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'''Fidel Castro''' (August 13, 1926 – c. July 2006) was the brutal [[atheistic]] [[Communist]] [[dictator]] of [[Cuba]] from 1959 to 2006. '''''He was not seen and heard publicly since July 2006, when he underwent surgery for a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" in a Communist hospital.'''''<ref name="pbs.org">http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/latin_america/july-dec06/castro_08-01.html</ref>  Engaging in [[liberal denial]], [[Communism|Communists]] in Cuba release grainy images of an apparently old man along with absurd quotes of Castro like this claim, "I don’t even remember what a headache feels like."<ref>http://indonesiakatakami.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/fidel-castro-publishes-article-criticizing-health-rumors/</ref>  On hot Cuban days a stand-in wearing heavy make-up and a scarf to conceal his young neck meets with foreign dignitaries, but Obama refuses to be humiliated by this Communist hoax by meeting with him. Rather than wait until [[Donald Trump]] was in power, Cuba timed its announcement of Castro's death for the slowest news moment of the year: late Friday night after [[Thanksgiving Day]], reminiscent of the release of hostages by [[Iran]] just before [[Ronald Reagan]] became president.

'''Fidel Castro''' (August 13, 1926 – c. July 2006) was the brutal [[atheistic]] [[Communist]] [[dictator]] of [[Cuba]] from 1959 to 2006. '''''He was not seen and heard publicly since July 2006, when he underwent surgery for a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" in a Communist hospital.'''''<ref name="pbs.org">http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/latin_america/july-dec06/castro_08-01.html</ref>  Engaging in [[liberal denial]], [[Communism|Communists]] in Cuba release grainy images of an apparently old man along with absurd quotes of Castro like this claim, "I don’t even remember what a headache feels like."<ref>http://indonesiakatakami.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/fidel-castro-publishes-article-criticizing-health-rumors/</ref>  On hot Cuban days a stand-in wearing heavy make-up and a scarf to conceal his young neck meets with foreign dignitaries, but Obama refuses to be humiliated by this Communist hoax by meeting with him. Rather than wait until [[Donald Trump]] was in power, Cuba timed its announcement of Castro's death for the slowest news moment of the year: late Friday night after [[Thanksgiving Day]], reminiscent of the release of hostages by [[Iran]] just before [[Ronald Reagan]] became president.

With American [[globalist]]s helping bring him to and stay in power,<ref name="CastroGlobalists"/> Fidel Castro held the posts of [[Prime Minister|prime minister]] (1959–1976) and president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers (1976–2006).<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Govt</ref> His oppressive rule lasted almost 50 years and killed scores of thousands.  He had not been seen publicly since July 2006, when he underwent intestinal surgery, and was presumably no longer alive as of December 2009; the Communists running Cuba had no incentive to risk challenge to their power by announcing that he passed away.<ref>''[http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-215_162-1859015.html State Secret: Is Castro Dead?]'', Brian Goodman, ''CBS News'', September 22, 2009.</ref> After a long absence from the public eye, he was purportedly shown in photographs in June 2010, released by the Cuban State News Agency. In August 2010, the Associated Press had a story of a purported Castro speech to the Cuban parliament.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/06/cuba-state-tv-fidel-castro-attend-parliament-meeting-time-years-1415326051/?test=latestnews</ref>  ''The fact remains there hadn't been a reputable, independent account of Castro being alive in nearly a year.'' Other authoritarian regimes, such as [[North Korea]] and [[Nazi Germany]] have also engaged in "body-doubles" and actor/impersonators to hide the death or incapacitation of despots in the past.<ref>[http://www.mahalo.com/kim-jong-il-body-doubles Kim Jong Il Body Doubles]</ref><ref>[http://www.blackraiser.com/nredoubt/identity.htm Hitler body-double]</ref> In April 2011, Castro allegedly stepped down as head of the Cuban Communist Party, but it has not been confirmed that this was not a ruse.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=41125</ref>

