Cuba quiet after Castro announces resignation
 

CNN: Castro, 81, revealed his plans in a letter published in the middle of the night in the online version of Cuba's state-run newspaper, Granma.

"I will not aspire to, nor will I accept the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," Castro wrote. "I wish only to fight as a soldier of ideas. ... Perhaps my voice will be heard."

President Bush said Castro's decision ought to spark "a democratic transition" for Cuba.

Wow! these are big news.. the end of an era.. Although.. I don't think Cuba will be a nation with "freedom" as we know it. I think it will be a slow change. Let's send Gorbachov to Cuba! :)

This seems all a bit strange. That he'd claim power for 50 years and then just give it up. He didn't give it up when he fell ill. It just seems like he might have died already and that this is just a public statement. It doesn't seem like Castro to pass on the leadership cause of illness. Has there been any more news about this?

i'm pretty sure that El Jefe has had his succession all planned out years ago.
(Let's not forget the many attempts on his life ). Raoul Castro is probably just a transition to whichever new powers will take over in Cuba.
And even though the country is poor, the Cuban people are not starving, out of work or lacking education or health care. There are still a lot of people around that were there during the revolution and therefore remember how things were under the Batista regime. (and i'm not referring to those Cubans that fled to Miami after their land was taken by the government ,but the ones that stayed). So if change will come it will not happen overnight but it will probably take several generations.
All i hope is that the economic boycot will be lifted so Cuba gets a fair chance.

Yes I agree with that.

I hate to start another conspiracy theory after my ‘they didn’t really land on the moon in July 1969’ assertion:) but........... I think Fidel probably died a few months ago. I expect an announcement in six months time to say that he has died.

Many people and some of high regard say that Fi (I call him Fi :cool: ) died then as well. Does anyone know when his last public appearance was?

Also, I, at times, wear a foil hat - so I never met a conspiracy I did not like.

You know I find this pretty weird. Yes, there are lot of very good athletes in Cuba, plus writers, intelectual epopl, teachers..

However.. there's a lot of prostituion also, and I know it cause several friends of mine have been in Varadero, Habana, etc, and they told me how young girls, boys, sell themselves just for a few dollars. Or how many want to get out as models, actors, anything.. I think it's a country of contrasts, like India where you fing lot of software engineers but also people starving..

That's interesting. I didn't consider that he could have died already. If that's the case why doesn't Cuba just say so?

Because then GWB will want to come charging in ?

Could be, i don't know. I've been to Cuba twice and did not see any prostitution, but then again i'm a woman and i was with my husband .:shrug:
Ofcourse prostitution is universal, so why would it be any different in Cuba ?
You are right in saying that it's a country of contrasts, but people are not exactly starving even though it is getting more and more difficult for them because of the economical boycot.They make do with what they have and they are extremely creative in doing so.As a tourist , especially in Varadero, you do not notice anything of this as the hotels there have a seemingly abundance of food. But once you go outside the resorts and walk into one of their state operated stores you'll see how little there is for the Cubans themselves. All the "goodies" go to the tourists because they bring in the money.