Donald Trump's reaction to the death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has gotten a great deal of attention for its simplicity and sentiment.
Fidel Castro is dead!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1480165691.0
Getting less attention is the fawning over a man responsible for so many deaths, and a complete totalitarian control over his countrymen and women. In the island country, for example, it was illegal to own or ride in a boat.
Back in 2005, the Wall Street Journal profiled The Cuba Archive Project which attempted to count the victims of the Castro regime. The count at that time was just over 9,000. That was over 10 years ago. The entire article outlines horrific practices that Castro and his brother, Raul, oversaw, but here's a bit:
Cuba Archive finds that some 5,600 Cubans have died in front of firing squads and another 1,200 in "extrajudicial assassinations." Che Guevara was a gleeful executioner at the infamous La Cabana Fortress in 1959 where, under his orders, at least 151 Cubans were lined up and shot. Children have not been spared. Of the 94 minors whose deaths have been documented by Cuba Archive, 22 died by firing squad and 32 in extrajudicial assassinations.
So how did some of the esteemed world leaders and journalists react to the death of Castro on Saturday? See for yourself:
Folks, #FidelCastro was so complex that he could mean something to 20 different people and they would all be right.… https://t.co/3AJsGwyeJD— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin)1480187046.0
"He has been a larger-than-life figure who inspired a revolutionary movement all over the world" https://t.co/QShaJMCfAk— Al Jazeera News (@Al Jazeera News)1480170666.0
Whoever this anchor is on CNN literally just compared Fidel Castro to Nelson Mandela— Mike Conti (@Mike Conti)1480138466.0
Jimmy Carter on the death of Fidel Castro: https://t.co/JMV524xDO2— Greg Bluestein (@Greg Bluestein)1480165034.0
Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.— Narendra Modi (@Narendra Modi)1480143604.0
Fidel Castro was a friend of Africa and great revolutionary who put his ideas to practice for the betterment of his people. May his soul RIP— Goodluck E. Jonathan (@Goodluck E. Jonathan)1480183215.0
#BREAKING: #FidelCastro is a great figure of our times. History and people will remember him: Chinese President… https://t.co/y9jyCEMc8q— China Xinhua News (@China Xinhua News)1480168785.0