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sabra Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 11:39 AM
Original message
U.S. official: Castro has 'serious' health problems

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/08/11/cuba.castro.ap/

U.S. official: Castro has 'serious' health problems

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The prolonged disappearance of Fidel Castro from public view indicates that the Cuban president is confronting "serious" health problems, a senior U.S. State Department official said Friday.

Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, briefing reporters, also said he believes that Castro's attempt to turn over power to his brother, Raul, is doomed to fail.

"The transfer won't work," Shannon said. "Ultimately, there is no political figure inside of Cuba who matches Fidel Castro."

He added that the key to Cuba becoming a "reliable partner" in the international community is democracy.
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tonkatoy57 Donating Member (443 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 11:43 AM
Response to Original message
1. Hmmm
Edited on Fri Aug-11-06 11:45 AM by tonkatoy57
I believe this is the international relations version of "working the refs". But, alas, wishing something to be true doesn't mean that it is true. As my grandfather used to say, "If a frog had wings he wouldn't whomp his ass every time he jumped".

Although I guess this gives some cover when the current administration rounds up some provocateurs in Miami, floats them over to Cuba and turns them loose to make trouble if/when Fidel kicks it.

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rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 11:45 AM
Response to Original message
2. Cuba has a form of socialism that works --but needs resources instead
of embargos and restrictions.
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JuniorPlankton Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 11:53 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Oh NO, it doesn't work
Like the Soviet Union's didn't. The thing is, it cannot be changed from the outside (see Iraq)
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geomon666 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 12:37 PM
Response to Original message
4. U.S. citizen: Bush has 'serious' mental health problems
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megatherium Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 01:27 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. Bush is very ill but unfortunately
he's seen in public constantly.
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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 01:32 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Great point! Congrats.
It's not so bad, however. There's only more than 2 years left. That time will simply seem to fly by....

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Say_What Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 02:30 PM
Response to Reply #4
10. Mandela: "Bush can't think properly"
love that reward poster :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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BurgherHoldtheLies Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
5. Are we planning on shoving democracy down the Cuban's throats too
Iraq is such a spectacular success, you know. :sarcasm:
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Robbien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 12:56 PM
Response to Original message
6. Listening to the Bush Admin on Cuba is just an exercise in stupidity
BushCo knows what it thinks it knows and the heck with reality.

The change in government is happening with word on the Cuban street being no big deal. The only big deal is this "reliable partner" plan of BushCo which the Cuban's feel is a US heavyhanded attempt to rule their independant nation.

This article is just more BushCo propaganda to be thrown on the heap of BushCo propaganda.
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Say_What Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #6
11. Elections in GusanoMiami coming up, gotta throw some Swill to the Swine
guano to the Gusanos, whichever way you look at it ;-)
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shanti Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 01:43 PM
Response to Original message
9. the corporate cons are salivating over the thought
of all the beautiful beaches they will scoop up when fidel passes. :(
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Say_What Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 02:42 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. Don't bet on it... he ain't the only person who lives there
you got 11 million Cubans who have no interest another Platt Amendment. After 50 years of US-suppported dictators, they decided that they had no interest in US style *democracy* and threw them the f*ck out in 1959.
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Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-12-06 10:27 AM
Response to Reply #13
27. Those illustrations of US behavior toward Cuba merit a closer look.
They are excellent.
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mbperrin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 02:36 PM
Response to Original message
12. What? He saw the videotape? Call Frist - he can tell ya!
Right?
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Say_What Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 02:45 PM
Response to Original message
14. Just More Gusano Guano for the Swine in GusanoMiami --election year food
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leesa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 03:01 PM
Response to Original message
15. Then Cuba can work it out themselves and we don't need to inflict
our "democracy" on them.
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cobalt1999 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 03:03 PM
Response to Original message
16. back on topic...
I suspect he is seriously ill also. First he's old and that makes it hard to recover from surgery. Second, he has been very absent. I initially thought we'd see imagines of him at least propped up in bed with some papers in front of him. As time goes on, I suspect things are VERY serious. Why his brother isn't more public is confusing though.

