Does Reuters know something we don’t?
Hmmmm.
Reuters: 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Peaceful succession under way in Cuba: official
Cuba has set in motion a peaceful political succession, dashing U.S. government expectations of chaos following Fidel Castro's hand-over of power to his brother, a leading Cuban intellectual and government member, Roberto Fernandez Retamar, said on Monday.
"They (the U.S. government) had not expected that a peaceful succession was possible. A peaceful succession has taken place in Cuba," Fernandez Retamar said at a news conference.
The writer and member of the Council of State was the first government official to say a succession under Raul Castro was in motion after Fidel Castro relinquished power a week ago following gastric surgery.
E morto, o e vivo?
(H/T Tim Bennett/TBinSTL)
Eleggua needs to find out more. His comment on the previous post and this article are sure signs that Fidel is dead.
I would think that whichever group stands to lose power would benefit from exposing the whole situation and causing some upheaval (read: massive chaos).
But I thought "officially" the relinquishing of power was only a temporary move while fidel recovered from his surgery? Has this changed since, oh I don't know, and hour ago?
Raul will not last long. He'll not be able to keep the robolution in power.
NO SUCESION, SI CAMBIO TOTAL HACIA LA DEMOCRACIA!!!
@Todopoderoso
Dead I don't know, just clear indications that he did not sign the declaration.
There is actually an unconfirmed (absolutely unconfirmed) rumour that Fidel is still alive but incapacitated and the die hard Fidelistas are pursuing Raul for treason.
Also recall that Moncada piece about Raul where is temporarily taking over because he thinks Fidel is dead.
This has been read the wrong way. It's actually an indication that Raul is trying to justify his forgery, but Fidel is still alive and has means to sanction Raul.
What do you expect from Reuters? They just got tagged for doctoring war photos in Lebanon to make the explosions look more gruesome....
oh the shame!
Was Fernandez Retamar in Cuba or outside?
Also, he is not a main character in the regime or anything like that. More like a second class guataca.
It sounds like a good news though.
Fake signature?? From a Reuters source???? Who took the photograph, Adnan Hajj??
Retures is up to its ears today on fakes and Photoshop stupidity and staged tragedy for its picture galleries.
Tell you, this death watch is turning out far more FUN than the actual event (which may be over of course). I wonder who's first to sell the movie rights to Oliver Stone. He's done such a splendid job with historical revisionism for such a long time .....
What else would you expect from the comemierdas? Oh yeah, fidel died last week, didn't you get the memo?
Ok so if it is the case that Fidel is only incapacitated and not dead can't Raul's actions be considered un golpe de estado? Wouldn't the opposition benefit from claiming that Raul is trying to take control from Fidel?
By fake signature I mean: Raul is responsible for the forgery.
Gigi,
You may have a good point about the movie rights. Castro's death may be just the publicity Hollywood needs to film the Motorcycle Diaries 2.
Hmmmm, I wonder what heathrob they can find to play a young Fidel.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060807/en_afp/cubacastroreturn_060807184310;_ylt=ApW8Uqj1ZSSleKRj1A563OdhxXsA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
todopoderoso,
If fidel were incapacitated, the power automatically goes to raul. His forgery on the statement would be business as usual for the tyranny.
If it were so he wouldn't need the signature and definitely not one made public at this time.
Raul is struggling for survival.
The only actor who can play fidel (and you kind of played him before would be....(click the link)
http://www.sillimancollege.org/downloads/SilliflicksMovieList/images/6655f.jpg
I just read that the Bush administration is changing Cuba immigration policy. Hasn't this been counterproductive in the past? Shouldn't all immigration from the island be halted, to foster discontent on the island and force the regime to deal with core issues. Once again, I'm going to say the Republicans are doing a shitty job handling this. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_cuba_1
And at the trial they would ask "How do you plead?"
And he would reply: "Guilty, with an explanation."
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
-Winston Churchill
Looks like the rumor mill is going.
Next we'll hear that fidels wife um uh Morgan Fairchild and his son er um eh Arnold Shwarzennegger yeah yeah thats the ticket are visiting at the hospital.
Come on guys the rumors have been baseless so far lets not get false hopes built up. I think the Churchill quote sums it up best.
