Fidel Castro Resigns

Smordnys s'regrepsA writes "Fidel Castro, the leader of the island nation of Cuba has declined the possibility of keeping his seat as President, after the February 24th National Assembly election. "I neither will aspire to nor will I accept — I repeat — I neither will aspire to nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief," Castro wrote almost 19 months after a severe illness caused him to hand power temporarily to his brother Raul."

Thank God

[Anonymous Coward]

Now maybe I can get good cigars legally.

Mission accomplished!

[Rob T Firefly]

The Bay of Pigs Invasion finally draws to a successful conclusion, a mere 47 years behind schedule.

Yawn...

[phayes]

Free the political prisoners. Free the press. Allow criticism of the state. Allow the existance of other political parties. Hold free elections. Until these acts happen, Cuba is just another repressive government we don't want to read about on slashdot.

Re:News For Nerds

[Lumpy]

It means the return if the Cuban Bride business. We no longer have to suffer with the long shipping delays of the Russian bride business and now can get women to marry us sight un-seen in a few hours instead of a few months.

Nerds everywhere are that much closer to being possibly able to touch a boobie.

He's already dead.

[Lilith's Heart-shape]

Fidel Castro is already dead. He's just resigning because his political duties get in the way of his lust for brains. BRAAAAAAAINS!! [wikipedia.org]

Re:Shave

[Anonymous Coward]

Is he going to shave that horrible beard off as well?

That's no way to talk about his lovely wife!

irony?

[DMoylan]

is that the symbol for this story is a crown. or would that be goldy?

Re:Mission accomplished!

[CFBMoo1]

The Bay of Pigs Invasion finally draws to a successful conclusion, a mere 47 years behind schedule.

The only thing that ever beat Duke Nuke'm Forever in terms of a release date.

Re:So does this mean

[plague3106]

You must be the only person that wasn't getting them all along. ;-)

Ohh no. More competition.

[Forge]

We [visitjamaica.com] have a hard enough time competing already. Once Americans can go to Cuba legally, How will we [jtbonline.org] Manage?

Perhaps we can convince them to replace him with someone America doesn't like any better? With his experience in international finance and Aviation, Bin-Laden would be a perfect replacement.

Re:Mission accomplished!

[contraba55]

That remains to be seen.

Re:Cool

[OhHellWithIt]

The candidates have their work cut out for them!! When will they find time for the debates, primaries, national conventions...

Did you mean to use the plural there?

Re:News for Nerds

[toleraen]

It's a story that involves zombies, so it's kinda news for nerds I suppose.

Re:Yawn...

[Rogerborg]

OK, let's discuss the computers made in Cuba. You go first.

Is it sad...

[Datamonstar]

... that I found out about this on /. when I have CNN on right now? Half expected them to announce a new Firefox 'sploit.

Re:News For Nerds

[cthulu_mt]

Link please.

No really, please.

Ohh god...I want to know a woman before I die....

*whipmer*

Re:News For Nerds

[LynnwoodRooster]

I bet candid beach photos of Angelina get a LOT more downloads than candid beach photos of Castro...

Re:Thank God

[comradeeroid]

No no no... you don't understand. The bay of pigs made the US look bad, and thus it was wrong of Cuba to be involved. ;)

Re:Property

[AndGodSed]

I second that. USA is not the worlds policeman.

as to your sig:

"Hold on Dad, I'll go." - Jesus

Re:News For Nerds

[Anonymous Coward]

Darmoc and Gilead at Tinagra.
The beast at Tinagra.

Shaka... when the towers fell.

Re:Thank God

[Thwomp]

Yes, I've heard that American cigars have a tendency of exploding.

Re:Property

[Anonymous Coward]

"The US should stay the hell away from the internal affairs of other sovereign countries."

How is this possibly marked "insightful"?

The US can, should, and (more often than most other countries) does take useful measures to improve the human condition - humanitarian projects, encouraging democratic political reform, standing up for human rights. France, Germany, China, etc. - they should all do the same. Or are you buying into China's point of view, eg. that cheap oil from the Sudan is more important than preventing genocide?

Re:News For Nerds

[powerlinekid]

*whipmer*

That costs extra...

Re:If you want to see the real Cuba, go now...

[blahtree]

I spent 3 weeks cycling around Cuba in 2004 (I'm a Canadian). I went well off the beaten track, staying with families and camping. I saw many things that most visitors to Cuba never see.

In my opinion, the focus on the welfare of the people is a red herring. People are provided for. They have food, shelter, health care, and education. No one is desperate. Resources are scarce, no thanks to the embargo, but people make do. Nobody prostitutes themselves because they have to.

The real issue is the friction that an influx of foreign money creates between Cubans. Anyone who has contact with tourists (taxi drivers, waitresses, etc.) is rich. A $2 tip when the average wage is $15 a month is huge. Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, and software engineers by contrast are poor. This breeds a lot of suspicion, envy and distrust. Tourists are alternately welcomed with open arms or despised.

It's a complicated country.

Re:Thank God

[Citizen of Earth]

including the destruction of crops and what we would regard today as Al Qaeda-style bombings.

Wow, I didn't know al Qaeda carried out suicide bombings against plants. It's amazing what headlines the global news organizations don't carry.