Letter: Democracy not likely in Cuba after Castro

Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006 | 7:38 a.m.

The Cuban people have not had much luck with their leaders. We know of course of Fidel Castro's communist rule, but before him was a right-wing dictator named Fulgencio Batista. Batista ruled with an iron hand, and he cared little for the needs of Cubans.

When Castro's forces overthrew his regime in 1959, most of his supporters and enablers fled to Florida, where they and their descendents have waged a political war ever since to prevent any kind of diplomatic exchange between Cuba and the U.S.

Now that Castro is suffering from failing health, the administration talks of democracy in Cuba. How is that going to take place, when we have refused to communicate with them? Of course we could have another Iraq situation and try to force democracy on them, but short of that I don't think democracy will fly there anytime soon.

God bless the suffering Cuban people.

Richard J. Mundy, Las Vegas

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