Myths About Cuba

Raul is no Gorbachev or Deng Xiaoping and no friend of the United States, presiding over the worst periods of political repression and economic centralization in Cuba. Raul has been a loyal follower and cheerleader of Fidel’s anti-American policies and military interventions in Africa and elsewhere. The recent wave of repression on the island indicates that the Stalinist Raul Castro is neither kinder nor gentler.

By Jaime Suchlicki l June 6, 2017

Myth 1: Raul Castro is Retiring

The Cuban media has been emphasizing that Raul Castro is leaving power. He announced in 2016 that he would be stepping down as President in 2018. Yet, he was reelected for five years as Secretary General of Cuba’s Communist Party and will remain as head of Cuba’s Armed Forces. The position of President, which will become mostly ceremonial, will be held by Miguel Diaz Canel, a low-level Communist Party bureaucrat with little military or public support.  In Cuba, power resides in the military and the Politburo of the Communist Party, both of which will continue to be controlled by Raul and his military comrades.

Myth 2: Cuba is in Transition.......
Myth 3: Raul Castro is Willing to Provide Concessions........
Myth 4: A Kinder, Gentler, Pragmatic Raul Castro.........

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My Take - Although Venezuela did provide financial aid to Cuba in the past, I wonder about the idea they're continuing to do so since they no longer have any money or international credit to borrow money.  So I think that may be out of date, and I think we can make the same points about Russian and Chinese financial aid also.