and what cancu to now that he's gone? some thoughts from historian douglas brinkly. >> what a large shadow fidel castro cast over our lives. if castro were cartoon character, he'd be like a cat with nine lives. writer norman mailer once told me that american presidents had castro-entry because theyed that to relinquish power every four or eight years while castro dictators have been fashional in latin america but somehow castro was different than the tyrannical rest. with a wiry beard and a fierce gaze, always clad in olive drab military fatigues he exuded a change bearing. although cuba is an island nation of only 11 million, castro's global stature never waivered. everyone even his enemies wanted to meet the legend in peace price winning novelist, author of "100 years of solitude" once swooned that castro was born to win. even nelson man mandela once proudly thoueded, long live the cuban revolution. lone living comrade fidel castro. to the u.s. government, however, castro was always a pariah. that is until recently. u.s