November 26, 2016

"But beyond anything else, it was Mr. Castro’s obsession with the United States, and America’s obsession with him, that shaped his rule."

"After he embraced Communism, Washington portrayed him as a devil and a tyrant and repeatedly tried to remove him from power through an ill-fated invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, an economic embargo that has lasted decades, assassination plots and even bizarre plans to undercut his prestige by making his beard fall out. Mr. Castro’s defiance of American power made him a beacon of resistance in Latin America and elsewhere, and his bushy beard, long Cuban cigar and green fatigues became universal symbols of rebellion.... In a 1985 interview in Playboy magazine, he was asked how he would respond to President Ronald Reagan’s description of him as a ruthless military dictator. “Let’s think about your question,” Mr. Castro said, toying with his interviewer. 'If being a dictator means governing by decree, then you might use that argument to accuse the pope of being a dictator.' He turned the question back on Reagan: 'If his power includes something as monstrously undemocratic as the ability to order a thermonuclear war, I ask you, who then is more of a dictator, the president of the United States or I?'"

From the very long obituary in the NYT for Fidel Castro, who has died at the age of 90.

46 comments:

William said...

During the Cuban missile crisis, Castro urged the Russians to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against America.

Oso Negro said...

Fuck him. And fuck all the Americans who want to see Cuba before it is "ruined."

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The New York Times mourns the leftist tyrant. LOL.

ddh said...

The evil bastard is dead. Castro was one of several evil dictators that the New York Times has covered for.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The truth about Cuba's health care. Michael Moore is a dupe and a liar.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
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Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
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Wilbur said...

Just another evil despot to be swept into the dustbin of history. Time to take out the trash.

jaydub said...
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Joe Biden, America's Putin said...
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jaydub said...

Thus, the American left begins the rehabilitation of the dead tyrant whose regime none of them chose to live under and the real life monster who actually performed all the atrocities that they accuse Trump of planning.

ddh said...

It is appropriate that news of the evil bastard's death comes on Holodomor Remembrance Day. Herb Matthews, meet Walter Duranty.

Rusty said...

If his objective was to turn the largest Caribbean Island with the highest standard of living in that area into a Caribbean shithole, then he succeeded admirably.
Uncle Fidel and his family are worth billions.
The Cuban people are worth a shoddy rice cooker.
Nothing will change.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The progressive left are in mourning.

Anonymous said...

"After he embraced Communism, Washington portrayed him as a devil and a tyrant and repeatedly tried to remove him from power through an ill-fated invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961

LOL, semantics. Castro was a "Marxist" by 1948 and a "Revolutionary Socialist" by 1958. He didn't call himself a "communist" till the US stopped writing checks...

David Begley said...

Fidel graduated from a Jesuit high school. Also a lawyer. Historic failures.

jaydub said...

The NYT is reporting that Castro is still dead.

narciso said...

As buckley put it, the times got him his job.

Mr. D said...

He deserved to go Ceaușescu-style. His equally evil brother is still in charge. Good riddance, though.

Matt said...

After learning about some other prominent 20th century communist leaders, I'm looking forward to reading about his sexual perversion along with a powerful narcissism and paranoia. All seem to common traits among the commie sort.

Also, its about damn time.

Phil 314 said...

If SNL had any sense of history, they'd have a recurring news item over the next six months:

" And in other news Fidel Castro is still dead."

narciso said...

I was jesuit educated, but not a lawyer,

Mark said...

Sic sempter tyrannis.

Another thing to be thankful for.

Sebastian said...

The fact that we tolerated that bastard in power next door should have refuted any lefty charges against US "imperialism" long ago. Far from the US being "obsessed" with Castro, the real problem, for our neighbors and many others, is that much of the time we just don't give a damn. As the world is finding out with O and will find out again with Trump.

MayBee said...

Fidel Castro, Florence Henderson- who could possibly be the third in this group of celebrity deaths?

Qwinn said...

Interesting that the NY Times fails to mention its own culpability in printing the details of the Bay of Pigs invasion on ots own front page before it happened. How was Castro able to bring a crapload of tanks to the precise landing spot? Cause the NY Times told him where it would be.

And the fact that this didn't cause Kennedy to change the landing site, as well as his cowardice in witholding the promised air support, demonstrate what a terrible leader JFK was.

Qwinn said...

Full disclosure: I am a child of Cuban exiles. I am strangely unable to get excited about this news, probably because it seems like the fourth or fifth time I remember Castro being pronounced dead. I'll believe he's dead when I see his head on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come at too high a price. I'll look up at his lifeless eyes and wave, like this...

