Amid rumors, Castro pens political essay without addressing his health

[Robbien]

Source: International Herald Tribune

HAVANA: Fidel Castro signed a lengthy essay published Sunday saluting a Cuban political figure but giving no hint of how he is feeling, even amid rampant rumors of his demise.

The 81-year-old Castro has not been seen in public in over a year and has not even appeared in official photographs or video footage since tapping an interview with Cuban state television June 5. The lack of images has fueled speculation among the Cuban exile community in Miami and elsewhere that Castro might have died.

Officials in Havana have refused to speak about Castro's condition, but foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque told reporters in Brazil last week that "Fidel is doing very well and is disciplined in his recovery process." He insisted the gray-bearded revolutionary maintains "permanent" contact with top government officials.

Castro's essay, the latest in dozens of "Reflections of the Commander in Chief" columns he has published several times a week since late March, was signed Saturday evening and appeared in the Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde on Sunday.

. . .

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addressed speculation about the health of his close friend and ally on Saturday, saying "I'm not going to be clearing up rumors and more rumors every day. Every little while they say Fidel died."

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/26/news/CB-GEN-Cuba-Castro.php

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The right side of the web has been gleefully talking non-stop about Castro's demise for the last several days. Another one of their hopes dashed.

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. I Love the DUer who said he should "Come out on the Balcony"

Yeah, like a foreign head of state should change his plans every time Perez Hilton talks shit!

Fucking hilarious.

[David__77]

2. Exactly.

These rumors are basically constant in nature. And they've been going on for decades. Of course Castro will actually one day die. And there will be the inevitable celebrations among many Cuban exiles. But I do not think that his personal role is nearly so crucial politically as it once was. In the last several years, other figures have come forward to politically bolster the existing regime, including Hugo Chavez actually.

[hack89]

3. Has he ever been absent from public view for an extended period before?

I have no doubt that his health is poor - he is old and he had a serious condition. I doubt that he is dead though.

[Robbien]

5. Yes. About a dozen times and each time right wingers

start beating the bushes spreading rumors that Castro is dead. Then the wingers start shouting "show yourself" as if Castro was their servant.

Wingers believe that Cuba is theirs for the picking once Castro is dead. Cuba is not a sovereign country to them. Just a resource which belongs to the rich elite of the world and nasty ol' Castro is standing in the way.

[hack89]

6. It will be interesting just how orderly the transition is

Are there any young Cuban leaders that have been clearly identified as taking the torch from Castro's generation? Succession is always hard to predict with single party governments with long lived leaders.

[Robbien]

7. The transition has already happened

Castro's brother is healthy and can rule for another decade or two.

Other than his brother, there is a whole government there where there are many great potential federal and local leaders who will continue the current development of Cuba.

The short sightedness of the right wingers who think there is only one person ruling Cuba is so idiotic. It is a country with a country's entire political structure. It does not need the Cuban expats and right wingers in the US to salivate in anticipation of grabbing a country without a leader.

[hack89]

9. Do you think they will move towards a

multi-party system?

[Robbien]

11. No I don't. For self preservation reasons.

Basing that opinion on the way the US is working to weaken Chavez is through funding of opposition parties. That is how the US handles all of Latin America states. Put a US puppet candidate in as US taxpayer well funded opposition and rule through the puppet. It is our government's plan for Cuba.

Cuba is fully aware of how the US operates. Until the US drops the embargo and all sanctions and treats Cuba as a sovereign nation, Cuba has to be very careful.

[Judi Lynn]

10. At some point people are going to get over wanting to control Cuba, for sure.

They just don't grasp how witlessly they've been programmed to believe ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE should be under the thumb of the American right-wing politicians, and live to serve this country.

They've been after Cuba, hard on its ass since the 1800's. It's about time for them ALL to pull back and leave Cuba the hell alone.

Embarrassing to see bullying has become so deeply engrained in so many unthinking Americans who just won't take the time to do any research or any thinking themselves.

