Thread: Cuba's Raul Castro signals more openess

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061221/ap_ ... aul_castro

Cuba's Raul Castro signals more openness By ANITA SNOW, Associated Press Writer

HAVANA - Raul Castro signaled a new leadership style in comments published Thursday, promising fewer speeches, more power sharing, and a willingness to hear different views as he fills in for his "irreplaceable" brother Fidel.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said Raul Castro told about 800 university leaders they should "fearlessly" engage in public debate and analysis — expressing a different leadership style than that of his 80-year-old brother.

"The first principle in constructing any armed forces is the sole command," said the younger Castro, who became Cuba's provisional leader five months ago when Fidel Castro stepped aside after emergency intestinal surgery. "But that doesn't mean that we cannot discuss. That way we reach decisions, and I'm talking about big decisions."

Fidel Castro's nearly five-decade rule as Cuba's "Maximum Leader" was characterized by meandering, hours-long speeches, unquestioned decisions and micromanagement of government programs and policies.

After announcing his illness on July 31, Fidel Castro named six trusted people to run key projects he had handled alone. Raul, Cuba's defense minister since 1959 and his brother's long constitutionally designated successor, was given temporary powers as president and head of the ruling Communist Party.

Although some Cuban officials have insisted Fidel Castro will return to power, they privately acknowledge that it is unlikely he will come back in the same all-powerful role. Last seen in public on July 26, his condition has been kept as a state secret.

"This is just one more signal (Raul) has a different style and could set a different direction," said Phil Peters, a Cuba expert who accompanied a 10-member U.S. congressional delegation to the island last week.

"It's already known that he is not allergic to economic reform," added Peters, of the Lexington Institute think tank in suburban Washington. "He seems to be saying that under his leadership no one will be penalized for a different point of view. I would think that Cubans would react to that cautiously, but positively."

Raul Castro is largely seen as a pragmatist more likely to embrace limited free enterprise than his brother. In the past, he has expressed interest in China's model of capitalist reform with one-party political control.

Peters said that some debate has always occurred inside Cuba's communist government, but "within very narrow parameters."

"What really counts isn't whether there is debate — Cubans argue every day of the week — but whether he will open up the boundaries so new ideas are heard," Peters said.

Raul Castro is said to especially appreciate the divergent views of young people. A glowing tribute to him, republished by state media before his 75th birthday in June, noted that Raul acknowledges that "today's youth are more demanding," and that "is not a bad sign."

Meeting with the university students, Raul Castro also echoed his earlier insistence that neither he nor any individual could replace his brother.

"Fidel is irreplaceable, save that we all replace him together, each one in his place," Granma quoted Raul Castro as telling the closing session of Cuba's University Student Federation annual congress. "The only substitute for Fidel can be the Communist Party of Cuba."

Since Fidel Castro announced his illness, the government has occasionally released photographs and videos of him, and he appeared thin and frail in the last one seen in late October.

Cuban authorities have denied speculation by many, including U.S. intelligence officials, that Fidel Castro is suffering from cancer or some other terminal illness.

Some U.S. doctors have said that Castro might have diverticular disease, which can cause bleeding in the lower intestine, especially in people over age 60. In severe cases, emergency surgery may be required.

Now that we are normalizing relations with Vietnam we probably should normalize relations with Cuba. Although I'd like to see that wet foot, dry foot policy changed first.

I agree that the wetfoot/dryfoot policy has got to go. Maybe American residents with spouses and minor children who are trying to bring them here legally and have waited for years should sue the government for letting Cubans bring their relatives over illegally by paying smugglers. It is not as bad in Cuba now as it used to be. When people have been caught escaping at sea and returned back to Cuba and can reattempt to flee again shortly afterwards shows me there are no harsh sentences for them. One guy tried 7 times before he joined his relatives here. We had people who landed on the bridge shown in the movie True Lies that is not technically attached to land anymore. This happened in January and the people were sent back to Cuba. The Cuban community screamed bloody murder and they were allowed to return once Cuba processed them and let them go. Some of their relatives were sick of waiting and paid smugglers to bring them here in time for Christmas and they arrived earlier this week and yes they will be able to stay.