Cuba Perks Up as Venezuelan Foils Embargo

[cal04]

As Raúl Castro takes up the task of leading Cuba in place of his brother Fidel, there is, surprisingly, one less thing he may have to worry about: the state of Cuba’s economy.

The credit goes, in large part, to the economic lifeline thrown to Cuba by the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, who is using his country’s tremendous oil reserves to prop up the Castro government and counter Bush administration policy in Latin America.

To the exasperation of American officials, long determined to force a change of government by choking off the Cuban economy with an embargo, Venezuela’s patronage may take some pressure off Raúl Castro at what is otherwise a time of great uncertainty.

The Cuban government released no new information on Thursday on the health of Fidel Castro, 79, who is recuperating from a still-unexplained abdominal surgery. Raúl Castro, 75, who was named provisional leader on Monday by his brother, has yet to make an appearance.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/world/americas/04cuba.html?hp&ex=1154664000&en=977069af7fbd4268&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Cybergata]

1. Viva Chávez

:bounce: