Posted on 09/22/2007 5:13:44 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
The highly anticipated book on Fidel Castro from one of the preeminent authorities on Cuban and Miami politics and CBS' correspondent on Castro, Ann Louise Bardach, WITHOUT FIDEL: The Death of Castro and Other Tales (Scribner) confirms for first time that the Cuban leader is terminally ill and dying -- yet determined to outlive the Bush presidency.
An excerpt of the book reveals: "A few weeks after Fidel Castro's surgery, his son, Antonio Castro, an orthopedic surgeon and the doctor for Cuba's national baseball team, was more forthcoming with some of his foreign counterparts at an international baseball event. Asked solicitously about his father's health, the amiable Antonio shook his head sadly, and said: 'Lo que el Viejo tiene -- es fulminante.' or 'What my old man has -- is insurmountable.'"
Bardach will examine the last, secretive months of the Cuban leader, based on sources with access to Castro's private hospital suite.
Bardach thoroughly debunks the PerezHilton "Fidel is Dead" rumor that was picked up by a credulous mainstream media last month. "As the rumors begat rumors, reaching critical mass by day's end on August 24th, " she writes, "Castro was, in fact, having a reasonably comfortable day and was watching his favorite show on television -- a news program of Cuban one-party punditry, La Mesa Redonda [The Roundtable]".
"It hardly required rocket science to ascertain that the rumor was bogus. For one thing, Ricardo Alarcon, Cuba's US policy player -- went, and stayed on, vacation. At the same time, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, flew off to Brazil to attend a Summit and soon after, skipped off to Iran. Moreover, Raul Castro had made a secretive trip to Italy, a crucial partner in Cuban tourism, in which he toured a state-of-the-art resort and golf course in Tuscany.
Clearly, the top three men in the Cuban political firmament would never have ventured outside of Havana had Castro inched closer to death's door. By 9 p.m. on August 24th, Miami radio and television's rumor frenzy had devolved into a no-news meltdown. One more time it was achingly clear to all that Fidel Castro Was Not Dead -- Yet Again."
The book concludes with the succession of his brother, Raul, as commander-in-chief whose reign began on July 27th, 2006. Bardach makes the case that Raul may well be the best -- and only -- man to lead Cuba out of its 47 year cocoon of isolation and hostility towards its northern superpower.
Developing...
That's easy, just rerun the tape until Jan. 21, 2008.
I didn’t know Castro had a son, never heard of him before.
Likewise. Which leads to the next question: Why didn't Castro hand the role of el Presidente to his brother and not to his own son?
I heard he has thousands of sons.
Fidel, wake up—it’s time for your dirt nap.
At least six sons - Fidelito by his first wife; five known sons and daughter Alina by other women.
Unless that's not what Bush is, I suppose....
whoopie! such a lofty goal. Pretty sad when the most important thing to do that a "turd world" communist dictator can think of is to cling to life long enough to see another American election cycle. Boy, will he be pissed when Republicans win again. That will be his last thought when his ticker beats it's last beat.
The result of a brutal rape no doubt. Cuba's next psycho-pathetic dictator no doubt. Maybe he'll be nice enough to buy a new fleet of 1964 pontiac strato-chiefs to replace those 1957 chevy's before he locks down the country for another 50 years.
It will be very revealing who mourns and/or attends his funeral. I’d be surprised if the liberal media reports this information.
Bawbwa Wahwahs will be crying her widdle eyes out.
Fortunately they have that wonderful health care system.
I wish the SOB dies on Jan 20th 2009, hopefully a slow agonizing death racked in extreme pain.
Big words!
Castro appointed himself Leader for Life (from the safe end of a machine gun).
Our leaders are elected (for a maximum of 2 terms)
Perhaps the son is the "Tommy Boy" of Cuba?
My first thought, also! Maybe that's just a marker for how LONG he wants to live, but I don't think his desired lifespan has anything to do with the President, other than a time goal.
I woulnd’t doubt if he were dead already. They wouldn’t tell us.
When Catro does die, maybe they will have him embalmed or stuffed and put on display, like Lenin. We will have to see how that works in a hot, humid, tropical country.
Castro must believe a Leftist will get elected in 2008, remove the embargo against Cuba and VINDICATE this murderous and ruinous old Communist bastard...
Yeah, well, GOD will make the decision when Castro dies, if it’s a natural death. Old Fidel won’t have a darn thing to say about it.
5.56mm
True. It’s ironic that Castro would owe thanks to President Bush for delaying his arrival in hell, if he did have control over his natural demise.
EXECUTIONER: "The prisoner wishes to say a word."
WALLACE: "F....fff...fff.."
LONGSHANKS, himself clinging to life, waits to hear the last words of WALLACE.
WALLACE: "Fff..ff...FREEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!"
LONGSHANKS dies.
Good Lord...I guess that would be OK as long as we don’t have to see or smell him. What is it with dictators anyway? Why are they like they are? Power, Power, Power with all the wealth they can get while their citizens have nothing and risk their lives to get away.
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