Politics is a cesspool in which opportunists wallow in a slime of corruption and nepotism. While this is old news in our part of the world, I found that this was pretty much the way of life even in the Communist Utopia of Cuba.
“During the past few years family members of both Fidel and Raul Castro have come to occupy important positions in Cuba's government. This Castro clan represents in addition to the military, the security apparatus and the Communist Party, a significant force in Cuba's political and economic structures.”
The list below is in the order of Name, Relationship, and Position held.
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart
Fidel Castro's son
Advisor, Ministry of Basic Industry
Col. Alejandro Raul Castro Espin
Raul Castro's son
Chief, Intelligence Information Services, Ministry of the Interior; Coordinator, Intelligence Exchange with China
Ramon Castro Ruz
Fidel's and Raul's oldest brother
Advisor, Ministry of Sugar
Dr. Antonio Castro Soto
Fidel Castro's son
Investment Chief, Frank Pais Hospital. Doctor for Cuba's baseball team
Col. Luís Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja
Raul Castro's son-in-law
Chief Executive Officer of Grupo GAESA (Grupo de Administración de Empresas, S.A.) which supervises military enterprises
Major Raul Alejandro Rodríguez Castro
Raul Castro's grandson
Raul Castro's military guard in charge of his personal security
Deborah Castro Espin
Raul Castro's daughter
Advisor, Ministry of Education
Mariela Castro Espin
Raul Castro's daughter
Head, Center for Sexual Education
Marcos Portal Leon
Married to Raul Castro's niece
In charge of nickel industry, member of the Central Committee of Cuba's Communist Party
Alfonsito Fraga
Related to Raul Castro
Ministry of Foreign Relations
I would not worry about this kind of naked nepotism but for the fact that the Commies always accuse their ideological opponents of succumbing to the follies of power politics.
The Commies with a capital ‘C’ are the same everywhere: opportunists, frauds, and blood-suckers. A life of sweat and toil is for the masses while perks and luxuries are for the Red Hued.
In the light of the above list, I can say that Fidel Castro was certainly NOT the Last Man Standing (with apologies to David Baldacci).
Long Live the Revolution!! The Revolution to Deprive People of their Freedom and Happiness!!!
Source:
Cuba Transition Project
http://ctp.iccas.miami.edu/FACTS_Web/Cuba%20Facts%20Issue%2039%20April.htm
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Essential Readings for May 2
Starting today, this blog will carry, in addition to my ramblings, links, with short commentaries, to some good reads on the web. So here we go.
In the last leg of the Olympic torch relay, the flame will pass through many parts of the host country including Lhasa. Check out this cool interactive feature to know the path of the torch relay in China.
Water is the elixir of life. Or so it is said. When a river passes through more than one country, it often turns into a source of conflict between the nations. It's not just that states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are fighting over sharing of river water; nations also are going to war. Today strategic thinkers say that the next round of civil wars or international wars would be fought over sharing of scarce water resources. Does water always lead to trouble? I strongly recommend this long but superb article on this important issue.
On the entertainment side, check out this picture slideshow of the $2 billion palace being built by Mukesh Ambani. The slideshow takes us right into the world's first billion dollar home.
In the last leg of the Olympic torch relay, the flame will pass through many parts of the host country including Lhasa. Check out this cool interactive feature to know the path of the torch relay in China.
Water is the elixir of life. Or so it is said. When a river passes through more than one country, it often turns into a source of conflict between the nations. It's not just that states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are fighting over sharing of river water; nations also are going to war. Today strategic thinkers say that the next round of civil wars or international wars would be fought over sharing of scarce water resources. Does water always lead to trouble? I strongly recommend this long but superb article on this important issue.
On the entertainment side, check out this picture slideshow of the $2 billion palace being built by Mukesh Ambani. The slideshow takes us right into the world's first billion dollar home.
What the Chinese think about the West
It's been an age since I last blogged about my biggest interest: foreign affairs. I do not know how much has the world changed in the last twelve days. Has it changed for a Zimbabwean, for an Iraqi, for an Afghan, and for a Chinese?
The last word brings to the mind the 'torch travails' of the Chinese. The autocrats in China would have believed that the torch relay would be a great way of showcasing the best of China to the world. Little would they have anticipated that it would turn into a public relations disaster.
The 'torch relay' has put the human rights abuses, especially in Tibet, under the scanner. Critics say that these abuses are being perpretated by the commie regime in Beijing. In India, the torch relay generated its own controversy, an issue to which the Indian media has already devoted reams of newsprint and space (and I don't intend to).
The native Chinese feel hurt and dismayed at the double-standards of the western governments and the media alike. What do the overseas Chinese living in the USA and Europe feel about this issue?
I recently came across this poem written by an overseas Chinese. I am reproducing some parts of the poem:
"When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to our markets.
When we embraced Free Trade, you blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, you marched in your troops and wanted your “fair share”.
When we were putting the broken pieces together again, “Free Tibet” you scream, “it was an invasion!”
So, we tried communism, you hated us for being communists.
When we embraced capitalism, you hate us for being capitalists.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said it is human rights abuse.
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your debts.
When we build our industries, you called us polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
When we buy oil, you call that exploitation and genocide.
When you fight for oil, you call that liberation and democracy.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you wanted rule of law for us.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call that violating human rights."
If you wish to read the complete poem, check it out here.
The last word brings to the mind the 'torch travails' of the Chinese. The autocrats in China would have believed that the torch relay would be a great way of showcasing the best of China to the world. Little would they have anticipated that it would turn into a public relations disaster.
The 'torch relay' has put the human rights abuses, especially in Tibet, under the scanner. Critics say that these abuses are being perpretated by the commie regime in Beijing. In India, the torch relay generated its own controversy, an issue to which the Indian media has already devoted reams of newsprint and space (and I don't intend to).
The native Chinese feel hurt and dismayed at the double-standards of the western governments and the media alike. What do the overseas Chinese living in the USA and Europe feel about this issue?
I recently came across this poem written by an overseas Chinese. I am reproducing some parts of the poem:
"When we closed our doors, you smuggled drugs to our markets.
When we embraced Free Trade, you blame us for taking away your jobs.
When we were falling apart, you marched in your troops and wanted your “fair share”.
When we were putting the broken pieces together again, “Free Tibet” you scream, “it was an invasion!”
So, we tried communism, you hated us for being communists.
When we embraced capitalism, you hate us for being capitalists.
When we have a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.
When we tried limiting our numbers, you said it is human rights abuse.
When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.
When we loan you cash, you blame us for your debts.
When we build our industries, you called us polluters.
When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.
When we buy oil, you call that exploitation and genocide.
When you fight for oil, you call that liberation and democracy.
When we were lost in chaos and rampage, you wanted rule of law for us.
When we uphold law and order against violence, you call that violating human rights."
If you wish to read the complete poem, check it out here.
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