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Prospects for Tuesday, 19 February

  • Newsnight
  • 19 Feb 08, 10:17 AM

Today's programme producer is Dan Kelly - here is his early email to the production team.

Morning all,

Fidel Castro has finally stepped down as President of Cuba, 49 years after the Cuban Revolution. It's a great opportunity to discuss his legacy on Cuba, the Cold War, Latin America and revolutionaries (and would-be revolutionaries) across the world. Who should we have on to discuss this? Lots of suggestions please.

The Pakistan elections have delivered a significant blow to President Musharraf. The PPP of late PM Benazir Bhutto and the PML-N led by Nawaz Sharif, now share more than half the seats, though all the results are not yet in. So what happens next? Should Musharraf fear impeachment? Mark Urban is on the story, do you have any suggestions for guests?

Northern Rock. I've got a few thoughts on how we could push this on today, but what do you think, or should we even do it at all?

And, finally, we'll have Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero live in the studio. She's brilliant at improvisation and she'll play out on a piece based on a viewer's suggestion. We need to choreograph this very carefully.

Dan


Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 02:59 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • neil robertson wrote:

Why not interview the gardener Monty Don about the legacy of Castro? His recent programme about gardening in Cuba was full of praise and insight.

  • 2.
  • At 05:43 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • Paul Clifford wrote:

George Galloway in the studio to discuss all your points please Dan.

  • 3.
  • At 05:45 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • Paul Clifford wrote:

George Galloway in the studio to discuss all your points please Dan.

As an additional bonus, I understand he can also perform via the medium of dance for your pianist.

  • 4.
  • At 05:50 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • Leighton McKibbin wrote:

Can someone on the programme ask any expert or ally of Bush and Brown this question please...

How come Bush calls for Castro to step down and push for democracy in Cuba, but supports the dictators in China, Pakistan and North Korea who have WORSE human rights records than Cuba??

in regards to the negative criticism to cuba in todays news following castro's retirement. There just so happens to be a cuban speaking tour taking place in the UK this week. why don't you interview one of the speakers (one of them is Che's deputy) about the true circumstances in cuba. is it really such a bad place to live?
and why not urge others to attend one of these events to get the truth for themselves! see

  • 6.
  • At 06:36 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • Nick Thornsby wrote:

In addition to comment 2, perhaps gabriela could do a george galloway inspired piece!! Could be a little unpleasant to listen to...

  • 7.
  • At 06:52 PM on 19 Feb 2008,
  • Jeanette Eccles NW London wrote:

Why it should be George Galloway be on the programme to talk about Fidel
As long as he gets treated fairly.

  • 8.
  • At 12:47 AM on 20 Feb 2008,
  • michaela smith wrote:

Noticed this possibility slightly after the event. You should have had Jimmy Carter, who served as 'peace broker' in 2002 at precisely the time of Bush's announcement of the list of rogue states. I was on the plane to Cuba with him. The other celeb on the plane was the producer of Manic Attack who went to investigate whether or not to go and live there. Interesting discussion about his reasons for deciding for or against it?

  • 9.
  • At 11:59 AM on 20 Feb 2008,
  • Mansoor wrote:

The present standings of different parties in these elections show very alarming picture. This is a great moment for PPP and PML N leaders and their supporters who have almost swept the main seats and made their chances bright to form a strong coalition. However, when we see the position of MQM it seems highly vulnerable to the coming problems or one can say the after math of support rendered to Pres. Musharraf. A compound threat from the strong coalition of PPP and PML N strongly exists, besides being so successfull in present elections . Not to forget a few months back in APDM conference in UK, PPP and PML N were unanimous on issue of not making any alliance with MQM in future no matter what happens. If they stick onto their position, which is most likely to be as mentioned above, MQM will find itself in a no man’s land. I can smell a revenging action from PPP and PML N because, during the era of power of both these parties, MQM faced the horrible times. God Bless the people of Karachi

If Altaf Hussain had broken the knots with PML Q much before the wrapping up of previous assembly they would have been saved from the allegations of being involved hand to hand with Q League on the issue of high rising prises of Flour, Ghee and Edible Oil etc., Power & Gas crisis and anarchy due to continuous bomb blasts plus the operation in northern. All these issues have compounded the anger of those who see MQM as an ugly duckling.

I must say, Altaf Bhai should show some diplomacy and try to calm the tensions with the winners of elections otherwise he must be ready to face a new Naseerullah Babar may be more worse and more threatening than the previous.

  • 10.
  • At 04:58 PM on 20 Feb 2008,
  • Lucia wrote:

Hi
Excellent debate about the retirement of Fidel with an interesting analysis of his legacy.
I would like to add that that Cuban poet enlightened even more the debate and Mr Paxman was, again, superb!

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