Pandering to the new potentate in Havana didn't stop there. The same New York Times that smears Sen. John McCain with innuendo and unsubstantiated allegations of infidelity and influence-peddling, praises Raul Castro -- the world's longest-serving minister of defense -- because "as acting president, he has encouraged more debate about Cuba's economic woes." According to the newspaper of record, Raul "has also brought up issues his brother never addressed. He has lambasted farmers for being inefficient. He has criticized the high cost of milk. The younger Castro also has a reputation as a manager who demands results from his Cabinet members." Of course, Joe Stalin did all those things, too.
The staunchly anti-communist Cuban exiles with whom I spoke have a somewhat different perspective: "Raul is utterly corrupt," one of the refugees with family members still in captivity told me. Another observed: "Fidel's little brother gives shorter speeches, but he knows how to line his pockets. He decides which foreign hotel chains get to build, and he tells them where. It all depends on who pays him the most." The Gray Lady's DePalma credits Raul with "facilitating huge foreign investment by Canadian and European resort developers" in Cuba.
So has anything really changed in Cuba? Apparently, the Cuban people don't think so. Despite the country's disastrous economy, no official in Havana has embraced the idea of free, fair multiparty elections as the means of opening the doors to American investment. In the days since Fidel tendered his "resignation," there have been few celebrations in Miami, and the number of Cubans trying to flee 90 miles to freedom is undiminished. Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, who hopes to inherit the mantle of Latin America's commie caudillo, has pledged to continue daily deliveries of roughly 100,000 barrels of heavily subsidized oil to keep Cuba's lights on -- and that the 20,000 Cuban "medical volunteers" in his country are still "welcome to assist in the Bolivarian Revolution."
To reassure anxious readers, loyal party members and apprehensive Ameriphobes -- and to ensure that no one has any doubt about who really is pulling the strings in Havana -- Granma has promised, "We will continue waiting for the 'Reflections of Comrade Fidel,' which will be a powerful arsenal of ideas and guidance." That's sure to do a lot for circulation. Let's hope The New York Times publishes every word.
Oliver North
Oliver North is the host of
War Stories on the Fox News Channel, the author of
American Heroes in Special Operations and the founder and honorary chairman of
Freedom Alliance, a foundation that provides college scholarships to the sons and daughters of servicemembers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.