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Well , he fact that we can all drink the "real" Havana Club starting this week in Miami.

lets just hope he's really sick or dead and this isn't some Machevillian plot and grand finale at play here.

there is alot of fact and fiction and speculation.. it has been reported in brasil in various dailies/ web sites (i snet the links around) that the communist party has told lula that fidel is very ill..
http://www3.atarde.com.br/mundo/interna.jsp?xsl=noticia.xsl&xml=NOTICIA/2006/08/05/998891.xml
O palácio do Planalto, após receber informações direto da cúpula do Partido Comunista cubano, transmitiu ao presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva que Fidel Castro pode estar pior do que se imagina em todo o mundo. O ditador cubano se submeteu a uma cirurgia na última segunda-feira e informou publicamente que está em melhora progressiva. As informações são da Folha Online.

palacio planalto is like saying "the white house".. it says the braslian presedential palace received word from cuban communist party officials, and based on that conversation, they told lula fidel is sicker than he seems/ it is being led to beleive.. this was reported from a left leaning daily in sao paulo.. lula has been quoted as saying"it seems we are going to lose our friend".. Kennedy Alencar is the reporter who filed the story for folha online.. heres is some stuff in english
http://stoptheaclu.com/archives/2006/08/05/castros-possible-diagnosis-widely-metastatic-colon-cancer/
and here is some more
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3756390a12,00.html
But respected Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported on Saturday that Cuban officials told Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva his friend Castro had a malignant stomach tumor and his condition was worse than had been disclosed.

A Brazilian government spokesman said the report was incorrect, but the reporter stood by the story.

"The information was obtained by Folha from two direct aides to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva," reporter Kennedy Alencar said in a letter to his newspaper to be published on Sunday. An extract of the letter was given to Reuters on Saturday.

"Hugo Chavez recalled his brother, the ambassador in Havana"

I missed this. Why would he do that?

Juanita Castro in a television interview has stated the she would like to see her brother (apparently only THAT one) before he dies. Has that dumb broad forgotten the number of Cubans who have not seen THEIR loved ones before they died- because of her brother????

U.S. has stepped up broadcasts of TV Marti, gotten a new C130 to do it right over the island, replacing the air balloon lost in a hurricane awhile back.

http://www.efenews.com/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=0&id=1398366

I think some other facts of note:

- The U.S. has begun drafting changes to the Cuban immigration policy, with the stated objective of reuniting famlies

- Cuban government officials have started referring to the "transition" as a "succession"

Here's an unexpected article from the Boston Globe - http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=151593

More facts:

Hugo Chavez has apparently not even ben able to talk to Fidel despite the Beard being up and "talking so much".

I'm getting more and more confirmations about the internal power struggle going on in Cuba.

NEW: I have info (confirmed by 2 persons) that several underground bunkers in Havana, Cienfuegos and Camaguey are "being prepared". While the info isn't specific enough, the details point to mass internment. They try to disguise it as hurricane preparations, which is a stupid excuse. Those are usually done when a hurricane is approaching and a hurricane would have a hard time hitting those 3 cities at the same time. You would also not neede dogs in places like that. This means they are preparing for riots.

Unconfirmed info about unrest in Moa, the dirty nickel smelter town. I will follow this closely because some details are interesting and sabotage is involved.

The number of ordinary tourists being refused entry is up, mostly because they are believed to be journalists. Some returning tourists have said that they are not journalists at all.

Juanita Castro in a television interview has stated the she would like to see her brother (apparently only THAT one) before he dies. Has that dumb broad forgotten the number of Cubans who have not seen THEIR loved ones before they died- because of her brother????

Posted by: omar at August 8, 2006 12:43 PM

Good point!

We must take one scenario into consideration.
Maybe the nut fidel really believes we will attack. Oh well someday we will know. I hope that its soon.

Pototo,

I think that scenario is the least likely. We should be taking the "what's the simplest explanation" approach to all this which would lead us to the undeniable truth that Fidel is dead or as good as dead.

The point was made earlier that he has never ceded power. I believe that is the most telling fact at all.

Eleggua,

Should we be trying to contact people in Moa?

I had no trouble getting through to family today for the first time since arriving from Havana this weekend. Every thing remains the same en mi barrio, La Vigia, en ciudad Camaguey. There's been no special instructions by the CDRs or anything indicating any change in the status quo. Same can be said for cousins that live in Nuevo Vedado in Havana. Nothing out of the ordinary, not even increased patrol in the shopping areas of my town, no increased rationing, no heightened alerts at hospitals, nothing. All that can be said is it's a waiting game, not for change, rather waiting for Fidel to give a public statement (probably a letter or radio message), that's expected on or before his birthday. Any thoughts?