With American [[globalist]]s helping bring him to and stay in power,<ref name="CastroGlobalists"/> Fidel Castro held the posts of [[Prime Minister|prime minister]] (1959–1976) and president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers (1976–2006).<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Govt</ref> His oppressive rule lasted almost 50 years and killed scores of thousands.  He had not been seen publicly since July 2006, when he underwent intestinal surgery, and was presumably no longer alive as of December 2009; the Communists running Cuba had no incentive to risk challenge to their power by announcing that he passed away.<ref>''[https://www.cbsnews.com/2100-215_162-1859015.html State Secret: Is Castro Dead?]'', Brian Goodman, ''CBS News'', September 22, 2009.</ref> After a long absence from the public eye, he was purportedly shown in photographs in June 2010, released by the Cuban State News Agency. In August 2010, the Associated Press had a story of a purported Castro speech to the Cuban parliament.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/06/cuba-state-tv-fidel-castro-attend-parliament-meeting-time-years-1415326051/?test=latestnews</ref>  ''The fact remains there hadn't been a reputable, independent account of Castro being alive in nearly a year.'' Other authoritarian regimes, such as [[North Korea]] and [[Nazi Germany]] have also engaged in "body-doubles" and actor/impersonators to hide the death or incapacitation of despots in the past.<ref>[http://www.mahalo.com/kim-jong-il-body-doubles Kim Jong Il Body Doubles]</ref><ref>[http://www.blackraiser.com/nredoubt/identity.htm Hitler body-double]</ref> In April 2011, Castro allegedly stepped down as head of the Cuban Communist Party, but it has not been confirmed that this was not a ruse.<ref>http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=41125</ref>

{{cquote|'''I think its time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers. Not too long ago two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a business man who had escaped from Castro.  And in the midst of one of his stories, my friends turned to the other and said, ‘we don’t know how lucky ''we'' are.’  ''And the Cuban stopped and said, ‘How lucky YOU are, I had some place to escape to.’'' In that sentence he told us the entire story of Cuba, and Castro. <small>-- [[Ronald Reagan]]</small> <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY "A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan]</ref>}}

{{cquote|'''I think its time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers. Not too long ago two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a business man who had escaped from Castro.  And in the midst of one of his stories, my friends turned to the other and said, ‘we don’t know how lucky ''we'' are.’  ''And the Cuban stopped and said, ‘How lucky YOU are, I had some place to escape to.’'' In that sentence he told us the entire story of Cuba, and Castro. <small>-- [[Ronald Reagan]]</small> <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY "A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan]</ref>}}

== Early years of Castro ==

== Early years of Castro ==

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Castro's policies imposed poverty and slavery on millions.<ref>Nick Eberstadt, The Poverty of Communism (Transaction Publishers, 1990), pp188, 196-206, 240-6.</ref>  In 1959, Cuba was the second richest country in Latin America; today, it is the second poorest.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/5404-castro-s-cuba-at-fifty-no-freedom-no-fish.html</ref>  Most pharmacies in Cuba do not even have aspirins.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/4402-aid-from-self-serving-autocrats.html</ref>  Cuba is plagued with a humanitarian catastrophe involving massive and widespread malnutrition and lack of basic goods; death, suffering, and misery is the result.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/2538-bad-cuban-medicine.html</ref>  The streets are now choked with scenes of starving peasants frantically pleading for food.<ref>Ibid.</ref>  In September 2010, Castro admitted that "the Cuban model doesn't even work."<ref>http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/fidel</ref>   

Castro's policies imposed poverty and slavery on millions.<ref>Nick Eberstadt, The Poverty of Communism (Transaction Publishers, 1990), pp188, 196-206, 240-6.</ref>  In 1959, Cuba was the second richest country in Latin America; today, it is the second poorest.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/5404-castro-s-cuba-at-fifty-no-freedom-no-fish.html</ref>  Most pharmacies in Cuba do not even have aspirins.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/4402-aid-from-self-serving-autocrats.html</ref>  Cuba is plagued with a humanitarian catastrophe involving massive and widespread malnutrition and lack of basic goods; death, suffering, and misery is the result.<ref>http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/world/cuba/2538-bad-cuban-medicine.html</ref>  The streets are now choked with scenes of starving peasants frantically pleading for food.<ref>Ibid.</ref>  In September 2010, Castro admitted that "the Cuban model doesn't even work."<ref>https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/fidel</ref>   

Castro has been accused of genocide by ''Genocide Watch.''<ref>http://www.genocidewatch.org/</ref>  He has been sued for genocide in [[Belgium]] and [[Spain]].<ref>http://www2.fiu.edu/~fcf/castrosuedgenocide.html</ref>

Castro has been accused of genocide by ''Genocide Watch.''<ref>http://www.genocidewatch.org/</ref>  He has been sued for genocide in [[Belgium]] and [[Spain]].<ref>http://www2.fiu.edu/~fcf/castrosuedgenocide.html</ref>

In September 2011, it was claimed that a Venezuelan reporter had interviewed Castro,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/cubas-fidel-castro-breaks-long-silence-in-interview-with-venezuelan-television/2011/09/08/gIQA08FSCK_story.html]</ref> but independent media have not confirmed that this was not actually a doppelganger standing in for the long-deceased Castro.

