Fidel Castro, borrowing a line from Mark Twain, would like you to know that reports of his demise are greatly exaggerated. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, the 80-year-old dictator of the island nation of Cuba, transferred power to his younger brother on July 31 after "intestinal surgery" and has been recovering ever since.
The city of Miami is planning a mega-party to celebrate his death, but many of Castro's most bitter critics have been down this road too many times before and say they won't believe it until they can spit on his corpse. It's not surprising that it is not known what his illness is, or that there are conflicting stories about it, given the web of secrecy, fabrications and double talk that has swarmed around Castro since the inception of the revolution that eventually toppled the Batista regime. But based on what little is known, and using a little surgical detective work, we can get a pretty good idea of what happened.
The first report out of Cuba was a statement from the government that said Castro had undergone surgery for stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding. His condition was reported as serious, but his return was to be expected in a few weeks. According to the official statement, Castro said his intense schedule "promoted in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure." But during the next several days, when he didn't appear in public, rumors began to swarm: Was it cancer? Was he dying? The Bush administration, always last to know what's going on in the world, said it was caught off-guard by the reports of Castro's illness and had no idea what his condition was.
As the speculation whirlwind reached tornado strength, the Cuban government released four photos of the recovering Castro, including one in which he is seated in a chair, holding up the August 12th edition of the state-run newspaper Granma and dressed in a red, white, and blue Addidas jumpsuit. The irony of the Communist leader dressed in a workout suit with the same color scheme as the American Flag and advertising a US corporation was lost on most Americans, as all attention focused on whether the photos were real or photo shopped. But Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stopped over for a visit and had some photos taken with Castro, convincing the world that Castro was indeed alive, if not well. Additional state visits followed, with more pictures, an October video with Castro again reading from the current edition of the paper to prove it was not file footage, and lots of speculation.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave Nalle
As to what ails Castro, I like to think that the ghosts of the millions whose lives he has oppressed and destroyed have lodged in his bowel and caused the infection.
Dave
2 - moonraven
I would prefer to think that blogcritics should be more ethical than to have a joker like Dave Nalle--who lies faster than a horse can trot and who invents multiple identities to attack other posters and support his farsical fascist flatulence--as "editor" of the political section.
Especially since he is threatening to abuse his editorial powers by censoring other posters--the ones who disagree with him, obviously--not his bedbuddy clavos.
3 - Emry
"I would prefer to think that blogcritics should be more ethical than to have a joker like Dave Nalle...as "editor" of the political section."
Moonraven, not only more ethical but more sensible. A quick glance at Nalle's creepy modus operandi likely turns many first time visitors off with a vengeance.
4 - moonraven
It turned ME off, that's for sure. From when I first read anything on this site to when I posted something because I was simply outraged by the browbeating and posturing of Dave Nalle several months passed.
Then I stayed away from here for several months after that because of the incestuous stroking being done by Dave and clavos.
The CommonDreams site has set up a comments function on their site--with articles of, for the most part, better quality and by legitimate journalists.
I would certainly prefer to make comments on, say, a piece by Bill Moyers, than by someone of the dubious credentials of Dave Nalle.
5 - Christopher Rose
There is a clear difference between Dave's editorial activity and his own prolific output.
As Editor, he merely applies the same editorial standards process, which is about writing not perspective, as all the other editors. Unlike many sites, Blogcritics does not specify what its writers must write about nor how.
I don't endorse the kind of reactionary calls being made against him at all. A lot of people have been incredibly rude around the politics section recently, which I find entirely emblematic of the sterility of current US political debate. Not that the US is alone in that.
Dave, despite his to me odd political posture (and he's not alone in that either) is doing what he does openly and we all know who, what and where he is.
If you think BC is too far one way or the other politically, you're entirely welcome to join and write whatever YOU want to restore the balance. Under any name you care to take and sustain.
Sure, he may have mispoken and I've made it clear that was wrong - but you all do that so any action against him would need to be visited on you all. I'm sure we're all learning stuff from this darn interactivity thingymybob. I know I am.
6 - Martin Lav
It is obvious to me that BlogCritics is excercising it's Capitalistic right to create as much traffic to it's site as possible. To have an editor that creates as much discourse as Dave Nalle does, only helps BC and of the comments editor is in support of this stance.
