Let us see how many exiles decide to go back.

One overthrew a democratically elected government in a coup based on foreign powers political interests, and implemented a regime of terror and oppression, resulting in crimes against humanity being levelled against him. The other was Fidel Castro, who's small insurrection, turned into a full scale popular revolution against a corrupt regime, that served the interests of foreign interests over those of the people.

Now I'm not going to say Castro is a hero, or should be held up as a shining icon - The repression and suppression of freedoms after the bay of pigs is however somewhat understandable - Plus many of those in the initial executions had committed serious crimes in trying to maintain the Bastista regime.

There are many failings and crimes of the Castro regime that cannot be overlooked. Political repression, suppression of personal freedoms, that especially after the mid 80s and to more recent times were no longer really necessary for security. Of course we should also remember that from the 60s-80s the US government were actively trying to other throw the Cuban regime including the support of terrorists such as Carillies and Bosch (almost certainly guilty of involvement the bombing of Flight 455) - as well as providing CIA and state support for anti-Castro regime terrorism by Cuban exiles - Not to mention a number of failed assassination attempts.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

One of my greatest criticisms as well, is that the leadership enjoyed so much greater privillage than that of the people (the mistress I don't care about, and the properties liberated after the revolution I don't care about either).

Its worth remembering that a lot of the properties were liberated after the revolution, along with a lot of the state infrastructure, but the ownership of overseas properties etc is a failing, as is the deception of the people.

Obviously there is a bias in the story - but there is also truth.

Of course he lived a high life, but then also delivered great achievements to Cuba and its people, compared to the previous regime (who lead the high life and left the people starved, illiterate, uneducated and massively exploited in a US playground for the wealthy - and US organised crime).

I think anyone who sees Castro as somekind of perfect icon of socialism or a hero of the people is as misguided as those who just see him as another murderous junta with a different colour flag.

The utilisation of the Party as the new class structure represents the common failing seen in Socialist revolutions.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

Castro was an enemy of the West and since I'm of the West, that's all I'm bothered about. To discuss his pros and cons is beside the point.
Should we consider the virtues of Hitler or Stalin while we are at it? Maybe Osama Bin Laden?

I'm sure they were all a bundle of laughs at the weekend.

No, but it doesn't exclude them either.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

Once again, the actions of the West are also rather beside the point. We can discuss Castro in an academic sense but in the end, the US saw him, and Communism in general, as a threat to Western ambitions and security. Their interests are largely Britain's. There just isn't room for sentiment.
I would argue that we should have forged an alliance with Germany during WW2 to defeat Russia, but that is
my opinion and does not mean that Hitler was not a loon. None of us know what Castro was like as a man and I for one don't care.