January 14, 2009

I agree with Zoe

Zoe Valdes nails it:

Ya apesta, pero no dirán que se ñampió hasta que Barack Obama sea investido presidente, no le quieren entregar el cadáver a Bush...

Translation:

(fidel) already stinks, but (the Cuban government) will not say he kicked the bucket until Barack Obama is inaugurated as President. They dont want to give the cadaver to (President) Bush.

If the rumors turn out to be true - assuming the regime hasn't had a fidelsickle in a freezer somewhere waiting for this particular moment - and fidel has in fact croaked, then the regime - right now - has two options: downplay or emphasize.

Remember folks, no other government in modern times has had such a finely tuned and perfect manipulation of the press and public relations. Thus, the castro regime knows exactly what it's doing.

With the above in mind, the announcement is really all up to what the regime wants.

If, as some Cubaphiles have opined, the regime has concerns over maintaining control over the population once fidel is gone, then, conceivably, it may opt to downplay the bearded bastard's death. Make it a no big whup thing and persuade the Cuban people that he really hasn't been there for two years and everything is hunky-dory. That being the case, look for an announcement right before the inauguration of Barack Obama. That way, the big shindig in DC will most assuredly be what controls the news cycle.

Conversely, if the castro regime wants to glorify the cadaver, then they must wait for the Most Important US Presidential Inauguration of all time to come and go, thus ensuring the sycophantic media - and perhaps contractually oblige the CNNs and APs of the world - to work itself into a post-inauguration castro lovefest frenzy.

Either way, time will tell of course. But next Thursday is my birthday and boy, what better present could I ask for?

Posted by Val Prieto at January 14, 2009 03:09 PM

Comments

Rather like the Iranians waiting to release the hostages until the very day Carter left the White House.

Posted by: CubaWatch [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 14, 2009 05:47 PM

It'll be after the inauguration. They don't want to upstage Obama, he's their 'savior'. Obama and the Democrats will applaud the death of Fidel, then tell everyone that Raul is a different person - "someone we can work with." Then the help will start pouring in to ensure the distatorship can outlive another 10 US Presidents. (I hope Mas-Santos has eternal constipation)

Posted by: Mambi [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 14, 2009 06:11 PM

Agree. Good analysis. It could go either way.

I was wondering when you guys were going to talk about this.

I tend to think that the Cuban government are this close to the inauguration that they can keep Fidel on ice for a week then announce and then dominate world media for a week with his death, funeral, visiting Presidents from Latin America and Europe and Canada etc.

Either way, seems like we have a couple interesting weeks ahead of us.

Posted by: havanajournal [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 14, 2009 06:19 PM


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