Fidel Castro, by Yousef Karsh

For Realz! Fidel Castro has resigned.

In related news, Hell has dropped to 0 degrees Kelvin.

And no, I didn’t get this off Perez(he’s dead, he’s dead, Castro is dead!)Hilton either. I got it from The Guardian:

Fidel Castro today announced his retirement as head of state of Cuba, 49 years after he seized power in an armed revolution.

With the exception of monarchs, his resignation will bring to an end the world’s longest reign in power.

The 81-year-old, who handed over power to his brother, Raúl, in July 2006 after surgery, said in a letter published on the site of the official state newspaper, Granma: “I communicate to you that I will not aspire to or accept … the position of president of council of state and commander in chief.”

Full text of the resignation over the jump.

Looks like someone needs to tell the CIA. As of 3:26am (is it really? I should be in bed) Tuesday, February 19th, the CIA World Book still doesn’t know he’s resigned.

chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in March 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of legislative vote – 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote – 100%
note: due to an ongoing health problem, Fidel CASTRO Ruz provisionally transferred power to his brother Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz on 31 July 2006 in accordance with the Cuban Constitution; Fidel CASTRO has not yet reclaimed control of the government

His health has been uncertain for more than a year, although the specific challenges he was facing have never been officially revealed, and for almost two years his brother Raúl has been effectively in charge of the country. Raúl, while no genius or revolutionary firebrand, is said to be a competent, dutiful official who is relies heavily on his brother’s vision.

Since his time in power, Castro has been praised by some for improving education and health care for the Cuban population. But critics have condemned him as a totalitarian dictator, who ran a repressive regime that quashed individual rights and carried out political executions.

Two months ago, Fidel Castro made the following public statement:

He appeared on national television saying: “My essential duty is not to cling to office nor to obstruct the rise of people much younger, but to pass on experience and ideas whose modest value arises from the exceptional times in which I lived.”

Raúl Castro is 77.

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Click on to read the full resignation announcement Continue reading →