Posted on 08/07/2006 11:12:54 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Cubans have no idea whether dictator Fidel Castro is lying at death's door or sitting up and watching reruns of "Jeopardy."
The health of the country's leader is a state secret. Even President Bush yesterday said he had no idea what the prognosis is for the ailing Mr. Castro.
The situation is reminiscent of the secrecy surrounding the death of Josef Stalin in 1953. The only clue for Russians that the iron-fisted Soviet dictator had died was when radio stations started playing gloomy music and bells tolled.
"There is a certain parallel between the Kremlin and Cuba," said award-winning Stalin biographer Robert Conquest.
After handing over power to his younger brother, Raul, Fidel Castro has disappeared from the radar, leaving both the people of the communist island and Cuban exiles in the United States to wonder what has become of the man who has ruled Cuba for more than four decades.
"Nobody knows anything," said Tamara Lush, a Miami-based staff writer for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times. "I was just at a meeting with a Cuban-American group, and every five minutes somebody's cell would ring. 'Do you know anything?' They want to pop the cork on the champagne."
Cuba's state-run press is not saying much. First, the 79-year-old Mr. Castro was said to have an intestinal ailment, brought on by stress. After surgery, said to be "complicated" and "important," there was radio silence. Where and when the surgery took place was not known, nor the name of the doctor. Mr. Castro is said to be recovering in an undisclosed location.
"Especially with authoritarian leaders, there is great effort to conceal any illness," said Jerrold Post, a George Washington University professor who has written extensively on totalitarianism.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
72 Helen Thomas clones. He's gonna die more times than Arafat.
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
Neither makes much difference to them either.
Communist dictator "A" or Communist dictator "B" Their lives won't change much.
72 of Helen Thomas?????
NO photos PLEEEEEEASE!!!!!
There was another article posted here (I'm to lazy to search right now) that identified the special hospital where Castro had the surgery. This hospital is in an exclusive neighborhood and is only for high government officials.
One hopes there are pro-democracy dissidents in Castro's officer corps. It would be nice to see Cuba experience a coup that leads to elections, a constitutional convention, and more elections.
My worry is that Chavez is deeply involved in negotiations with Castro's top brass to secure Cuba against pro-American, or pro-Democracy factions popping up and taking control.
I wonder if the time they're buying is being used to get together the necessary "supplies" to bribe and intimidate the populace. Food and medicine and a week long celebration of Castro's life, followed by secret police cleaning out of dissidents.
I`d say he is still living and doing well. If he were dead or dying, the Hollywood liberal elitists would be walking around red faced hysterically sobbing planning their 10 gazillion tributes.
My understanding is rules refer to "BEAUTIFUL women". You are in clear contravention of same. I feel a suspension coming on...
Who says she's not a beauty? She must be since all the virgins in Muslim heaven look like her.
Thank the Lord I'm a Christian!!!
The longer he remains out of the public eye, even if it's just to go on Cuban TV long enough to say "I'm ok", the more people like Hugo Chavez (protests too much) claiming that Castro will resume his duties soon, and the longer Raul stays out of the public eye, the more speculation is fueled.
I think Castro croaked and they are preparing a body double to fill in for him while Raul tries to figure out how to "bury" his brother. IMO, when the body double is ready, he will make limited appearances as Castro using the excuse that he is still "weak" from his illness. When they are ready, the body double of Fidel will "die" and have a great state funeral.
The biggest concern that Raul has at the present is how to haandle the Cuban-Americans waiting anxiously until they can return to their homeland and reclaim Cuba as a free nation from the communists.
Amen, brother.
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