Brigadier Alejandro Castro Espin

Brigadier Alejandro Castro Espin / Juan Juan Almeida
Posted on November 12, 2013

Last Monday, in a diligent and articulate article in Martinoticias.com I
wrote, and I quote: "The question is, 'Where are we going?' The answer:
this coming December 2, when the military promotions are made known, and
with whether or not Colonel Alejandro Castro Espin will rise to General
or not. A promotion that, on one hand, could create discontent and
division in the military hierarchy; and, on the other, reveal to us if
the so-called "measures for updating of the model" is the road towards
the aftermath of the so-called Castro era, if there are openings that
lead towards a (militarized) social democracy where they go on imposing
little by little on the liberties of each individual or if there have
only been subtle maneuvers directed at the reshuffling of the State
structure which only guarantees a succession in which Cuban power passes
from hand to hand, from Castro to Castro."

That was written, and I repeat: to understand that I continue to hold
onto the hypothesis of the ascent of Castro Espín to brigadier as "the
key" to the future of Cuba, or the next island president, misinterprets
what I write.

If things continue as they are, in order to know who the next tenant of
the Cuban presidential chair will be, it's not necessary to be subtle,
not to have a lot of information, nor to manage the art of divination
with precision. It's enough to take a look at Article 94 of the
Constitution that, for good or ill, is in force and although the leader
himself frequently dismisses it, it's well established that in the case
of absence, illness or death of the President of the Council of State,
he will be replaced by the First Vice President. That is, yesterday José
Ramón Machado Ventura, today Miguel Díaz-Canel, and tomorrow it could be
Joe Blow anybody. The State superstructure is well cemented (or one
might say, handcuffed) so that no one can compete with the ghost of Fidel.

Real power is something else. It is not the visibly frayed tapestry of
the throne, but the shining scepter, which is already fixed so that
after Raul there will be no substantial changes nor unexpected
surprises, falling into the hands of Alejandro. To deny it would be
something like ignoring the Cubanness of the royal palm or the Majesty
of a Cuban sunrise. Cuba is not only a society ruled by a single party,
but also by a family dictatorship. Is it necessary to recall the
relationship between Fidel, Raul, Vilma, Mariela, …..?

The Council of Ministers is the highest executive and administrative
organ and, by law, it constitutes the Government of the Republic of
Cuba. Why then does Alejandro, without being a member, participate and
have a critical voice in the meetings of the Executive Committee and the
boards of the National Defense Council?

The ascent, or not, to General of Colonel Castro Espín, only allow us to
see clearly enough what the Cuban government has doled out to us and
designed as a future, it's what is called "reforms or measures to update
the Cuban model." He already has the power and it does not depend on a
simple promotion.

Many in the military hate him, others criticize him, and others mock
him; the rest simply tolerate him. But all obey him and he knows it,
because it it's true that in an accident in Angola he lost the vision in
one eye, it's also very true that the visual acuity of his healthy eye
is 20/20.

Translator: RST

11 November 2013

Source: "Brigadier Alejandro Castro Espin / Juan Juan Almeida |
Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/brigadier-alejandro-castro-espin-juan-juan-almeida-2/