So the other day Fidel apparently was healthy enough to call BuddyChavez and have a chat. But let's face it, hes got to die sooner or later, and by all looks, it will be sooner.

So what will happen to Cuba? I'm sure the US State Department has a few plans kicking around... but does anybody really think that expatriate Miami Cubans will be welcomed back with open arms by the populace of a post-Castro Cuba? It seems to me rather likely that Cubans will be quite unhappy with any US led "interference." Castro, despite all his faults, is still quite popular in Cuba.

Officially Raul Castro is set to take over... but that dude is pretty old too. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Fidel somehow managed to outlive him. Either way, Raul is certainly no Fidel and would be incapable of ruling in the same manner, and being anywhere near as effective.

What about Chavez? It seems to me that while he may genuinely like Fidel, he is simply waiting for Fidel to die to go along with the next step of his plan for the region.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the next president of Cuba being a finger puppet of Chavez's rather than a Marionette of the United States.

Thoughts?

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

I can't help but think the average Cuban knows the score, and therefore will not allow another Castro-like leader. Another thing to consider, many of those Cuban ex-pats in Miami still have family in Cuba.

Also, I wouldn't worry to much about Chavez. That guy is all bark an no bite.

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There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

Castro's death will change nothing. the only thing that will help is a change of attitude by the Administration. We should have long since stopped our embargos, but unforunatly a relatively small band of ex-patriots, have held sway in Florida Politics, and until forced to change, the US will continue to condemn Cuba.

Ridiclous, but factual.

Probably a highly commercial, thinly veiled military dictatorship. Fidel's built the revolution completely around himself, the Cuban military is the only institution with enough internal legitimacy to keep the place stable.

Miami is gonna celebrate when Fidel dies. Then someone should kidnap Elian Gonzalez and bring him back to US.

I think that it will become a little more liberalized but it will take some time. Change will not come overnight.

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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"