In September 2011, it was claimed that a Venezuelan reporter had interviewed Castro,<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/cubas-fidel-castro-breaks-long-silence-in-interview-with-venezuelan-television/2011/09/08/gIQA08FSCK_story.html]</ref> but independent media have not confirmed that this was not actually a doppelganger standing in for the long-deceased Castro.

In February 2012 the mainstream media claimed that Castro met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.  Predictably there have been no reports from the liberal media as to whether this was actually Castro or a lookalike.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/us-cuba-brazil-idUSTRE8100B620120201 Brazil's Rousseff meets with Fidel Castro in Cuba]</ref>  

In February 2012 the mainstream media claimed that Castro met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.  Predictably there have been no reports from the liberal media as to whether this was actually Castro or a lookalike.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/us-cuba-brazil-idUSTRE8100B620120201 Brazil's Rousseff meets with Fidel Castro in Cuba]</ref>  

In February 2013, Castro allegedly<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3jqbsLvqXY</ref> addressed Cuba's National Assembly, giving support for younger leadership in Cuba.<ref>http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114511:fidel-castro-backs-move-for-younger-leadership-in-cuba&catid=76:world&Itemid=560</ref> The National Assembly went on to re-elect Castro’s 82-year-old brother Raul.

In February 2013, Castro allegedly<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3jqbsLvqXY</ref> addressed Cuba's National Assembly, giving support for younger leadership in Cuba.<ref>http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114511:fidel-castro-backs-move-for-younger-leadership-in-cuba&catid=76:world&Itemid=560</ref> The National Assembly went on to re-elect Castro’s 82-year-old brother Raul.

On November 25, 2016, Cuba finally confirmed what the rest of the world suspected for over a decade and announced the death of Castro, although the cause of death was not immediately disclosed.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2016/11/fidel-castro-is-dead-at-90/?cat_orig=world Fidel Castro is dead at 90] at [[WorldNetDaily.com]]</ref> Exiled Cubans and Cuban-Americans celebrated the news of the revelation of Castro's death upon hearing about it.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2016/11/libertad-cuban-exiles-celebrate-castro-death-in-miami/?cat_orig=us Libertad! Cuban exiles celebrate Castro death in Miami] at WorldNetDaily.com</ref> Ironically, given his long-lived fight against Capitalism, his announced death occurred on [[Black Friday]].

On November 25, 2016, Cuba finally confirmed what the rest of the world suspected for over a decade and announced the death of Castro, although the cause of death was not immediately disclosed.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2016/11/fidel-castro-is-dead-at-90/?cat_orig=world Fidel Castro is dead at 90] at [[WorldNetDaily.com]]</ref> Exiled Cubans and Cuban-Americans celebrated the news of the revelation of Castro's death upon hearing about it.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2016/11/libertad-cuban-exiles-celebrate-castro-death-in-miami/?cat_orig=us Libertad! Cuban exiles celebrate Castro death in Miami] at WorldNetDaily.com</ref> Ironically, given his long-lived fight against Capitalism, his announced death occurred on [[Black Friday]].

