Global Research

“Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” -Fidel Castro Ruz (Concluding remarks from courtroom defense speech; October 16, 1953) [1]  

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On Friday November 25, 2016, Fidel Castro Ruz, the revolutionary who liberated the people of Cuba from the dictatorial rule of Fuglencio Batista[2], prevailed against several US-backed terrorist operations[3] and assassination attempts [4], walked among world leaders and inspired liberation movements around the world, fought and lost his final battle.  He was 90.

Raul Castro, who had succeeded his brother in the role of president, declared a nine day mourning period ending December 4.

Starting Monday November 28^th, Cubans by the thousands gathered in Havana to pay their last respects to the Commander in Chief of the Revolution. A mass eulogy on Tuesday the 29^th attracted tens of thousands of Cubans, along with dignitaries from around the world, including Venezuela’s Nicholas Maduro, Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma.

News of his death also prompted attacks from those who perceived him as a human rights abuser and dictator. Anti-Castro Cubans in Miami reportedly celebrated his passing. In a tweet, following news of Castro’s passing, President-Elect Donald Trump referred to him as “a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades.” When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed sorrow for the passing of this eminent figure, he found himself pilloried by politicians and pundits inside and outside of the country.

Castro demonstrated that it was possible to stand up to a super power which habitually bullied its way throughout the Global South. Moreover, he actively committed his country’s resources, be it doctors, teachers or even troops, to the service of other struggling nations.

This week’s Global Research News Hour acknowledges the significance of Fidel Castro as an international figure and commemorates his passing with an hour-long examination of his life, and the legacy he left behind.

Lesley Hughes is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster and media critic. She also served as Canadian correspondent for Radio Havana back in the early 1990s. Hughes comments on the irresponsible media coverage greeting Castro’s death, and how to beat past the propaganda to get to a more sober account of his role in history. 

Eva Golinger is an attorney and a high level strategic consultant for high level clients worldwide including the late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. She is the author of six books including The Chavez Code and Bush vs. Chavez: Washington’s War on Venezuela. Golinger speaks about meeting Castro and addresses how the island nation has managed in the face of hostility from the US.

 Abayomi Azikiwe is a geo-political analyst and Editor of Pan-African NewsWire. In this week’s episode, Azikiwe outlines Cuba’s solidarity efforts abroad and how they helped improve the popularity of Castro. 

Richard Heinberg is Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute and author of numerous books on energy depletion and transition. The California-based analyst explains how Cuba survived the near catastrophe resulting from the disintegration of its long time ally, the Soviet Union, after 1991. 

The episode ends with recollections from Global Research Editor and Founder Professor Michel Chossudovsky as well as a translation of one of Castro’s speeches, both read by the host for the radio show. 

Click here to read Fidel Castro’s conversations with Michel Chossudovsky.

Click here to read Fidel Castro articles on Global Research.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Length (59:30)

Click to download the audio (MP3 format)  

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Notes: 

1. Fidel Castro Reader (2007), p.105, Published by Ocean Press
2. Clive Foss (2000), ‘Fidel Castro’ pg 48-51, Sutton Publishing
3. Julia E. Sweig(2009), ‘Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know’, p. 100, Oxford University Press
4. ibid, p.208