The Cincinnati Post.
July 3, 2001
Because a political deadlock prevents lifting 38 years' worth of failed
sanctions on Cuba, U.S. policy toward Fidel Castro has been limited to the
actuarial tables.
That policy seemed close to its inevitable outcome when Castro fainted
during an anti-U.S. rally.
The fact that the long-winded dictator, who will be 75 next month, was two
hours into a speech in the sweltering heat when he was overcome probably
indicates the old boy is in good shape for his age, but his woozy spell
momentarily elated anti-Castro forces in the United States.
It turns out that there are a lot of contingency plans in the event of
Castro's death. City, county and state plans in Florida for crowd control. The
Immigration service for a flood of refugees. Cuban Americans for installing a
democratic government in Havana. The Coast Guard and Navy for massive boat
traffic to and from Cuba in the Florida Straits. The State Department for
post-Castro diplomatic initiatives. And almost certainly the CIA for ousting the
communist regime.
Even Castro himself has a contingency plan for his passing: His younger
brother, Raul, 70, takes over.
Everybody, it seems, has a say about what happens in Cuba after Castro -
except the Cuban people.
Copyright 2001 The Cincinnati Post, an E.W. Scripps
newspaper. | 