Pototo, this is interesting though because of the spin Reuters put on it. Note the first paragraph. Something is going on.
I see it as they are saying that the temporary succession survived. Reuters is now reporting that castro will be back at the helm next week.
Looks like fidel has taken the power back from those he supposedly ceded it to. Party over for now.
I'm not posting street gossip here.
And you'd be amazed how much you can find out by calling people you don't know, but with interesting phone numbers.
That's what we're doing right now. Very small pieces of a puzzle. People afraid to show their colors.
How does this new AP report figure in?
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=nation_world&id=4437891
(8/07/06 - HAVANA, CUBA) - Cuba's vice president and Venezuela's leader gave optimistic assessments of Fidel Castro's health, saying the Cuban president was recovering quickly from intestinal surgery and could be expected back at work within a few weeks.
Yeah really. Recovering quickly but not being able to talk to his people?
And why are you not in Havana, Hugo?
Doesn't your sick but recovering friend deserve a few flowers?
"Tenemos informes fidedignos de tu franca y notable recuperación" (Chavez)
Couldn't call Fidel, could ya, Hugo?
I'm sorry about my sudden obsession with all this, but I feel like I'm living through what will be seen as a truly major moment in history. Thanks to all of you for tolerating me. I feel like I'm sticking my nose into a private family event.
Tim
its only a private family event if you support castro so welcome home
TBinSTL,
I agree -- this is a major moment that is practically going un-noticed by the MSM (I do have a small dog in the fight -- my wife is Venezuelan and no-chavez fan, and I think castro's death is going to hurt chavez in the long run. Also I live in Miami which is going to explode once castro's death is confirmed -- so it behooves all of us down here to keep up with the news). Just want to tahnk Val and everyone at Babalu for all the info.
I agree with George. If he's that well, eating and talking a lot, why doesn't he write a letter to his people? Why not a radio message? God only knows what's occuring there. Could this all be a lie?
Why will the U.S. will eventually do something? OIL! - http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2006/08/01/castro-cuba-oil_cx_pm_0802notes.html?boxes=custom
I believe that castro's timing is uncanny with the release of CACA II. This could be all just a game. Come on now, those of us who are Cuban, are we capable of keeping a secret of this magnitude for this long? somos chismosos. I don't buy it as I am now taking the position of pessimist as I cannot handle another letdown. he's alive till he's patted in the face with a spade.
Look, let me make my point and then you guys can dissect it if you want: if everything is rosy and nice, why the silence? Especially from Raul who was officially made the temporary President. His silence is more telling that fidel's and there is no reason for it. None. As a matter of fact, he could stick his finger in the US's eye on a daily basis by just appearing and talking about how great the transition is and how well fidel is doing etc. Someting is going on and it just doesn't smell right. Thought?
Oil's a minor issue.
What counts is the Bolivarian plan to "unite" all Latin America. To pull this plan off you need the oil of Venezuela, the gas of Bolivia, and the organization of Cuba, because it's a leftist plan. Cuba is vital to Hugo's dream. Almost 50 years of experience in suppressing the people, perfect surveillance, development of absolute power. If Cuba jumps ship Chavez will look like a fool.
TBinSTL, what do you expect the government to say? If you were lying or hiding something, would you come out and say the truth? No, right? That is what is going on here.
let me pile on some more talking points on to what George has said.
- No doctor in the country with the best healthcare system has gone on record and explained the procedure Fidel underwent
- No foreign press allowed into the country, except for Shasta McGranola somehow
- Forged signature on the letter of transition
- Fidel somehow made a statement from his hospital bed follwing surgery
- Two (maybe more) Cuban gov't officials left to Venezuela this weekend
- Only one person (outside the administration) has reported seeing Raul
Lets look at all this from a logical perspective:
1. raul is nowhere to be seen
a. fidel is dead and he's trying to gain control
b. fidel is alive -whether a game or true surgery- and Cuba does not want to present a different face of Cuba thus perserving castro's whatever.
c. fidel and raul are both dead
2. fidel has not been seen
a. fidel is dead and they are making a transition
b. fidel is alive and is recovering and having a blast with the US
c. fidel is alive and not recovering and raul is taking the reins
d. fidel is alive and not recovering a raul is being displaced
These are probably the only realistic scenarios imho but even if any of these were so we ain't gonna know nothin until the bearded one is buried publicly. And thanks to the US' non-involvement we have to sit and wait it out. There is too much being conveniently talked about. Another interesting issue is that cuban gov't officials are visiting with other countries.
