat party the joke that keeps on giving.....:o)
@liverpool in the USA #5.2: Our good and able President does, and would. It's the gwaddamn ignorant republicans in the Congress who wish to punish Cuba. Course if they thought they could make some money by starting some kind of illegal war with Cuba.............................. Republicans! Herd of goats! :>(
The real reason for the embargo is that Castro had Kennedy assassinated, and the U.S. was embarrassed to admit that 1) They couldn't stop it, 2) They couldn't prove it, and 3) They couldn't do anything about it because of agreements with the Soviets after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
"Cuba had Castro assassinated"??? Give me a break. And the moon landing was filmed in a backlot in Hollywood.
The U.S. has a variety of relations with Communist China. Time to recognize Cuba. What are we afraid of?
"The U.S. has a variety of relations with Communist China. Time to recognize Cuba. What are we afraid of?"
Being wrong. We're @!$%#s like that.
STAN., # 5.0
Please read a history book.
The CONTINUING embargo was and is a punishment against the Castro brothers, for putting nuclear missiles in Cuba AIMED at the USA. The USSR never received 'most favored trade status' during its time as our nuclear opponent, but Russia did AFTER the communists lost power.
"The Democrat party the joke that keeps on giving."
Yep -- by kicking the crap out of Republicans in 4 of the last 6 presidential elections.
Don't you mean 4 of the last 9? Or do you mean 17 out of the 39 elections since the founding of the contemporary republican party in 1854?
I'm thinking this would be a perfect gig for Barry. Cuba is the paradise that he is trying to replicate right here in the U.S.
STFU.
Blamo -- the stupidity of some of you teatards is incredible. What makes it funny is you and your buddies prove your stupidity by running your yaps much.
What a swell Idea~! 1st stop: Gitmo. I like it. Wonder how long before he blamed all the problems on Castro?
@Blamo-3823159: You just might be the 1st in line. Lobotomy awaits you, and your ilk.
Great idea Blamo! That way he could keep on blaming any and every problem on his predecessors instead of taking any responsibility for his complete inability to lead! Plus he could keep feeding the people lies and there wouldn't be a thing they could do about it!
"That way he could keep on blaming any and every problem on his predecessors instead of taking any responsibility for his complete inability to lead!"
Whenever I hear that “stop blaming Bush” line, I chuckle at the very short memory you Republicans have. From 1976 to 1992 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Carter of everything wrong in the entire universe. Some of you even blamed him for the housing crash in 2007 even though he left office more than a quarter of a century earlier. Then from 1992 to 2008 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Clinton for everything that was wrong in the entire universe. You blamed Clinton for 9/11, for the housing crisis, even for the massive deficits of the Bush administration. So – using the standard you set – the left has another 29 years to blame Bush for everything just to pull even with you.
Charlie try Prozak ....
ItsTime, try cyanide.
@Sandungo: We're saving the cyanide with your name on it. We'll at least be kind to the rats. Quick!
"Charlie try Prozak'
Poor little charlie.
"Poor little charlie."
Again,,,, STFU.
i think better relations with Cuba would be great, but only if the US government steps very lightly and does not impose our will as has happened in other countries across the globe.
geez., # 9.0,
You are so correct.
No telling the Cuban people about Freedom of Speech, Assembly, Press, Religion.
Those Rights are not needed in the worker's paradise of Cuba,
where Medical Doctors have to work the tourist hotels as prostitutes to survive.
That is just so Obama of you.
"Cuba doesn’t have the resources to help armed groups - or even the political will to do so. Cuba is not Syria, North Korea or Iran in terms of being a threat to the U.S."
People always keep forgetting that Cuba fought in Africa and WON several civil wars for communism. Why do people keeps forgetting that?
People also keep forgetting that Cuba and Venezuela host some of the largest training bases in South America for Iranian hezbollah forces.
The USA harbors Luis Posada Carriles, a Cuban terrorist, that was involved in blowing up a Cuban airliner killing 73 people as well as numerous bombings of Cuban hotels and nightspots. Add to that our CIA supported invasion of Cuba in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs and our numerous assassination attempts on Fidel Castro and we haven't got a leg to stand on about terrorism.
Just the facts bro ...
