I’m serious with this question. Granma and the other Cuban media organs have been devoting a lot of space to playing up dictator’s little brother, Raul, and there hasn’t been as much of the usual Fidel butt-kissing. No recent three-hour speeches in praise of the revolution, either. It seems like they’re trying to ease into a transition.
I haven’t seen much in the way of wild parties in Miami, though, and the Cuban grapevine being what it is I’d expect Miami Cubans to be the first to know if the old bastard kicked it.
I know it’s hard to get the straight dope, as it were, out of Cuba, but does anybody out there have any hard information?
I doubt it. Why would the Cuban government keep his death secret? It’s going to happen sooner or later and the guy is old. Might as well bite the bullet, announce his death when it happens, declare what you’re going to do from then on and cross your fingers.
I believe Castro is preparing to shift power to his brother, during his lifetime. Smarter to do it that way, rather than to create a power vacuum, so to speak. Of course, Castro is 80, while his “younger” brother is 75, so it’s more likely a borrowing of time to find a more long-term succesor.
Of course, one of the “benefits” of having state-controlled media is that a news story doesn’t get out unless the Powers That Be want it too. Still, I don’t think that they’d keep his death a secret, like the bad guys in that one Woody Allen movie did. They might be hiding the fact that Fidel is on death’s doorstep, however.
I think Diceman and twickster’s posts are related. I think Fidel has died, but the Powers That Be in Cuba have been playing our deathpool and didn’t pick him, so they’re going to suppress news of his death until next year.
I’ve been wondering this same thing. Last week (I think) the Bush administration published something about plans for assisting Cuba after Fidel is dead, and of all things, Fidel didn’t respond. I’ve seen quotes from others in the government there, as well as from Chavez in Venezuela declaring Castro is healthy as a boy and will live to be 100!! (I have access to translated foreign news at work) But neither Fidel nor Raul responded to the report.
I did read some speculation that maybe Raul’s wife died, but that still doesn’t explain the silence.
I can’t help but think that maybe he’s not such a healthy boy… And I’ve read where Raul is not the most hale and hearty of men, and an alcoholic to boot. Methinks a change is in the air for the island to our south.
Another vote for the hot handoff of power. Too bad, that. There are few personalities on the world stage as enigmatic, charismatic and kooky as Fidel. If you can overlook the brutality, torture and human rights offences he’s really quite a guy.
