NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6265739.stm

Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in a serious condition following three failed operations, according to Spain's El Pais newspaper.

Mr Castro is suffering from a serious intestinal infection, the report says.

It cites medical sources at a Madrid hospital whose top surgeon travelled to Cuba in December to examine Mr Castro.

There has been considerable speculation about the health of Cuba's 80-year-old leader since he underwent urgent intestinal surgery in July.

He has not been seen in public since then, and in December he missed a massive military parade in Havana marking 50 years since his return from exile.

That last bit is probably the most telling part. If he had been anywhere near well enough to attend that parade, he would have done so.

So, how long will he last? And what's Raul Castro like, seeing as he's likely to take over full time, probably in the near future?

Fools! the Cuban healthcare system has one last trick up its sleeve

Project Franken-Castro will soon be complete *rubs hand evilly*

What are we gonna do after he dies? There'll be no more us vs. the commies anymore.

What are we gonna do after he dies? There'll be no more us vs. the commies anymore.

There's always China, but China would pwn America by dumping it's USD holdings. Of course, that'd tank the global economy in the process, which is why it hasn't happened... yet.

It looks like I have to step up to the plate...

*Cue dramatic music*

Behold! El Presidente de Pennsylvania! I have overthrown the US-backed corrupt government. Now, I am going to impose economic reforms in the name of Socialism and publicly dennounce capitalism as well as support wars of liberation across the globe!

What are we gonna do after he dies? There'll be no more us vs. the commies anymore.

Pray that they dump Raul and yes, there will still be an us vs the commies. You forgot that Cuba will still be under capitalism and we still have China and North Korea to deal with.

But it's not the same with North Korea.

I just hope he lasts long enough until GWB leaves. Just because I don't want GWB to be able to take credit for any good news.

Pray that they dump Raul and yes, there will still be an us vs the commies. You forgot that Cuba will still be under capitalism and we still have China and North Korea to deal with.
The US Government surely does not view China as a communist menace.

Pray that they dump Raul and yes, there will still be an us vs the commies. You forgot that Cuba will still be under capitalism and we still have China and North Korea to deal with.

what do you mean "deal with" are you saying you country should go to war with them just because?

Allegheny County 2...is that after the county in PA?

I just hope he lasts long enough until GWB leaves. Just because I don't want GWB to be able to take credit for any good news.
I don't think even the CIA would be able to claim that Castro dying of an intestinal infection was their doing.

I hope.

Allegheny County 2...is that after the county in PA?

Yes it is. :)

what do you mean "deal with" are you saying you country should go to war with them just because?

:rolleyes:

I don't think even the CIA would be able to claim that Castro dying of an intestinal infection was their doing.

I hope.

Even if they don't, there's likely to be some positive boost in support given a couple of "teh freedomz is coming to cuba" speeches.

Even if they don't, there's likely to be some positive boost in support given a couple of "teh freedomz is coming to cuba" speeches.
And then a dip in support when it's clear that Cuba is resisting "teh freedomz".

When Fidel dies, changes or not in Cuba, I will be celebrating, I hope he rots in hell where he belongs.

Fidel Dies and goes to Heaven :

Fidel dies and goes to heaven. When he gets there, St. Peter tells him
that he is not on the list and that no way in hell, no how, does he belong in
heaven. Fidel must go to hell.

So Fidel goes to hell where Satan gives him
a hearty welcome and tells him to make himself at home.

Then Fidel notices that he left his luggage in heaven and tells Satan, who
says, "No hay problema, 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 -
St.Peter is having lunch - and 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, "My goodness! Fidel has been in hell no more than
ten minutes and we're already getting refugees!"

When Fidel dies, changes or not in Cuba, I will be celebrating, I hope he rots in hell where he belongs.

What's your reason for wanting Castro to burn in hell?

What's your reason for wanting Castro to burn in hell?

Lol Almighty America, lol - LOL.

Lol Almighty America, lol - LOL.

Are you going to answer the question? If you don't want to, that's fine.

Jeez, I wonder how much longer his body can hold out. How old is the bastard anyways? 88?

Jeez, I wonder how much longer his body can hold out. How old is the bastard anyways? 88?