All a person has to do is bing the words above and find the sources for this propaganda are Michelle Bachmann and several Zionist websites that call the US soldiers that fight and die for them stupid less than human goyim. The last mention of that non-news was over 3 years ago. Not all people of Jewish heritage are so sociopath. Noam Chomski, Norman Finkelstein and Giliad Atzom to name a few, so go ahead with your anti-Semitic fluff accusations boys and girls.
Yes, and the U.S. Army. Cooperation between Communists and terrorists has long been written about. Have you been hiding under a pile of leaves?
One sided story obviously bought and paid for by monetary system monopolizing, weapons dealing, war profiteering ZioNazis. Oh yeah Batista was so-o-o-ooo wonderful! At least about half the commenter's here realize that Cuba has universal health care, great doctors, free education in spite of embargo from the UnitedStates of Israel FIAT money land. None of the US lap dog representatives of the unconstitutional private banksters who own this nation cut their pay while they are cutting services. Then stupid tea bangers are here dogging Obama and calling him a Marxist and Communist after he voted to bail out the banksters while their hero Bush Jr. was president. Come on all you delusional tea main liners, I want you all to tell me about koolaide, tin foil hats, basement dwelling, and every brain dead ad hominem parrot line you can come up with. Have a nice day....
I have many Cuban friends and the stories they tell me of what they and their families have had to endure r chilling! I just hope the best for them, it's about time for a break for this beautiful Caribbean country. Can't wait I'm sure there will be a tremendous Latin Concert w/ all the Latino musicians ,singers etc.. I'll be there!! God bless Them all!
Castro, has invented his own type of Communist government from the time he took over Cuba after a bloody battle to overthrow the existing government. The United States Government got a big bloody nose from helping Castro, by giving him advice , and arms. After his takeover, Castro told the US government he didn't need them, and said he made a good deal with Russia. Now, Cuba and the world is waiting for the Castro dynasty to die off.
Ummm what? The US government supported Batista and tried to assassinate Castro.
papag-3094648#13.1: Viva Fidel!!!!!
Does that mean that all of the discontent a**hole Cubans in Florida will finally go home? Florida would be a better place for sure if they did. I might even take my business back there if they left. Viva La Americana.
Sure thing Alex you are so correct with your asinine comment because so many Americans built what South Florida is today. Its the American Riviera because of the Cuban culture and why so many Americans flock there. Like all those NYC Jet fans that live in Miami and brag about NYC so much. If they like it so much than why dont they take I95 north bound. Unfortunately your life story didn't go as well as a New Yorker. You're probably one of those Panhandle Redneck Floridians that clean septic tanks for a living and have the audacity to call that a business. Now go look for your 1 missing tooth and shut the f*ck about @!$%# you know nothing about. You F*cking Redneck Retard
d*mb *ss
Why, after they pointed soviet nukes at us we didn't invade and clean house I'll never understand.
Yeah, why didn't the US invade after that fiasco? There has to be a reason why we didn't.
If we had invaded Cuba, you most likely wouldn't be around to make that comment as nuclear war would have broken out with the Soviets.
Guess you were asleep during your US history classes.
Most people or students now day sleeep thru History The don't care about any thing except you tube or texting and doing a dance on a flying airplane.. They probably don't know about the civil war, WW1 And WW2, and most of them do not care about the wars we are fighting now!!! and they don't care about the jerks in the U.S. congress who can't get along with any one who are from a different Political Party!!!!!
You didn't invade because JFK and McNamara were level-headed enough to negotiate the missiles out of Cuba. They didn't even know that the missiles were already armed and Castro had suggested Khrushchev use them in the even of a US invasion. If there had been more reactionaries in the government then there's a good chance many major US cities would have been flattened.
papag -
I don't know how old you are, but I remember the day the earth stood still. JFK blockaded Cuba, an act of war, and stood firm, and that is why the Soviets backed down. A more "reactionary" government?. You could not have been more reactionary than that - short of invading.
JEP11#15.1: Fear, fear and more fear!!!
We came pretty damn close to ending it all in '62. The Strategic Air Command (US Air Force for you youngsters) dispersed the bombers in case nuclear war broke out. There were B-52's at the Saint Louis airport loaded with nuclear weapons and ready to go at a moment's notice.
"You could not have been more reactionary than that - short of invading."
My point exactly. I didn't live through it but I know that JFK didn't want a nuclear winter. He sought a negotiated resolution despite hawkish advisors calling for a preemptive strike. He knew what he was up against, chose the best possible course, and got a bit lucky. McNamara said so.
