On the 31st of July Fidel Castro the Cuban president handed temporary power to his brother in a proclamation read on television. His brother Raul who is minister of defence is to rule whilst the 80yr old leader under goes surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding. The change of rule is to be a provisional one and appeared to be a signal that there would be a calm succession to Raul should Fidel be anable to rule.
In power since Jan 1 1959, Castro has been the worlds longest-ruling head of government. Only Thailands King Bhurnibol Adulyadej crowned in 1946 and Britains Queen Elizabeth crowned in 1952 have been head of state longer. Castro has stated that he did not plan to be leading Cuba if and when he hits the 100yr old mark. Castro who leads the only communist one-party regime in the America’s lashed out at a U.S plan to “assist” in a transition once he no longer holds power.
The United States has always held contempt for Cuba’s dictator and over the years there have been some historically noted attempts to unseat him. A prime example of this would be the disastrous Bay of Pigs fiasco, but in has also been revealed in Senate hearings that in August 1960, the C.I.A’s office of Medical Services dosed some of Castro’s cigars with a virulent toxin; they were then slipped into his private cigar stash during a trip to the United Nations. When this failed the C.I.A planned to embarrass Fidel by sneaking thallium salts into Castro’s shoes; thallium salts are a potent depilatory that would cause his beard, eyebrows and pubic hair to fall out. Perhaps the C.I.A might find that the ultimate hitman for them is father-time.
