WASHINGTON - The government believes Fidel Castro's health is deteriorating and that the Cuban dictator is unlikely to live through 2007. Posted on 11/12/2006 2:58:37 AM PST by LibWhacker
WASHINGTON - The government believes Fidel Castro's health is deteriorating and that the Cuban dictator is unlikely to live through 2007.
That dire view was reinforced last week when Cuba's foreign minister backed away from his prediction the ailing Castro would return to power by early December. "It's a subject on which I don't want to speculate," Felipe Perez Roque told The Associated Press in Havana.
U.S. government officials say there is still some mystery about Castro's diagnosis, his treatment and how he is responding. But these officials believe the 80-year-old leader has cancer of the stomach, colon or pancreas.
He was seen weakened and thinner in official state photos released late last month, and it is considered unlikely that he will return to power or survive through the end of next year, said the U.S. government and defense officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the politically sensitive topic.
With chemotherapy, Castro may live up to 18 months, said the defense official. Without it, expected survival would drop to three months to eight months.
American officials will not talk publicly about how they glean clues to Castro's health. But U.S. spy agencies include physicians who study pictures, video, public statements and other information coming out of Cuba.
A planned celebration of Castro's 80th birthday next month is expected to draw international attention. The Cuban leader had planned to attend the public event, which already had been postponed once from his Aug. 13 birthday.
Good.
Die Castro.
Poor "DUmmies" can't win 'em all.
Too bad he's likely to live through 2006.
May Satan greet him warmly and soon.
Let's see, I have beeen hearing this for...oh....20 years? Eventually these experts WILL be right.
Why the F.Castro on the warmups? Doesn't the sign over his head with the arrow pointing down that says "el presidente" work anymore?
I know a family of Cubans, they are all now naturalized US citizens. They have kept 2 bottles of prerevolution rum. These bottles are unopened and sealed tight, they even went so far as to put wax over the top. When they get confirmed news of Carto's death they intend to use those bottles to celebrate. I hope to get a shot myself.
nice! that rum should taste sooooo sweeeeet! and even if it's gone bad over these decades, it'll still taste sweeeet! =)
I doubt if 151 proof rum that is sealed can go bad.
I hope his death is a slow and painful one.
wonder if the lib/dems will plan a funeral similar to Regan's or Wellstones....wait until the praise starts coming in during the eulogies.....they all will got to cuba to praise him and not to bury him or his f'd up ideals!!
Well, we can only hope the murdering communistic POS doesn't get chemo, huh?
But, since he is the all-supremo dictator, all resources will be diverted to him, 'cause, after all, such a humanitarian and hero of the people must be kept healthy, right?
My heart is pumping piss for him. I havent been this upset since Arafat died.
Isn't someone going to post the big picture of Dr. McCoy? It's one of my favorites.
A post yesterday cited a report claiming the bearded bozo was getting better,doing handstands and jumping jacks and ready to get back to the office.
Castro's health reminds me of Chevy Chase's old Saturday Night Live running joke at the end of weekend update: "And Francisco Franco (Castro's fellow Galician) is still dead."
Senator Thomas Hart Benton said, "When God lays his hands on a man, I take them off."
Soon Castro will be haranging Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Amin in Hell. You're next, Raul.
Well THAT is a bit of good news to start my
Sunday morning.
Let's hope he is as miserable as he can be
as he exits Stage LEFT.
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