Fidel is dead

[Aeson]

Some plots aimed not at murder but at character assassination; they, for example, involved using thallium salts to destroy Castro's famous beard

[Egbert]

If Fidel had been assassinated then the CIA wouldn't have gotten more money to go to a tropical island and get someone to try to assassinate Fidel again. The politicians would have gotten fewer campaign donations if they couldn't appeal to anti-Castro sentiments. Fidel also didn't want to be assassinated, but could be sure to have extra support because of the assassination attempts.

So clearly everyone had incentive to have the CIA fail to assassinate Fidel over and over again.

That makes the KGB look dumb because they were very good at assassinating people the first time. Meaning they missed out on extended tropical vacations and donations.

[Aeson]

... just don't say they're dumb to their face!

[Egbert]

They have camps, in Siberia.

Lots of camps, big camps, the biggest camps.

[Lorizael]

The CIA does not appear to be very good at whatever it is they do.

Alternatively, they're very good at appearing to be bad at whatever it is they do.

[Uncle Sparky]

Castro: I will not die until America is destroyed!
Trump: I'm the president -elect.
Castro: ...OK then...

[kentonio]

If Fidel had been assassinated then the CIA wouldn't have gotten more money to go to a tropical island and get someone to try to assassinate Fidel again.

To be fair someone should have gotten suspicious when the annual CIA assassination plot was scheduled for 2 weeks every August, and the equipment budget included 12 bottles of spiced rum and some Hawaiian shirts.

[Aeson]

Not to mention the "poisoned" cigars ... or those laced with LSD. "Yah, I need cigars and LSD ... to um ... kill Castro with!"

[Fake Boris]

Castro embodied the contradictions of 20th century socialism. On one hand his human rights track record is poor. On the other hand Cuba achieved great accomplishments in many social indicators such as life expectancy and literacy. Similar to what happened in the USSR under Lenin and Stalin.

Can socialism achieve these results without political repression? How much better would Cuba have done without US sanctions? He passes away leaving these questions unanswered.

[N35t0r]

Without us sanctions Cuba would be much more democratic.

[rah]

As long as a Castro is in charge, democracy will not exist there. Sanctions or no sanctions.

[N35t0r]

A large portion of his popular support, especially since the 90's, comes from the blockade. He would have been forced (either peacefully or otherwise) to open up the government workout it.

[rah]

Tell that to all the people that died in firing squads. The man was a monster. He was feared and his brother still is.

[N35t0r]

It's not the 80s anymore. (Also, 'or otherwise')

[rah]

If you think the government is still not feared, it is my opinion that you are wrong.