I think Fidel has outlived his last US president.
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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 04:24 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. You bet he's ill. So ill he had to have stomach surgery.
More observations: The sun is hot. Rain is wet.
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cobalt1999 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 04:39 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Okay, maybe I should have said...
he isn't going to get better.
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lumpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-12-06 05:20 PM
Response to Reply #19
29. Maybe he will and maybe he won't
At 82 my father had surgery and lived to be 90. I'm sure at any rate Castro will live on in the hearts of those who remember the brutal dictatorship of Baptista the Beast.
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Yupster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #29
31. Less than half of Cubans
were alive when Batista was in charge. After 47 years, it's probably time to stop comparing yourself to the last guy.

Maybe Italians are saying today that Berlesconi might be bad, but he's better than Nero.
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Yupster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 07:17 PM
Response to Reply #18
30. Agree Mika
An 80-year old has stomach surgery, he is officially seriously ill.

Most 80-year olds have serious health problesm just in their day-to-day lives.

Most of them are also retired, not working as "chefe." I'm assuming chefe is a stressful job, though there really isn't a job description for it.

At least he doesn't have to worry about campaigning for his next election. Chefes don't have to campaign. That's the best part of being a chefe.
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Mika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #30
32. OK.
If you say so. I defer to the DU "experts" Cuba analysis.
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AngryAmish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 03:08 PM
Response to Original message
17. This is bullshit -- he is going to live until 140
I hate the lies of this administration.
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Posteritatis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #17
33. That short?
I'm more convinced the man simply cannot die. He'll still be around in 2435 AD - immobile, senile as all get-out, and delightfully insane, but still above room temperature somehow.
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struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 09:58 PM
Response to Reply #17
35. ".. To affirm that my recuperation will not take long and ..
.. that there is no risk whatsoever would be absolutely incorrect. I suggest to everyone to be optimistic and, at the same time, always be prepared to face up to adverse news .."

MESSAGE FROM FIDEL ON HIS BIRTHDAY
Havana. August 13, 2006
http://www.granma.cu/INGLES/2006/agosto/domingo13/mensaje.html

His health problems are serious ...
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bluedog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 04:41 PM
Response to Original message
20. Just how does the US know this?????????n/t
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Posteritatis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-13-06 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #20
34. Abdominal surgery's often a hint. (n/t)
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Raine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 04:56 PM
Response to Original message
21. Like I would
believe ANYTHING that comes out of the mouth of ANY official at this period in time! :eyes: x(
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muryan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 06:08 PM
Response to Reply #21
22. Personally I think he's already dead.
and i sure as hell wont lose any sleep over it.
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Akim Donating Member (352 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 11:16 PM
Response to Reply #22
24. The Castro Death Watch, Now In Its 47th Year and Counting
The Castro death watch continues, now in its 47th year, brought to you courtesy of President-By-Fraud Bush and the Miami gusanos.

A Ganges river of champagne has gone flat while the gusanos waited to toast Fidel's death.

Don't be surprised if you have to put the bubbly on hold yet again.

But even if Fidel finally obliged you by dying, consider this:

He will die in his own bed in his own country.

How many of your relatives and friends have done that in the last 47 years?

And yet Fidel never gloated over their deaths.

He must be the better human being.
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robcon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-11-06 06:15 PM
Response to Original message
23. With an undisclosed illness, and an undisclosed operation,
we can see the value Castro puts on the truth. May he breathe his last... soon.
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Melynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-12-06 12:05 AM
Response to Original message
25. The movie looks creepy
I'll pass
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area51 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-12-06 10:24 AM
Response to Original message
26. Castro's health problems
Too bad this nazi government is more worried about Fidel Castro's health problems than the health problems of its own citizens. :eyes:


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FreeStateDemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-12-06 12:05 PM
Response to Original message
28. When will we hear: "The key to China becoming a "reliable partner" in the
international community is democracy?"
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