He'll be kept on life support indefinitely. Perhaps the Cuban government will take him out occasionally for important public events and display him in a glass case.

Jeez, I wonder how much longer his body can hold out. How old is the bastard anyways? 88?
80. He's almost exactly the same age as Elizabeth II, to within a couple of weeks IIRC.

Hang on, ole boy Fidel, You gotta outlast that cowboy in the White House. You survived 638 attempts to kill you sent from those snoops in Langley - what a wonky liver compared to that!!

Hang in there, and get well soon!

Personally, I blame the CIA for his sickness.
But hopefully Raul will stand up as Castro did as a bulwark against US imperialism into SA.

Hail socialism!

This is why doctors call it "practice"

Maybe his death will allow America to get over it and normalize relations with Cuba. It's so stupid. Fidel is an evil commie but the Chinese are just fine. If Cuba had the economic clout China does we would have normalized relations with them a long time ago.

I hope he outlasts teh evil americanos. cling to life you rotten (beardy) bastard.

The last thing Cuba needs is interference from the US. The only thing they have ever offered to Cuba in import are mercenaries, bullets, threats of nuclear war, assassination attempts on your government, and general corporate imperialism.

Castro has done remarkable things for Cuba under socialism, they certainly have a better health care system than the US, and no one has to pay for their top-notch medical services. Despite having almost no markets they have done well for their people, and should not bow to rapid commercialism, and stay the socialist course. I mean look at Russian and Chinese living conditions for an example of 'transition' to capitalism.

The US has never done anything good for SA, only supporting mass murdering tyrants just because they allow US imperialist business into the region. Keeping the people in poverty. Shame.

Hail Castro!
Hail Guevara!

cling to life you rotten (beardy) bastard.

Heartily seconded.


The last thing Cuba needs is interference from the US. The only thing they have ever offered to Cuba in import are mercenaries, bullets, threats of nuclear war, assassination attempts on your government, and general corporate imperialism.

Castro has done remarkable things for Cuba under socialism, they certainly have a better health care system than the US, and no one has to pay for their top-notch medical services. Despite having almost no markets they have done well for their people, and should not bow to rapid commercialism, and stay the socialist course. I mean look at Russian and Chinese living conditions for an example of 'transition' to capitalism.

The US has never done anything good for SA, only supporting mass murdering tyrants just because they allow US imperialist business into the region. Keeping the people in poverty. Shame.


All very true.

I'm not one to say that everything about Castro is great (far from it), but he's a good leader for his country, and simplistic vilification against him, denying the obvious good he has done, is just silly.

You can criticise Castro without demonising him; underline his negative aspects while recognising that he has done many good things.

Unfortunately, too many people today like things to be ultra simple, black and white, "good" and "evil". A sign of weak, limited minds.

There was a debate on France24 last night between an exiled Cuban and a pro-Castro retired French diplomat. It's not been archived yet, but look for it here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/talk.html) soon.

Heartily seconded.



All very true.

I'm not one to say that everything about Castro is great (far from it), but he's a good leader for his country, and simplistic vilification against him, denying the obvious good he has done, is just silly.

You can criticise Castro without demonising him; underline his negative aspects while recognising that he has done many good things.

Unfortunately, too many people today like things to be ultra simple, black and white, "good" and "evil". A sign of weak, limited minds.

There was a debate on France24 last night between an exiled Cuban and a pro-Castro retired French diplomat. It's not been archived yet, but look for it here (http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/talk.html) soon.
Recognising the good a leader has done does not mean endorsement of the bad, in same same way (on a simplistic level) my support of Blair's increase in the minimum wage does not mean I support the Iraq war.

What are we gonna do after he dies? There'll be no more us vs. the commies anymore.

You don't understand. No matter what happens, no matter who dies and who lives, it will always be us vs. the commie swine.

Recognising the good a leader has done does not mean endorsement of the bad, in same same way (on a simplistic level) my support of Blair's increase in the minimum wage does not mean I support the Iraq war.

After all, Hitler brought the autobahn, the Volkswagon, and timely train service to Germany...

Recognising the good a leader has done does not mean endorsement of the bad, in same same way (on a simplistic level) my support of Blair's increase in the minimum wage does not mean I support the Iraq war.