Now this could be a Bolivarian unification as someone has brought up or trying to pass around the warm fuzzies that fidel is either dead or recovering.
conveniently talked about bu cuban authorities that is
I see that 400 leading leftist "intellectuals" and human rights activists are calling on the U.S. not to interfere in Cuba during the "recovery" of the dictator formerly known fidel. See:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cuba_castro_138;_ylt=AimfUGinNN0nJVBp4HVahuRhxXsA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Rest assured, there will be no mutual assurances from these idjits and Chavez that they won't "interfere" in the internal affairs of Cuba either. I suppose that in the minds of these fools, only leftist and socialist influences are allowed to influence the fate of nations and the course of history.
Augusto Pinochet, please call your office.
Other countries which have had long lasting relationships with Cuba such as: Spain, Canada, Mexico, etc. are also being kept in the dark. If anyone knows (other than the Cubans that is) what is happening with the castro bros. is Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil. We all know what happened after Lula spilled the beans... He was called to task by the Cuban embassy and had to retract.
By the way, someone emailed the following to me this morning. I don't know if some of you have already read it, but I just couln't pass it up.
Here it is:
fidel castro dies and goes to Heaven. When he gets there, St. Peter tells him, "Sorry, but you are not on my list. You can't come in ... You must go straigth down to Hell."
So fidel goes to Hell where Satan gives him a hearty welcome and tells him he had been waiting for him for some time so to make himself at home. Then Fidel notices that he left his luggage in Heaven, and tells Satan, who says, "No problem, I'll send a couple of little devils to get your stuff."
When the little devils get to Heaven they find the gates are locked because St. Peter is having lunch, so they start debating what to do. Finally, one comes up with the idea that they should go over the wall and get the luggage.
As they are climbing the wall, two little angels see them, and one angel says to the other, "Jesus! That bastard castro has been in hell no more than ten minutes and we're already getting refugees!"
I have been visiting your site since the news and enjoy it very much. Good job, but.... remember, the ball is in Cuba's court and no matter if he is dead or alive, things won't change over there at least in the forseable future. If Raul becomes the next dictator and puts food on the people's table, the Plaza will be full again. Dependency can not be erased overnight. Long way to go.
Some points to take in to consideration:
- Chavez Said he had "Information Fidedigna" that Castro was doing well, means he could not talk to him directly, very important to note.
- Bush/Whitehouse on a Hurry to put TV Marti UP, and now looking for a way to easy the restrictions to Visits Cuba..? It looks to me that a sign they know more than we do.
- Interest point there was a news in Miami sat morning, that some people spoke to the FBI to turn them selves in as Cuba's Service Members, and I heard FBI gived something like a grace period for those out there to turn in before being charged, (Any one know about this news?) if true, by now FBI knows more than Us, for sure.
- Lets think about this, if The US government does not have the intelligence at this point to at least know if Castro is dead or not, or close to being so, then they should retire at CIA, cause that is unacceptable, being at 90 Miles. Give me a break.
I didn't hear anything about easing restrictions on Cuban-Americans wanting to visit family, rather an easing on immigration rules for Cubans. Yup, immigration! I thought we were considered refugees. I think Bush's and the Republican party's true colors are finally showing---does anyone else feel duped?
Oh, also, since Bush says exiles are not allowed to intervene in Cuba's affairs--why does the Republican party use Cuba to get our votes?
I think Montaner was right on with his latest article. Raul's a coward with an inferiority complex. Remember how he wore a bullet-proof vest in his speech to the cupula of the FAR back in June. And now this. Coward, I tell you.
here's one for firefly
"So it is night time in hell & the demons are refusing to go to sleep without a bedtime story. Satan, frustrated by his children's behavior, is at wits' end and says "Alright, if you promise to go to sleep I'll tell you the story of how I created Castro!"
Dollars to donuts, they offed the drunken, dope-addled Raul and now just need a way to say to the world that they are legitimately in charge.