November 09, 2006

The trees are bare!

Reuters finally reports on what we have known since August, no one knows shit about what's happening in Cuba now:

Uncertainty goes on for Cuba, ailing Castro

HAVANA (Reuters) - A recent Cuban government video made clear that once-robust Fidel Castro is now an old man diminished by time and illness and Cuba's future remains uncertain 100 days after surgery forced him to give up power for the first time since 1959.

The October 28 video showed a Castro so gaunt and unsteady that it gave new urgency to questions about his recovery from a July 31 intestinal operation and how his brother Raul, now temporarily in charge, will lead the struggling communist island.

Castro has been seen only in photos and videos since shortly before the surgery, and the latest was meant to squelch rumors he had died. Instead, his poor condition shocked a country that had been assured repeatedly he was getting better and would soon resume his duties.

Cuban officials continue to insist Castro will come back from his still-undisclosed illness, but citing reasons of security, give few details and are vague about time.

Whew! It's a good thing we have intrepid foreign correspondents from all over the world in Cuba to keep us all up to date on the goings on over there.

/sarcasm

Posted by Val Prieto at November 9, 2006 07:16 AM

Comments

Beating up on Reuters here seems misguided. I'm not a huge MSM fan either, but reporters can't file reports based on speculation, and reporting even *known* facts gets reporters booted out of Cuba post-haste. If any reporter had solid info on Castro's health, or death, I'm sure they'd run it in a heartbeat since it would be huge news.

Posted by: 33139 [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 9, 2006 07:56 AM

33139,

Precisely my point. Why the hell have a reporter stationed in Cuba if he or she is not allowed to do his or her job appropriately? What's the point?

Foreign correspondents stationed in Cuba are simply bullhorns for the Cuban government. Nothing more and nothing less.

Posted by: Val Prieto [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 9, 2006 08:04 AM

I agree Val.
That castro video was so retarded, he was blabbering and moving like the idiot he is.
The time is coming, let's hope and pray for a future of freedom and democracy in Cuba.

Posted by: qbanartemisa [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 9, 2006 09:38 AM

Speaking of an information embargo, has anyone gotten an update on the Joe Papp saga? Last I read, his wife was still AWOL some 2 or 3 weeks after she was supposed to be repatriated. We all know there are daily flights from Venezuela to Cuba, so it seems like there should be news by now ...

Posted by: 33139 [TypeKey Profile Page] at November 9, 2006 10:12 AM


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