Castro's Surgery: A Machiavellian Move?

[Year: 1]

I'm intrigued by this statement made by a newspaper columnist hostile to Castro (It's a pretty cynical statement but interesting and smart of Castro if it were true):


"• The trial-balloon scenario: Castro made it all up to test whether anybody in his inner circle makes a wrong move, and to get rid of potential reformists who won't respect his wishes.

Supporting argument: Many Cubans on the island, used to the tricks of Cuba's secret police, tend to lend credence to this possibility. In a telephone call Tuesday, Vladimiro Roca -- a known dissident whose father was one of the founders of Cuba's Communist Party -- told me the climate in Havana is one of profound suspicion about the statement. ''People are skeptical,'' he said. ``Fidel Castro is known for not having any kind of boundaries and to do things nobody expects him to do."


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/...er/15176160.htm (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/columnists/andres_oppenheimer/15176160.htm)

[Janus]

This is written by the Cuban exiles in Miami.

There is a point when you can overanalyze something. The guy's 80 years old and has health problems, some type of surgery is not totally inconceivable.

[Year: 1]

Actually the guy is Argentine but a real right-wing prick, still that statement he made is interesting. If it were true Castro is a as smart as a fox.

[southernmissfan]

Anyone who think he faked his health problem is probably overanalyzing and grasping for straws. Like Janus said, the man is nearly 80 years old. That he's still alive is probably a surprise to a lot of people. But I wouldn't be surprised if he delibirately took a few weeks off to see how things function with Raul, and perhaps make some plans to better improve how things run after he's gone.

[RedDan]

I think that if Fidel is genuinly(sp) in it for the revolution he would not test his comrades in the party in the way the newspaper columnist suggests because that would mean he was like Stalin, purging his way (or Raul's way when he dies) to power. If he was in it for the revolution he would be confident that the rest of the party (including Raul) and the people could and would make the right decision.

I agree with southermissfan, if he is doing anything it should be that.