Top U.S. Official Says Castro Near Death

[HeavySmoke]

I borrowed this from AOL news:

SHINGTON (Dec. 15) - Cuban President Fidel Castro is very ill and close to death, U.S. Intelligence chief John Negroponte said in an interview published on Friday.

"Everything we see indicates it will not be much longer ... months, not years," Negroponte told The Washington Post.

The Cuban leader, 80, has not appeared in public since he underwent emergency intestinal surgery and temporarily handed over the presidency to his younger brother, Raul Castro, on July 31.

Castro has been in power since 1959.

A delegation of 10 U.S. lawmakers who favor easing sanctions against Communist-run Cuba was due to arrive in Havana on Friday for a three-day visit.

The delegation has asked to meet with the acting president who has said he is open to talks with Washington.

2007 could be an interesting year. ;-)

[tacmedic]

Castro is dead already or at least unconscious...you know they couldn't go this long without a picture or broadcast if he was still alive and well...and unfortuantly we won't see any end to the embargo until bush is out of office...the democrats want to ease up the visitation and money policies, but W will veto any embargo changes....looks like rob's storage may be seeing alot of action:-D

[Jimmy2]

I just talked to some one yesterday who has family in Cuba.

They from what i hear are higher up's in the Gov there.

They told his Aunt here that he died Tue night will see if its true.

With all this news it might be true.

[phxkev]

Venezuelan leader says Castro not dying

By NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON, Associated Press Writer

December 16, 2006

President Hugo Chavez said Friday that Fidel Castro is not dying of cancer, saying he had spoken with the ailing Cuban leader by phone and he is eating cautiously and well enough to joke.

"Fidel doesn't have cancer. I'm very well-informed ... he's instructed (Cuban officials) to inform me of all the details of what is happening," Chavez said during a speech in Caracas.

He said the two leaders had spoken twice on Thursday and discussed a series of new projects between Venezuela and Cuba, including plans for joint oil expeditions. He reiterated previous comments that Fidel's recuperation is going "slowly" and that Castro is fighting "a great battle" for his health after suffering what he described as a "serious illness."

There has been growing uncertainty in Cuba about the health of the 80-year-old Fidel, who has not been seen in public since he underwent intestinal surgery in July. He temporarily ceded his powers to his 75-year-old brother Raul.

His medical condition has been kept a state secret, and Cuban officials have insisted he is recovering. But U.S. officials have said they believe he suffers from some kind of inoperable cancer and won't live through the end of 2007.

"Nobody knows when Fidel is going to die," Chavez said.

"We are very optimist. Yesterday, I found him to be in a very good mood, well enough to compare my parrots to (President) Bush," Chavez continued, describing how Castro had told him his pet birds were more talkative than their "northern neighbor."

Chavez said Castro "is eating little by little" and that he planned to send him one of his favorite treats, Venezuelan chocolate.

Regarding the joint projects, Chavez said Castro's government would soon be giving a license to Venezuela's state oil company to allow it to explore for oil in Cuban waters in the Gulf of Mexico. He said Cuba's Cupep company would help explore for oil in Venezuela's Orinoco River region, joining a host of other state oil companies from allies like Iran, China, Russia and Spain.

Chavez said he and Castro also discussed other projects, including a wood company, a pharmaceutical factory and a venture to exploit Cuban nickel and Venezuela iron.

"We have so many things to thank Fidel for," said Chavez, describing how Castro had first surprised him with a phone call in the afternoon before he called him back later in the evening to discuss the left-leaning bloc their two countries founded, known as ALBA.

"ALBA is going to grow," Chavez continued, saying that Nicaraguan President-elect Daniel Ortega, leader of the country's leftist Sandinista party, told him last weekend that his country planned to join the bloc. The group also currently includes Bolivia.

ALBA rejects U.S.-backed free trade and promises a socialist version of regional commerce and cooperation.

[anacostiakat]

» Venezuelan leader says Castro not dying

» By NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON, Associated Press Writer

» December 16, 2006

»

» President Hugo Chavez said Friday that Fidel Castro is not dying of

» cancer, saying he had spoken with the ailing Cuban leader by phone and he

» is eating cautiously and well enough to joke.

»

» "Fidel doesn't have cancer. I'm very well-informed ... he's instructed

» (Cuban officials) to inform me of all the details of what is happening,"

» Chavez said during a speech in Caracas.

»

» He said the two leaders had spoken twice on Thursday and discussed a

» series of new projects between Venezuela and Cuba, including plans for

» joint oil expeditions. He reiterated previous comments that Fidel's

» recuperation is going "slowly" and that Castro is fighting "a great

» battle" for his health after suffering what he described as a "serious

» illness."