Exactly.


After all, Hitler brought the autobahn, the Volkswagon, and timely train service to Germany...

GODWIN ALERT! Long time since we'd had one of those. :rolleyes:

GODWIN ALERT! Long time since we'd had one of those. :rolleyes:

Hey, you knew it was there for the taking - I just had to do it...

Hey, you knew it was there for the taking - I just had to do it...

Yeah, I'd almost forgotten about them. ;)

If I weren't a generally forgiving person, I'd be hoping that the sad, sorry bastard could suffer this infection for the next year or two, as payment for his treatment of dissenters in his country.

If I weren't a generally forgiving person, I'd be hoping that the sad, sorry bastard could suffer this infection for the next year or two, as payment for his treatment of dissenters in his country.

Apparently, he decided against a colostomy, so they tried to reattach his colon to his rectum and it didn't work or was botched, so now he's got a major infection.

Lends new meaning to the phrase, "pain in the ass".

I'm sure he could clear it up with this:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c279/norgeboy/weiss_poser.jpg

If he dies, it will be the end of an era. And the US lobbyists and speechwriters will need a new bogeyman.

He has outlived many presidents and popes. Jorge Mas Canosa went to his grave trying to replace him.

And the revolution lives on.

After all, Hitler brought the autobahn, the Volkswagon, and timely train service to Germany...

Actually, those are not even near the top of the good things Hitler did. Stabilizing the economy and cutting the ridiculously high unemployment were the major feathers on his hat. He almost seems like a financial genius until you look a little closer and notice that he paid it all with loans and the only way he could possibly finance it all was with war. At which he failed even more than in being a human being.

Fried Tuna;12220177']Actually, those are not even near the top of the good things Hitler did. Stabilizing the economy and cutting the ridiculously high unemployment were the major feathers on his hat. He almost seems like a financial genius until you look a little closer and notice that he paid it all with loans and the only way he could possibly finance it all was with war. At which he failed even more than in being a human being.

The stupid part about being dictator for life is that you can't suddenly leave office when things are going great, and when your opponent is elected, get up and say, "See? things were going great when I was running things!".

He had to ride the wreck down to the end.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6265739.stm



That last bit is probably the most telling part. If he had been anywhere near well enough to attend that parade, he would have done so.

So, how long will he last? And what's Raul Castro like, seeing as he's likely to take over full time, probably in the near future?

With no public appearances in such a long time, this is starting to remind me of the "Andropov cold"...
(I wonder how many will get that one automatically, since the reference is well beyond the age of so many posters here...)

With no public appearances in such a long time, this is starting to remind me of the "Andropov cold"...
(I wonder how many will get that one automatically, since the reference is well beyond the age of so many posters here...)

I got it. But we have those pics of him holding a current newspaper in bed!

Wait... this is the age of Photoshop...

I can't wait till that bastard dies. Then my Grandparents can go back to the country they love(probably not because they have nothing there anymore). Even though, that would not happen because Raul Castro is the true idealist. Fidel is a mere Dictator, corrupt and power hungry. Raul, by all accounts, is a socialist idealist. how exactly that will work out, i don't know, but as far as I'm concerned, as long as the Castro's are in power and their government maintains control, Cuba will remain nothing but a third-world dictatorship...

The last thing Cuba needs is interference from the US. The only thing they have ever offered to Cuba in import are mercenaries, bullets, threats of nuclear war, assassination attempts on your government, and general corporate imperialism.

Castro has done remarkable things for Cuba under socialism, they certainly have a better health care system than the US, and no one has to pay for their top-notch medical services. Despite having almost no markets they have done well for their people, and should not bow to rapid commercialism, and stay the socialist course. I mean look at Russian and Chinese living conditions for an example of 'transition' to capitalism.

The US has never done anything good for SA, only supporting mass murdering tyrants just because they allow US imperialist business into the region. Keeping the people in poverty. Shame.

Hail Castro!
Hail Guevara!

Things are so great that thousands of people a year risk thier lives to drift across the ocean on wooden rafts to leave it. That's of course assuming they aren't machine gunned by the border guards for trying to leave.

Come join us in reality, it's much nicer than your socialist fantasy land.