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Fidel Castro temporarily handed over the presidency to his brother Raúl while he undergoes surgery. Reportedly, no one in Cuba seems to think he will die yet (80th birthday celebration postponed until December) but the international media is awash with speculations he might croak.

I went to a hardware store a few hours ago. The TV was on and NY1 local television was interviewing president of the Cuban parliament Ricardo Alarcón about the $80 million plan to promote democracy in Cuba the US government announced three weeks ago. “Why is the United States always making plans for other countries?” asked Alarcón. “Wasn’t Vietnam enough? Wasn’t Afghanistan or Iraq enough? The United States is not the owner of the world.”

As unhappy as some Cubans are about the political situation, I have yet to meet anyone in Cuba who think the United States holds the solution to their problems. More common (if unlikely) were fears that the US would somehow turn Havana into the next Baghdad when Castro dies.

Considering the beleaguered history between these two countries, it’s simply impossible to believe the US truly has the best interests of Cubans at heart. Even the guy at the hardware store shook his head and muttered, “The US trades with China, Eastern Europe, with everyone. But they just let those people in Cuba suffer.”

Meanwhile the stupid news ticker on the building of the US Diplomatic Mission in Cuba broadcast a message in red letters today: ”All Cubans, including those under the dictatorship, can count on our help and support. We respect the wishes of all Cubans.”

Yeah, right.