The End of the Castro Cult? Fidel Castro Resigns in Cuba.

Will the Castro political cult continue?

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - Cuban President Fidel Castro resigned his Presidency on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

In a letter posted on a Communist Party web site he told the Cuban people that he was retiring. He said it was due to his declining health. He also made it clear that he would not accept another appointment from the Governing Council of the Island Nation:

"I will not aspire to nor accept - I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept - the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief...." wrote the ailing Communist Dictator. The letter was posted on the online edition of the newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party.

With that, over 49 years of dictatorial rule has ended in one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

Or, has it?

President Fidel Castro's brother Raul was already hand selected by the Cuban leader to succeed him. He ceded his dictatorial power to his 76 year old sibling on July 31, 2006 in an orchestrated move. Raul has been leading a caretaker Government and has brought little change to the Nation.

This Sunday the National Assembly, which was elected in January, will meet for the first time to pick what is called the "Governing Council of the State". Included in that action will be the confirmation of what was already set into motion by President Castro, the affirmation of the leadership of his brother Raul.

There had been some speculation as as to whether the Communist leader would accept a new appointment from the Governing Council. In fact, an orchestrated campaign of selective statements and photos seemed to point to the return of the President. However, with an announcement, which was ironically posted on a web site when Cubans are not allowed to access the internet, Fidel Castro brought an end to the speculation:

"My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath....it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer. This I say devoid of all drama."

However, the question still remains, will the Castro political cult continue?

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