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July 24, 2008 7:35:49 AM CDT

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Fidel Looking Forward to 'Vacation'

Posted Feb 22, 08 2:48 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – Fidel can't wait to retire. The soon-to-be-former dictator published a new newspaper column today, telling Cuba he was relieved to be rid of his exhausting presidential duties. “The night before, I slept better than ever,” Castro wrote. But he couldn’t give up his newspaper gig because, “I didn't have the right to keep silent for so long.”

Beside today’s column beamed a smiling, waving “Companion Fidel,” a departure from his typical stern, green-fatigued photo. The chipper retiree mocked the presidential candidates, who, thanks to his retirement, were “forced to proclaim their immediate demands to Cuba so as not to alienate a single voter.” “Change, change, change!' they shouted in unison. I agree. 'Change!' But in the United States,” he wrote.

Source Associated Press

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Cuba's acting President Raul Castro points toward journalists after attending a ceremony with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, unseen, in Havana, in this June 13, 2007 file photo. Raul is widely expected...   (Associated Press)
Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage is seen in Havana in this Sept. 1, 2005 file photo. Lage is considered to be one of the top possibilities to replace Raul Castro in Cuba's No. 2 spot when Raul is most...   (Associated Press)
Cuba's Communist Party's representative abroad Fernando Remirez de Estenoz is seen in this undated file photo. Remirez de Estenoz is considered to be one of the top possibilities to replace Raul Castro...   (Associated Press)
Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque is seen in this Nov. 2, 2005 file photo in Havana. Roque is considered to be one of the top possibilities to replace Raul Castro in Cuba's No. 2 spot when Raul...   (Associated Press)
A painting of Cuban leader Fidel Castro holds at a school wall in Havana, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. After Castro's announced Tuesday his willing of retiring, many Cubans look to his brother to let more...   (Associated Press)
Raul Castro, left, stands next to his brother and then rebel leader Fidel Castro, bottom, and an unidentified fighter, as they operate against dictator Fulgencio Batista from Cuba's eastern mountains...   (Associated Press)
Cuba's President Fidel Castro gestures on a balcony at the government palace in Quito, in this Nov. 28, 2002 file photo. Ailing leader Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president early Tuesday, Feb. 19,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Cuba's Fidel Castro announces retirement - 19 Feb 08   (AlJazeeraEnglish (YouTube))
Fidel Castro Retires / Resigns on February 18, 2008   (BriefantothePoint (YouTube))

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election 2008  • Cuba  • Fidel Castro  • Raul Castro  • Communists  • Havana


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