Fidel Castro: An unmatched legacy

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz popularly known as Fidel Castro for the past 50 years in the international political scene stepped down as President of Cuba last week.

The life and times of Fidel Castro, a lawyer who turned revolutionary leader was remarkable as he remained a strong figure for half a century challenging American superpower.

Based in Havana, Capital of Cuba which is only 143 km away from Cape Kennedy of the American State of Florida, Fidel Castro remained a nightmare for all US Presidents since he came into power in Cuba in 1959.

It is from the Cape Kennedy, the southern tip of Florida named after the flamboyant US President late John F Kennedy, the US initiates its space trips highlighting its superpower strength. Despite their superpower strength in the land, air and sea the US never succeeded in ousting Castro from his position as President of Cuba.

Aligning with legendry Che Guevara, Fidel got rid of the US backed Batista Government in 1959 and ruled the Caribbean island for five decades despite the gruelling challenges that emerged on and off from the US leaders who considered the Cuban leader a deadly missile positioned against them in the Caribbean sea.

During the Cold War period Castro emerged as an icon among the communists and reflected their ideas to the US and to its allies from the Caribbean.

The US with its mighty military power had its involvement directly as well as indirectly in various parts around the globe.

The Superpower also succeeded in establishing its influence in strategic locations.

But the regime of Castro could not be shaken by the Americans as the Cuban leadership remained strong.

In 1961 during the period of John F Kennedy the US made an attempt to invade Cuba with 1300 CIA trained Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs.

The attempt was a failure with Castro loyalists showing their strength in preventing any attempt at overthrowing Fidel Castro. A major nuclear crisis was averted with the greatest difficulty.

Cuba is unlikely to see a cataclysmic change as the country will still be run by those loyal to him and his policies, including brother Raul.

Castro himself will be very much in the limelight, with his ‘Reflections’ in Granma, the official organ and his work for the Communist Party, of which he is still the Chief.