Oscar Arias canceló reunión con vicepresidente de Cuba
http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/ago06/08o2.htm

Another fact —

Raul's seclusion coincides with high profile statements by Lage, Alarcon and others. I wonder whether the contrasting profiles suggests a split in the leadership with people like Lage, Alarcon, etc. prevailing over the Castros.

I'm a blogging newbie, and have often lurked at babalublog. It's my favorite blog and you, Val, have inspired me (even though you taunt me with fotos of delcious Cuban food I can't easily get in northwest Ohio) I wrote this in my new blog and thought you might appreciate it. When I figure out how to let you know how to find my blog I'll let you know.

I was feeling guilty for wishing fidel castro dead -- when asked about it I even back-pedalled a bit and said -- "I don't wish him dead, so much as just gone." But, that wasn't quite the truth.
Somehow it seems wrong and anti-Christian to wish someone dead or wish them ill, no matter who it is.... but I guess I have to be honest and say, YES, I wish fidel castro dead. I wish him pushing up margaritas (daisies) (wait...were daisies allowed to be grown in the revolution?) I want him to meet his maker and answer for his crimes against humanity.
Oddly, it was a children's film that showed me that I don't have to feel guilty about rejoicing at his ill health. The film? -- The classic 1939 "The Wizard of Oz." No one gave the munchkins any grief over their rejoicing and doing the "ding dong, the witch is dead" happy dance, so don't give me any grief about it, either.
While I do not apologize for these feelings, I don't brag about wishing the bastard dead, either. So don't ask me if I wish castro dead. A more accurate inquiry would be to ask me what I wish for....I desire a free Cuba. I desire liberty, justice, peace, and mercy for all Cubans -- those on and off the island. I desire prosperity and light to return to the island I have never seen but whose rhythm courses through every nerve in my body. I wish for the most marvelous family reunions the world has ever seen.
If gaining these desires means a dead castro, then so be it -- no apologies.

Val, why did Chavez recall his brother? I can't find anything on it, and it some ways that's the oddest thing that's happened so far.

http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=34763

Just says the brother is leaving/left and there is no replacement. Doesn't explain why (used google to translate - my Spanish isn't great)

I agree with AcademicElephant. I tried to search everywhere for that story. That is the biggest development in the last 8 days. If chavez and castro are such good buddies, why did he pull his brother? Here are my thoughts:

1. He pulled his brother because the Cuban government might announce something to do with castro(s) in the coming days and he didn't want his brother in the middle of it.

2. castro is dead and he has no loyalty to raul. His buddy and mentor was fidel, not the "homo" or any other government official that has taken the hot seat.

Can someone post a link to the story?

Todopoderoso

It might make more sense to contact Western companies (Canadian Sherritt) which have investments in Moa.

They for sure will deny it but sometimes the way they deny is telling.

Link to chavez story posted above.

Maybe someone can answer this for me. I don't remember a time in which Lage traveled to so many countires and was the face of the government. Was this in his new duties listed in castro's will? I would have thought that maybe perez roque (Foreign Minister) would be the one traveling.

Good point, Where's Roque? He was the new face of the regime for a while, even in Argentina a couple of weeks ago.

I read the article about chavez's brother, but I didn't get the impression that he was leaving because something was in the works. Maybe it's being coverd up with his new position.

Actually the Adan Chavez story may simply be poor timing. He was travelling with Hugo (actually preparing his trip), so he wasn't in Cuba when Fidel fell ill/died.

At the same time Chavez fired his secretary of the Presidency and needed a reliable replacement.

Adan is a die hard marxist.

The advantage of not having an ambassador right now in Cuba is obvious though. First of all, people would wonder why he doesn't get to see "recovering" Fidel.

Hey people,

Perhaps the regime isn't preparing for a yanqui first strike invasion, but for a retaliation?

I wrote about this doomsday scenario a couple of days ago.

http://cubanamericanpundits.blogspot.com/2006/08/far-fetched.html

Re Roque: I've commented on the power struggle in Cuba.

Roque is NOT on Raul's side

Isn't Roque Raul's son in law?