A purely reactionary administration would have sent in the Marines and there would have been a nuclear war, no doubt about it. Castro and Khrushchev were ready to initiate it.
pap., # 15.8,
READ a book, the Soviets had control of the nukes, NOT the Cubans. The Russians would not 'burn down the store' for Cuba or any of their 'client states'. JFK could have wiped Cuba off the map without a single soviet nuke launched at us. Khrushchev and the soviets fully understood 'MAD', as well as the Monroe doctrine. They would NOT die for Castro, as proven by their backing down in 1962.
"Most people or students now day sleeep thru History"
They don't teach history or civics in schools and haven't for the last 40 years. That helps to explain who so many people fall for the garbage put out on talk radio cable "news" stations --- both left and right.
"It wasn't until January, 1992, in a meeting chaired by Castro in Havana, Cuba, that I learned 162 nuclear warheads, including 90 tactical warheads, were on the island at the time of this critical moment of the crisis. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and Castro got very angry with me because I said, "Mr. President, let's stop this meeting. This is totally new to me, I'm not sure I got the translation right."
"Mr. President, I have three questions to you. Number one: did you know the nuclear warheads were there? Number two: if you did, would you have recommended to Khrushchev in the face of an U.S. attack that he use them? Number three: if he had used them, what would have happened to Cuba?"
He said, "Number one, I knew they were there. Number two, I would not have recommended to Khrushchev, I did recommend to Khrushchev that they be used. Number three, 'What would have happened to Cuba?' It would have been totally destroyed." That's how close we were."
@papag-3094648 #15.11: The Cuban crisis was averted by JFK's willingness to do some swapping with the Russians. US Missile's out of Turkey. Listening posts shut down in Iran, etc. The Russians didn't just turn tail and run. The US paid out as much as It got. Many believe more. Castro and Nikita weren't just bluffing.
mac., # 15.12,
If you are referring to the Jupiter missiles, they were already obsolete, liquid fueled. They were not a prized asset. I do not know if the soviets were installing obsolete missiles in Cuba, but I doubt it.
Some group returning from Cuba recently said quietly, "THE FOOD REALLY SUCKED" !
It's clear that any society, absent enormous government pressure, will tend towards capitalism. This is already happening in Cuba, and will continue if people are given their freedom to choose. Capitalism is the natural state of a free economy.
Dear Steve. Nonsense. What's your basis for that assumption?
His basis is that free people trade freely. Crack a history book, there johnny. Only when things turn dictatorial do we find things turning Obamanistic.
And...because all Steves are correct all the time.
There has to be a balance between socialist dictatorships and the unregulated pursuit of unlimited wealth. It seems to work for Scandinavia and Canada. How much money you have should never dictate whether or not you get healthcare, education, etc.
@Steve the dog man#17.2: Maybe one of the most erroneous statements I've read. The totalitarianism of the Chinese Government hasn't diminished one bit. They simply found they could use their peasants working for the greedy Americans and make more than they could with their own collectivism. Learn and steal much more too. History actually illustrates backward to your statement. Past free people have always eventually been taken over by Despots. Kinda like the republican party is attempting with the US right now.
mac., #17.4,
IMMEDIATE ACTION NOTICE, major code errors preventing logic and reason, REBOOT-REBOOT-REBOOT.
@myownthoughts56#17.4, Since they're your own thoughts (imaginings) why don't you just keep 'em to yourself? Course, most fools love to display it. Maybe a little prozac to start.
mac., # 17.6,
Thank you, for the last two sentences explaining your posts and, ah, supplements.
We all understand you better now. Please keep posting, the intelligent fear not even foolish posts.
@myownthoughts56#17.7: Are you a "we" now? Meth head? Imaginings? DT's? How would you know anything about what the intelligent fear or don't? Delusions!
Mac., #17.8,
You are correct of course, as always. I usually don't have to go to this elementary of a level, but if you require it, OK.
'We' is used to indicate a plural (more than one). As this is a public forum, many others would be able to read and comprehend (understand) these posts.
'Meth head', sorry I have no personal experience with illegal drug usage, obliviously you are the master there and the effect its had on your mind and postings.
Imagination, Yes I can and do, it is one of those things that separate us (human beings) from the lower species (non-human beings) and their inability to imagine. I do so hope that the detox facility can help with that.
