# Is Fidel Castro dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 17, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855 "2006-07-17T14:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/1 "2006-07-17T14:40:03Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/2 "2006-07-17T14:44:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/3 "2006-07-17T14:50:58Z")
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. [Some South Florida coverage.](http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-acubaplan09jul10,0,7057468.story) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/4 "2006-07-17T16:40:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/5 "2006-07-17T16:54:02Z")
I’ve got him in the death pool. I think that means he’s fine and is good until at least '07. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/6 "2006-07-17T19:20:03Z")
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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/7 "2006-07-17T20:12:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/8 "2006-07-17T20:48:18Z")
Little know fact… Cuban money says _“In Fidel We Trust”_ on it. Okay, not really. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/9 "2006-07-17T22:57:11Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/10 "2006-07-18T11:04:19Z")
Just popping in to say there’s no point asking me. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/11 "2006-07-18T14:56:21Z")
Okay, that was clever. So what’s the conensus? Dead, or just in a coma? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/12 "2006-07-18T15:01:44Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > So what’s the conensus? Dead, or just in a coma? Pining for the fjords. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/13 "2006-07-18T19:59:21Z")
Ex-dictator, pushing up the daises, joining the choir invisible. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/14 "2006-07-18T21:51:08Z")
He’s only resting… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/15 "2006-07-19T03:54:15Z")
He’s bloomin’ demised! ---
**Author:** ![Greebo\_Ogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19adc/32.png) [@Greebo\_Ogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greebo_Ogg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/16 "2006-07-19T10:21:40Z")
He is dead… Since 1972… CIA Alien-Human Hybrid Assassin’s ice bullet to the head with a sonic gun… The 1920’s Style Deathray was in the shop. And now that I have told you, I will have to hunt you all down to silence you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/17 "2006-07-19T13:22:44Z")
You know, the “ice bullet from a sonic gun” doesn’t sound half retarded compared to the crap that the Contrary to Intelligence Agency actually tried. Remember the exploding cigars and the poisoned wetsuit? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/18 "2006-07-19T13:41:16Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Little know fact… > > Cuban money says _“In Fidel We Trust”_ on it. > > Okay, not really. No, it’s true! My Granma told me. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/19 "2006-07-20T02:17:12Z")
No, but Generalismo Franco is. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855/20 "2006-07-20T02:27:26Z")
[Learn the Truth-- IF YOU DARE!!!](http://imdb.com/title/tt0105639/) > [@](#): > > [regarding the longevity of Fidel Castro] > > Narrator: _After thirty-three failed assassination attempts, entailing two thousand people, and fifty million dollars; they are horrified to realize that you can’t kill something that isn’t alive._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-fidel-castro-dead/364855.md?page=2)