Perez Roque is married to a daughter of Jaime Crombet (Vice Presidente de la Asamblea del Poder Popular)

"Lieberman: If I lose in Connecticut, I'll run in Cuba" jokes verging on the racist by Don Davis, visible at--> http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=234

Is it me or did Gabriel Garcia Marquez just write what sounds like a eulogy for Castro?

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/agosto/lun7/33gabo.html

It sure sounds like it. There is a whole lot of ass kissing going on.

i THINK that garcia marquez "el fidel que conozco" is old, just being rehashed in light of recent events

Camaguey,

I had no trouble getting through to family today for the first time since arriving from Havana this weekend. Every thing remains the same en mi barrio, La Vigia, en ciudad Camaguey. There's been no special instructions by the CDRs or anything indicating any change in the status quo. Same can be said for cousins that live in Nuevo Vedado in Havana. Nothing out of the ordinary, not even increased patrol in the shopping areas of my town, no increased rationing, no heightened alerts at hospitals, nothing.

This contradicts every verified report i have received in a week. Did you take plenty of pictures?

it's not all bad news. here's the solidarity story on raices:

Aug 4, 2006 3:45 pm US/Eastern

Second-Generation Cuban Americans Keep Passions
(AP) NEW YORK When 28-year-old David Sandoval and his band Delexilio gathered this week in a brick midtown Manhattan studio to run through the group's funk beats and Cuban rhythms, he. . . was among a flock of new Fidel Castro opponents. . . These first- and second-generation Cuban-Americans are. . . passionate and nostalgic for a homeland many have never visited.

The full story:

http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_216154638.html

Gabo did not write this text today. It is at least ten years old as it already appeared in the first APA Travel Guide Cuba.

@Val

The Camaguey report may very well depend on the security of the phone line...

The info I get is transmitted via phone communication that cannot be traced.

Nobody would be foolish enough to tell me those things via Cuban land line.

Camaguey, did you come back from Havana this past weekend?

No pictures, but confident in what my sister tells me about the situation in Camaguey. If she didn't feel comfortable talking about the situation, she would simply not talk about it, rather than lie to me. So I'm confident things have not changed there, though I can't say the same for anywhere else. Can it be that it's easier to get through since the call is from Jersey? I returned from visiting family last Friday, and there was definitely no activity from the CDRs in that neighborhood---AP obviously shows the "militiamen" because it's a publicity stunt orchestrated by the government.

Yea, I returned last Friday, after a 2 week visit.

And as for the hospital comment I made, my sister is the head dentist at the hospital and a professor at the Finlay medical school--so she would know if anything was up with that.

Would know is up with what? Teeth? Gingivitis?

rumors are still outweighing facts.

Gustavo Acros just died in Havana. Wonder what that means.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez's piece reads like satire. I wonder if there wasn't a hint of sarcasm in it. I know the guy's a castroite but I still wonder. I know he can't stand Hugo Chavez. Maybe Garcia Marquez UNINTENTIONALLY wrote satire.

fidel wants to stand on a corner? he now wants to be a jinetera?

and what is said is the only facts we have and that is that rumors outweigh facts, but that doesn't make the rumors true just many.

EveryBody Miss a Big point and news Here, I'm from Orlando, Fl and 2 days before the news anounce the ill of castro, we got a call in a radio 100.3 FM from a guy anouncing that castro died, every body tought tha he was crazy, but he repeat that he got the news from his phather in cuba that work in a hospital and call him very early that day to give the news, and a day after every body got the news. No body in miami know this others wise every body where looking for this guy in Orlando, florida
A day after the guy call back to the radio and say " I toll you guys you where the first to give this news in USA" and as I say before news come in the world and cuba TV, this guy anounce this news, CASTRO IS DEAD, people can call and verified this at the radio 100.3 in orlando florida.They ask him how he knew this inf. and he say his phather work in this goverment exsclusive hospital and saw castro dead in a bed. Check this outh people and take your own conclusions.HE IS DEAD, goverment is making time for a transiccion only.

El Fifo is dead. That sucker doesn't have much left anyways. Come to our website. www.nomasfifo.com. We have an open Forum to discuss these topics and many mores in Spanish or English about the Cuban exile, the transition, the return, the building of the new Cuba, videos and more.

http://www.nomasfifo.com

We hope that our friends in the U.S. have learned that Cubans are good, hard working people. We have learned a lot from this country. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you. Now it's time to build my land the way it was supposed to be 47 years ago. We have a lot to do. We have a lot to teach to our brothers and sisters in our country. This is the time to discuss, to plan for what is coming ahead of us.

Eli Peraza

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