What will happen to Cuba after Castro dies?

@Idlewild (6090)
United States
December 30, 2006 8:42pm CST
Fidel Castro issued his annual new year's eve statement to the Cuban people, assuring them that he will recover from his illness. The statement was read by a newscaster and not by Castro himself; he hasn't been seen in public since July. Castro's brother Raul will probably take over when Fidel dies; will this mark a new direction for Cuba and USD/Cuba relations, or will Raul continue on the same path as his brother?
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2 responses
@aizavel (558)
• Philippines
31 Dec 06
I dont know who they are but if there is a new leader that would surely be confusion for the natrion and some will try to take over his place.. :)
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@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Yes, I'd think there'd be some groups inside Cuba and some inside the U.S. who are just waiting for Castro to die, so that they can move in and try to take advantage of the uncertainty and destabilize the country. And maybe even take over.
• Nigeria
25 Jan 07
should they wait for Castro to die to take over a nation being ruled by a one man show?... i think so groud especially the US should organise an motivate cubians to take over since Castro is now fable and weak, but for Raul is old and would reflect the same think=g as Fidel has.
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@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
25 Jan 07
They might want to wait and see what Raul does, though he will be powerful he doesn't have the popular appeal that Fidel has built up over the decades. If Raul doesn't make changes, citizens maybe could try protests or strikes to demand changes.
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
8 Jan 07
I hope it opens up some US relationship with Cuba... I've always wanted to go there and vowed that if they allow us to visit I will go before it gets too commercial, and there are high rise hotels everywhere! I really don't know much about Raul and his views, but hopefully he's not quite as anti-US...
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@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
9 Jan 07
It sounds like a fascinating place, I know some people who've been there. In some ways it's place frozen in time, with all the 1950s American cars still cruising the streets. The people are supposedly very friendly and open. Yeah, I'd hate to see it become a glitzy commercial megaresort, I hope when it does open up it'll be able to retain a lot of its character. I think a lot of the progress of relations depends on the attitude of the U.S. leadership. Cuba has always been open to relations and trade with the U.S., but there's a lot of anti-Castro Cuban Americans in Florida that are adamantly opposed to any kind of relations with Cuba until Castro is gone. Some conservatives feel just the opposite, that the best thing the U.S. could do would be to thow open trade with Cuba and let the people experience trade with America, that that would be the ultimate way to undermine Castro. And it will benefit American farmers and manufacturers.
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