»

» There has been growing uncertainty in Cuba about the health of the

» 80-year-old Fidel, who has not been seen in public since he underwent

» intestinal surgery in July. He temporarily ceded his powers to his

» 75-year-old brother Raul.

»

» His medical condition has been kept a state secret, and Cuban officials

» have insisted he is recovering. But U.S. officials have said they believe

» he suffers from some kind of inoperable cancer and won't live through the

» end of 2007.

»

» "Nobody knows when Fidel is going to die," Chavez said.

»

» "We are very optimist. Yesterday, I found him to be in a very good mood,

» well enough to compare my parrots to (President) Bush," Chavez continued,

» describing how Castro had told him his pet birds were more talkative than

» their "northern neighbor."

»

» Chavez said Castro "is eating little by little" and that he planned to

» send him one of his favorite treats, Venezuelan chocolate.

»

» Regarding the joint projects, Chavez said Castro's government would soon

» be giving a license to Venezuela's state oil company to allow it to

» explore for oil in Cuban waters in the Gulf of Mexico. He said Cuba's

» Cupep company would help explore for oil in Venezuela's Orinoco River

» region, joining a host of other state oil companies from allies like Iran,

» China, Russia and Spain.

»

» Chavez said he and Castro also discussed other projects, including a wood

» company, a pharmaceutical factory and a venture to exploit Cuban nickel

» and Venezuela iron.

»

» "We have so many things to thank Fidel for," said Chavez, describing how

» Castro had first surprised him with a phone call in the afternoon before

» he called him back later in the evening to discuss the left-leaning bloc

» their two countries founded, known as ALBA.

»

» "ALBA is going to grow," Chavez continued, saying that Nicaraguan

» President-elect Daniel Ortega, leader of the country's leftist Sandinista

» party, told him last weekend that his country planned to join the bloc.

» The group also currently includes Bolivia.

»

» ALBA rejects U.S.-backed free trade and promises a socialist version of

» regional commerce and cooperation.

Who can believe anything this nutjob says. :-(

[Jimmy2]

President Hugo Chavez = LIER

[phxkev]

» President Hugo Chavez = LIER

I don't disagree with you. But George W. Bush ain't exaclty the most honest man in the world.

[Jimmy2]

phxkev why would you even bring Bush into this liar or not he has nothing to do with this thread?

I stated that Chavez is a Liar and most would agree he is a two bit punk and he is a trouble maker.

He is seen as a joke to most of the international community with a few exceptions to some other half ass nations (Gov that run them) that are turds to.

His speeches are the best i laugh my balls off when reading about them nuts i tell you nuts.

Its a shame that the poor people of his country follow his lead and mainly voted him in again.

This man is very unstable and he needs a doctor ....

[El Presidente]

My information is that Fidel will have passed away by end March 2008.

May be sooner, will not be longer.

[phxkev]

» phxkev why would you even bring Bush into this liar or not he has nothing

» to do with this thread?

»

» I stated that Chavez is a Liar and most would agree he is a two bit punk

» and he is a trouble maker.

»

» He is seen as a joke to most of the international community with a few

» exceptions to some other half ass nations (Gov that run them) that are

» turds to.

»

» His speeches are the best i laugh my balls off when reading about them

» nuts i tell you nuts.

»

» Its a shame that the poor people of his country follow his lead and mainly

» voted him in again.

»

» This man is very unstable and he needs a doctor ....

Jimmy2, Negroponte is a Bush Administration official. The Bush government says Castro is likely dying. The Chavez government says he is not. Who are you going to believe? They are both crazy liars.

John Negroponte (the source in the first post) is Bush's Director of National Intelligence and Ambassador to Iraq. It was the intelligence community that lied to us and to Congress to get us to approve of an Iraqi invasion. You cannot believe Bush or his intelligence community which has provided false and politicized data to justify a political, ideological agenda.

As an American I cannot criticize another country's president or leader when the exact same things you are saying about Chavez, while true, ALSO apply to George W. Bush. He is a liar. He is seen as a joke in the international community. His speeches make me laugh and it is a shame people follow his lead. And Chavez has made some legitimate points about Bush and the US.

So all I am saying is that neither Bush (through his Intelligence Chief, Negroponte) nor Chavez should be given much credibility on this subject. I think very few people know the actual truth about Castro right now.

[Jimmy2]

I LOVE Bush so i would have to go with Bush..