Lucia Newman: Castro aging, but still in control

Lucia Newman

CNN Havana Bureau Chief Lucia Newman has been a close observer of Cuba and Fidel Castro. She offers this perspective on the nation and the Cuban leader.

Q. Is Fidel Castro a vigorous 75 year old?

A. Compared with many people his age, Castro has incredible stamina. He hardly ever sleeps. He works around the clock. He makes appearances every day and often makes speeches that are hours in length.

But he is beginning to show his age. He looks tired more often. Back in June, he had a fainting spell that probably surprised Fidel Castro more than anyone else. But he doesn't seem to want to slow down the pace at all despite the fact that he was warned by his aides to take it slower.

Q. Has he ever given indication that he is willing to retire?

A. No. He has said a soldier never leaves his post during the height of a battle. That's his way of saying he won't quit. He says it is not that he is in love with power. He says he would rather have free time to write. But he says the situation with the United States requires him to lead.

Q. Who will be his successor?

A. Cuba's defense minister, his brother Raoul Castro, is the designated successor. But he is only five years younger than Fidel Castro.

Q. Does Castro believe Cuba will change once he is gone?

A. He says everything is going to stay the same because younger generations will keep the flame of revolution alive. He keeps trying to rekindle revolutionary fervor. There are weekly marches and meetings. There is a constant deluge of revolutionary rhetoric.

Cuba has changed. It has had to. Having opened up to tourism -- a necessary evil to government -- has allowed the economy to stay afloat. But its a double-edged sword. Cubans now can see how others live, what they have and how they act and think. It has created an apartheid here. Foreigners can do things Cubans can't. That goes against the idea of a revolutionary, classless society. It infuriates Cubans.

Q. Is there a cult of personality around Castro?

A. Yes and no. People still see him as revolutionary who has stood up to the Americans and survived. He has lasted through 10 U.S. administrations. His persona is bigger than life, but because people admire Castro doesn't mean they admire Cuba. Things are not getting better fast enough for Cubans. Many governments who once praised Castro are getting tired of him.

Q. China is redefining Communism. Has Castro redefined Communism in Cuba?

A. They have redefined as little as possible. They make changes with great resistance and change as little as necessary. Cuba has had to make some changes. There is no more socialist bloc for Cuba to trade with, so they have to be part of a capitalist game they don't believe in. In response, they have established a dual system, capitalism for the foreigners and socialism for the Cubans.