American right-wing Presidents obsess over that country, and their idiot followers follow along as if they think they have inherited the right to dominate the island, which should be standing by, awaiting their orders, just as in the days American navy ships went there for R & R, the Mafia ran all the hotels and gambling, Cuba was known as the "whorehouse of the Caribbean," and American supported, death-squad loving Fulgencio ruled the island both as President directly two times, and from behind a series of front men, puppet Presidents. At some point, Cubans didn't WANT their young people being picked up, tortured to death, thrown out of cars, or hung from lamppoles, and decided they'd try to live without these U.S.-serving monsters.

Latin America has just about had ENOUGH of that! With any luck at all, and a bit of justice, finally, they're going to have it some day.

[Judi Lynn]

8. DU'ers who have kept an eye on Cuba over the years are aware that American Congressmen

have met with a variety of Cuban officials on their trips to Cuba. They never go there with a lot of fanfare, but people who watch for the news haven't had any trouble keeping up.

One person who has appeared in articles the American corporate media has deigned to show TONS of times is Ricardo Alarcón, the head of the Cuban National Assembly. He's the third most "powerful" leader, and has served previously as the head of the Cuban delegation to the United Nations. He speaks English very, very well, and has done interviews on American programs. He meets with American officials who go to Cuba from time to time. He's around 67.



The black and white photo shows Alarcón with American consultant, Kirby Jones.



Felipe Pérez Roque, below, is Cuba's foreign minister, around 41.



Carlos Lage Dávila, below, is Cuba's Vice President. He's around 54.



There are many, MANY more. Consider studying your own corporate media if you wonder why more isn't known about them in the United States. These people are no mystery in other countries.

[dailykoff]

4. "Every little while they say Fidel died."

With any luck Fidel will live to bury the pimps who spread this crap.

[struggle4progress]

12. Link to Spanish text of the essay

Chibas al cumplirse 100 años de su natalicio
Fidel Castro Ruz
26 Agosto 2007, 06:45 PM
http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=15&t=51906

[IndianaGreen]

15. Fidel was a pallbearer and an honour guard at Eddie Chibás' funeral

Eddie Chibás was the charismatic leader of the Orthodox Party. He shot himself during a radio broadcast in the middle of an anti-corruption rant. Cynics say that Chibás pulled the stunt thinking that by wounding himself passions would rise in his favour. The fool did not take into consideration that the bullet would pierce his liver. Chibás bled to death.

Fidel was one of the leaders of the Orthodox Youth, their version of College Democrats or Communist Youth (I am using that as an analogy, the Orthodox Party was anti-Communist). Fidel was a pallbearer and an honour guard at Eddie Chibás' funeral. In his essay, Fidel says that he thought about leading a march to the Presidential Palace to take power in a coup. This predated the Batista regime!

Fidel says, and many others agree, that were it not for Eddie Chibás's death, Batista would have never staged a coup. Chibás could mobilize tens of thousands on his mere word.

Had Chibás lived, no Batista coup, Fidel would have stayed married to the Balart woman (related to GOP's Lincoln Diaz Balart), Fidel would have never met Che, there would not have been a Cuban revolution (although a class conflict was inevitable), and Blas Roca would have been Cuba's most famous communist.

[David in Canada]

13. Fidel is Likely Near Death...

I admire Fidel Castro but the reality is that he is likely very close to death.

However, the wingnuts won't win. There will be a smooth transition in Cuba. I think the posts of President and Premier, currently held concurrently by Fidel, might very well be given to two different people.

I think that Raul Castro will become president (formally President of the Council of State) and the extremely intelligent technocrat/economist Carlos Lage will become Premier (formally President of the Council of Ministers). Lage will likely handle the day to day minutiae of government with Raul taking a more general role.

Just my take on things...

[IndianaGreen]

16. I think Raul would rather stay as chief of armed forces

Cuba will hold elections, and either Lage or Alarcon will take the Presidency.

[nick303]

14. nt

A reporter is interviewing Castro. "What was life like before you took power?", the reporter asked.

Castro says, "Well, it was as though our nation was standing on the edge of a cliff. With the revolution, we took a giant step forward!"