Castro,+Raul

__RULE Fear__

 * appointed Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, October 1959
 * was Fidel's brother and second
 * oversaw himself execution of enemies, January 1959
 * known to have carried intermittent purges
 * Participated in M-26. Served 22 months in prison.
 * highest ranking Cuban general

Committed socialist even when in school. Member of Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Second Secretary of its Politburo since its formation in October 1965. Met Ernesto "Ché" Guevara during his exile in Mexico. Brought him into Fidel's circle of revolutionaries.

Raul Castro was appointed the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in October 1959. He is second in power in Cuba, to his brother Fidel. Raul Castro is known to have influence on his brothers agriculture and economic policy. Particularly his implementation of agriculture market reforms which helped increase the food supply in the early '90s.Because of health problems, Fidel Castro had decided to intrust the duties of the President of the Council State of Cuba over to Raul Castro. After the triumph of the Revolution in January 1959, Raúl personally supervised the execution of over one hundred police and military officials and Batistiano soldiers. Raúl is known to have carried intermittent purges of the communist officials ever since, including the removal of party intellectuals with "capitalist ideas" as recently as 1996. He is also responsible for the persecution of homosexuals.