Bay Area Guy said...

55 years in power, never held an election.

55 years in power, did not let citizens lawfully emigrate.

A dictator, plain and simple. QED.

A good example too of how clueless the New York Times is on important issues. They reach for the LeftWing narrative, rather than honestly reporting Castro's thuggishness. Another reason why Trump won, and why that's a good thing.

YoungHegelian said...

@Qwinn,

I'll believe he's dead when I see his head on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come at too high a price. I'll look up at his lifeless eyes and wave, like this...

A B5 fan, are we, Qwinn?

Bill, Republic of Texas said...

Wow, Trump gets results!

JAORE said...

The burning question is:

Will Castro make the list of celebrities that passed away near the end of the next Oscars?

MacMacConnell said...

It's a happy day for the deceased New York Times Herbert Matthews, he's been waiting in Hell for 29 years to suck Fidels dick again.

Michael K said...

A friend and former partner was the child of Cuban exiles. Castro drove the Cuban middle class out to Miami where they have created a bustling financial center that could have been in Havana. His parents sent him to Miami and then could not get out for years. He spent some time in an orphanage until they could escape and join him.

Maybe some day evidence will turn up, like the Venona Files, that Castro did fund the Kennedy hit.

Castro was certainly evil incarnate and it is no surprise that he will be celebrated by the left, including Obama.

traditionalguy said...

Castro was an actor playing Marxist revolutionary. Trouble was he discovered his guns were not props. He then disarmed the peasants and had a real ball killing whatever he wanted to
Kill

Birches said...

I'm reminded of the left's reaction when Margaret Thatcher died and compare it to now. Thatcher isn't personally responsible for anyone's death. Weird.

Darrell said...

Now Obama can join him in the dustbin.

MacMacConnell said...

Obama sucks Fidel's dick before the corpse is cold,

"At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.

For nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by discord and profound political disagreements. During my presidency, we have worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends – bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity. This engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, who have done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba.

Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America."

MacMacConnell said...

Geraldo Rivera sucks Fidel' dick and gives a rim job to his corpse.

Geraldo: "You know I’ve been to Cuba several times especially back in those times when it was shut off. I think it’s very easy to have a simplistic view that he was all awful for Cuba and the world and I just don’t think that’s accurate. I think the Cubans have a tremendous sense of pride over his legacy. And I think he will be remembered fondly… There are aspects of what he left behind that I think will be remembered."

boycat said...

Maybe some day evidence will turn up, like the Venona Files, that Castro did fund the Kennedy hit

Seems that if the US government really wanted Castro dead he'd have been dead 50 years ago no sweat, and that if it really was Oswald working at the behest of Castro who took out JFK, and the Johnson or after that Nixon administration had the evidence of that, they'd have had no compunction whatsoever about making it happen and could even have claimed the moral and political high ground in doing so. So, no.

MacMacConnell said...

True believers like Oswald don't need encouragement, orders or money to do the things they do, only opportunity.

narciso said...

Well Brian lately turned up some evidence along those lines, ironically Fabian escalate who ginned these conspiracy theories, was in minks at the same time as oswald, another associate, was executed at the time of the ochoa urge.

cacimbo said...

Sad that his death will not improve the lives of the Cuban people thanks to his brothers grip on power. The NYTimes, NPR........ The same leftist media that has been screaming over "fake news" is now busy lionizing a man who killed his political enemies while keeping a nation impoverished.

Fred Drinkwater said...

You Might Be A Dictator If:
1. You prevent people from leaving your paradise, but lots try to leave anyway.
Anyone can play this game...

Hyphenated American said...

Castro was a true fascist dictator, and yet liberals seem quite comfortable with him. On the other side, they hate Donald Trump. What's up with that?

The Godfather said...

The NYT says the US subjected Castro's Cuba to "an ill-fated invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, an economic embargo that has lasted decades, assassination plots and even bizarre plans to undercut his prestige by making his beard fall out" -- all of which -- ALL -- were the work of the Kennedy Administration. In historical perspective, JFK is looking better all the time.

readering said...

Seems like Obama was deliberately Delphic in his statement. One can read into it whatever one chooses. But he obviously wants to see improved relations with Cuba going forward and Cuba is led by the dead guy's family, including his brother. Trump also wants to see improved relations and I doubt he's given up on his plans from 1998 to have Cuba be one of the many countries in which his family business operates, regardless of the nature of the regime.