RIP Fidel Castro

RIP Fidel Castro, a far more nuanced man than his obituaries indicate. The most important Latin American leader since Simon Bolivar. Yes he violated the rights of many of his people, usurped vast swaths of private property, killed, trampled on freedoms and brought us all to the brink of nuclear war.

Still, he was a huge hero to many others in Cuba and around the world. The 2d half of the 20th Century's most successful revolutionary, he stuck it in the eyes of 11 American presidents, and basically led Cuba's stand vs the Western World.

Plus, he was pleasant and charming to a kid reporter from New York.