'DT's' Oh my, Drinking to excess (too much) while using 'meth', that could be problematic for several of the body's systems (the human body has several -many- complex chemical processes that allow us to live and function properly).
Ah, an IQ evaluation from internet postings, almost as impressive as the diagnosis of phobias (fears) in the same manner. Please do 'link' us that journal article. I'm sure one of the MDs (doctors) at the facility can help with that.
'Delusions', sorry, Once again, I have to bow to your greater experience having those. However, have you considered that both 'meth' and 'alcohol' consumption (drinking) promotes (causes) those disturbing mental problems.
In closing, all of us here using Newsvine hope for the best outcome for you. We will not judge you, no matter how hateful or impolite your posts. We understand how difficult this is for you, and how first grade name calling is just you expressing yourself as best you can.
Good Luck
@myownthoughts56#17.9: Feel better? You could have just said; hey Mac, sometimes I'm just stupid. Way too much there to be worth a damn.
With the elimination of the Castro brothers, preferably to Hell, Cuba - with it's awesome white sand beaches - will finally become the Caribbean dream everyone thought it would be.
Good riddance to those evil bastards and I'm being polite when I only refer to those thugs as 'bastards'. I hope they rot forever and I wish they'd take those idiot celebutards Glover and Penn with them.
Firstly, I doubt Castro will make it until 2018. Secondly, it won't be the government that demands reforms, it will be the Cuban people. People in power rarely give up power without a fight; Cuba is no different.
John Colorado
It will be interesting to see what happens in the U.S. when we near 2016.
Don't you know Obame will try to get rid of the two terms for Presidents,, Or he could run his wife and a lot of mislead americans will probably vote for her. And then we will have 4 more years of the same old BS we have now!!!!
Ain't that the truth!!
Don't you know Obame will try to get rid of the two terms for Presidents,,
Tell us Dan --- just HOW is he gong to do that?? And I remember the right saying the same thing abut Bill Clinton.
I'll be heading to Havana on Monday morning with a cultural tour. It will be my first trip to the island and my wife & I are really looking forward to it. Have wanted to go for many years, hoping the silly trade & travel embargo would end but that doesn't look likely so we'll be crossing this one off our bucket list via the organized cultural tour while we still have the chance!
I can see why you would want to go but if something happens, I don't think anyone can help you. Be very careful, and Good Luck.
Have been many times via the Bahamas........you will love the people...the Government not so much..........
Carry RAGU noodles. What food they have is said to be very expensive.
Lobster tails down there cost about the same as a Big Mac.
Enjoy!!
"hoping the silly trade & travel embargo would end but that doesn't look likely"
Well -- it's only been in place for 50 years. Give it a chance to work!!
I think another 50 years should do it.
Charlie., #21.0,
Castro could have ended the embargo at anytime, by he and his brother stepping down.
Should have IF they actually believed what they were selling.
Funny how comrades are only willing for the people to sacrifice.
"Castro could have ended the embargo at anytime, by he and his brother stepping down."
The purpose of the embargo was to get rid of Castro. Considering he's out-lasted Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama, I'd say it hasn't worked very well
Charlie., # 21.3,
Gee whiz, don't prove my point for me.
The Castro Bros. inc are in it FOR THEMSELVES, the people suffer, for whom they care not, its all about what is good for them.
We have term limits and competitive elections, sure the castro bros can outlast A president, but not the American PRESIDENCY. Each one keeping the embargo, interesting that.
Best of all, the castro mob WILL NOT outlast the Cuban people. Freedom will be theirs, just as it belongs to all. Some have just had it stolen for awhile, like the Cubans right now.
After the Cuban people toss off the castro mob's remains. I wonder if castro lovers will be allow to visit all of Cuba, or just the prisons?
The Castors need to give everyone their freedom. Then and only then can the people of Cuba be proud of the country they live in. Until then it's just another island prison with a man who thinks he knows better than the rest of the population.
Ralph
Beginning to sound familiar?
If you think for one minute the Cuban People aren't capable of rebuilding Cuba into a first class vacation destination and Caribbean Island Paradise you need to visit Little Havana in Miami and see what the culture is really all about .. C. Diaz
Of course they can. The Cuban people are nothing like the illegal hoard coming across the Mexican border. The problem is will they be given a chance? I think not.
And this is news why?
Because it`s the best they got.
The older man in the picture needs to join Hugo Chavez in a duet of death...................