Numerous [[leftists]], including [[Canada|Canadian]] prime minister [[Justin Trudeau]],<ref>Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. (November 26, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/26/trudeau-called-castro-a-remarkable-leader-twitter-imagined-what-he-would-say-about-stalin/?tid=pm_world_pop Trudeau called Castro a ‘remarkable leader.’ Twitter imagined what he would say about Stalin.] ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> [[Green Party]] presidential nominee [[Jill Stein]],<ref>Lott, Jeremy (November 26, 2016). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jill-stein-praises-fidel-castro-a-symbol-of-the-struggle-for-justice/article/2608223 Jill Stein praises Fidel Castro: 'A symbol of the struggle for justice']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> [[Sierra Club]] president Aaron Mair,<ref>Richardson, Valerie (November 28, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/28/aaron-mair-sierra-club-president-fidel-castro-had-/ Sierra Club president: Fidel Castro had ‘more honor’ than Donald Trump]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> and [[Jesse Jackson]],<ref name="O'ReillyNov.29.2016">[http://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=4323#3 The O'Reilly Factor - Monday, November 28, 2016]. ''billoreilly.com''. Retrieved November 29, 2016.</ref> issued positive or semi-positive statements in response to the death of a man who killed thousands of people and left an extremely poor third-world country.<ref name="O'ReillyNov.29.2016"/> On the other hand, [[Republican Party|Republican]] president-elect [[Donald Trump]] gave very strong statements against the dictator, calling him a "brutal dictator" and saying that "Fidel Castro's legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights".<ref>Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. (November 26, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/26/here-is-donald-trumps-reaction-to-fidel-castros-death/ How Donald Trump responded to the death of Fidel Castro, ‘a brutal dictator’]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Jackson, David (November 26, 2016). [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/26/donald-trump-reacts-fidel-castros-death/94469240/ Trump condemns Castro as 'brutal dictator']. ''USA Today''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Scott, Eugine (November 26, 2016). [http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/26/politics/trump-reacts-to-castro-death/ Donald Trump: Fidel Castro is dead!]. ''CNN''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref>

Numerous [[leftists]], including [[Canada|Canadian]] prime minister [[Justin Trudeau]],<ref>Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. (November 26, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/26/trudeau-called-castro-a-remarkable-leader-twitter-imagined-what-he-would-say-about-stalin/?tid=pm_world_pop Trudeau called Castro a ‘remarkable leader.’ Twitter imagined what he would say about Stalin.] ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> [[Green Party]] presidential nominee [[Jill Stein]],<ref>Lott, Jeremy (November 26, 2016). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jill-stein-praises-fidel-castro-a-symbol-of-the-struggle-for-justice/article/2608223 Jill Stein praises Fidel Castro: 'A symbol of the struggle for justice']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> [[Sierra Club]] president Aaron Mair,<ref>Richardson, Valerie (November 28, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/nov/28/aaron-mair-sierra-club-president-fidel-castro-had-/ Sierra Club president: Fidel Castro had ‘more honor’ than Donald Trump]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref> and [[Jesse Jackson]],<ref name="O'ReillyNov.29.2016">[http://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=4323#3 The O'Reilly Factor - Monday, November 28, 2016]. ''billoreilly.com''. Retrieved November 29, 2016.</ref> issued positive or semi-positive statements in response to the death of a man who killed thousands of people and left an extremely poor third-world country.<ref name="O'ReillyNov.29.2016"/> On the other hand, [[Republican Party|Republican]] president-elect [[Donald Trump]] gave very strong statements against the dictator, calling him a "brutal dictator" and saying that "Fidel Castro's legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights".<ref>Wootson, Cleve R., Jr. (November 26, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/26/here-is-donald-trumps-reaction-to-fidel-castros-death/ How Donald Trump responded to the death of Fidel Castro, ‘a brutal dictator’]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Jackson, David (November 26, 2016). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/26/donald-trump-reacts-fidel-castros-death/94469240/ Trump condemns Castro as 'brutal dictator']. ''USA Today''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref><ref>Scott, Eugine (November 26, 2016). [https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/26/politics/trump-reacts-to-castro-death/ Donald Trump: Fidel Castro is dead!]. ''CNN''. Retrieved November 28, 2016.</ref>

[[Ben Shapiro]] wrote:

[[Ben Shapiro]] wrote:

===Continued persecution===

===Continued persecution===

Even after Castro's death, people still faced serious persecution if they criticized the dictator, as in the example of a Christian leader who was arrested in March 2017 and sentenced to three years in prison, a few months after his young children were arrested.<ref>Martel, Frances (March 22, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/03/22/cuba-christian-leader-receives-3-year-prison-sentence-for-anti-castro-comments/ Cuba: Christian Leader Receives 3-Year Prison Sentence for Anti-Castro Comments]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 23, 2017.</ref>

Even after Castro's death, people still faced serious persecution if they criticized the dictator, as in the example of a Christian leader who was arrested in March 2017 and sentenced to three years in prison, a few months after his young children were arrested.<ref>Martel, Frances (March 22, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/03/22/cuba-christian-leader-receives-3-year-prison-sentence-for-anti-castro-comments/ Cuba: Christian Leader Receives 3-Year Prison Sentence for Anti-Castro Comments]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 23, 2017.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==