Castro Undergoes Surgery, Temporarily Gives Up Dictatorship

Reports BET.com (BET, what's wrong with me...):

For the first time in 50 years, Cuban President Fidel Castro has been forced to hand over power -- at least temporarily -- to his 75-year-old brother, Raul, after undergoing intestinal surgery.  

The move, announced late Monday on Cuban state television, provoked scenes of jubilation among exiled Cubans dancing in the streets in hopes of returning home without fear of reprisal from Castro.

The 79-year-old Communist leader, who is just two weeks away from his 80th birthday, revealed in a letter that he had suffered gastrointestinal bleeding, apparently brought on by stress from overworking and travel during the past weeks, a government statement issued from Havana said.

"The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," Castro said in the statement.

Raul, who is minister of defense and first vice president of the Council of State, is number two in the country's political hierarchy. He's considered to be the president's most trusted man, although he is said to lack his older brother's political flair and charisma.

Raul been a close confident of Castro's since their guerrilla days and the triumph of the revolution in 1959. Raul already has indicated that a collective leadership would more than likely govern a post-Castro Cuba.

This is the first time Castro has given up power since seizing control of Cuba in 1959.

It's always good to hear that a tyrant is dying. The conservative in me smiles at the thought that this monster will soon be in hell (the Catholic in me feels kind of bad about it). When a charismatic tyrant dies it is usually the first step towards the collapse of an evil government and democratic self rule. I've never been for sancions in the first place (due to the fact that I'm a free-trader and realize that embargos never harm the dictators, just their citizens), but I look forward to lighting up a Cuban cigar in celebration the day Castro dies.