However, when Dave Nalle goes so far as to subliminally create traffic to his site by posting other different names, I think that crosses the line. While he is free to employ the workings of his shadow Clavos to fan the flames of his own ego, to create fictious names for himself and to restrict the comments of others is an abuse of power.
Additionally, his highly treasonous articles in support of the militia's and the militarizing of this country and it's citizens might be of interest to homeland security, so I would expect that the BC editors would continue to monitor his activities and maintain his history to supply to the authorities upon demand.
7 - moonraven
Chris,
Sorry, but it is simply not true that he is open.
When he creates other identities to support his VERY odd political position and also censors opposing views by blocking posts, he is being very deceptive and unethical.
He is not open when he makes his reactionary bullying statements and then either puts no links to the information he has supposedly found to support them, or puts links to articles which clearly CONTRADICT his position (figuring, correctly, that most people will not bother to check out his links).
His lies, I will grant you, are obvious. IF one bothers to check the sources he links. If one doesn't, then his lies are not open.
Given the devious behaviors about which I and other posters have complained, and the fact that an inordinant number of articles which pitch his very odd position appear on this site, I believe that he has abused his authority as editor and should be removed.
8 - Christopher Rose
Martin, if you're suggesting that this is all co-ordinated in some way - gosh, I wish we were that sly and clever! No way man.
You're wildly over-stating the case, he hasn't created names for himself nor restricted the comments of others. I'm FAR more likely than Dave to do that, because I believe the specific right to a good experience on the site is more important than the general right of freedom of speech. Fortunately for all of us we have guidelines to, well, guide us.
I'm a little puzzled by the fact that you seem to be angered by Dave allegedly restricting the comments of others but then go on to call for his own manifestations of the right to free expression to be investigated by the DHS. But that's just me.
9 - MCH
"Dave, despite his to me odd political posture (and he's not alone in that either) is doing what he does openly and we all know who, what and where he is."
This is true...he's Vox Populi, a hypocrite and a phoney, and he lives in an all-glass fortified compound in Texas.
10 - kob
This is a really good, convincing piece.
11 - Nancy
I'm no medical expert, but this was a very impressive piece of analysis not only to me but friends who do have medical expertise, yet it was also very readable. Good article.
12 - Dr. Tim
To Nancy and Rob, thanks for the compliments. I'm glad BC is providing me with the opportunity to share some of my views. I must say, I really am baffled by all the gnashing of teeth over BC's political editor, but I'm new to the online game. And if anyone is having technical difficulties with my site, please let me know and I'll do my best to fix things. (I've been in the medicine and writing arenas for a long time, but am brand new to blogging!) I'll have some new posts up in the next 24 hours. Thanks!
13 - Nancy
We look forward to future articles. How about assessing Dubya Bush's mental state? Or Cheney? Then you can post it on 'Politics' as well ;) Seriously, I look forward to more from you.
14 - moonraven
Christopher,
You seem to be smoking too much of the colombiana. Or else you've spent too much time with Dave and are picking up his habits of attributing the opposite to whatever a poster says.
I have NEVER called for the DHS to investigate ANYONE.
The DHS is equivalent to the DINA (Pinochet and his goon squad) in Chile!
[Moonraven, you are confused. It was Martin Lav that made that call, not yourself. Cheers. Comments Editor]
15 - Clavos
You need glasses, the comments editor's DHS comment was directed to martin, not moonraven.
16 - moonraven
Sorry, I assumed I was being referred to as well.
I forgot that as a misogynist, Chris would prefer not to acknowledge my existence.
[Moonraven: you've been doing a great job of sticking to the issues and avoiding the regrettable and excessive ad hominems used by many from all sides of the political spectrum recently. Please continue to do so.
There is zero basis for your assertion that I am a misogynist and it is entirely false that I would prefer not to acknowledge your existence. Assuming stuff that is clearly not there seems to be not uncommon amongst some folk but rest assured that I will not allow such calumnies to stand. Thanks. Comments Editor]
17 - moonraven
P.S.
I do need new glasses.
But I need to get the new eyes first....
18 - zingzing
and you said i was the only misogynist pig here... welcome to my mudpit, chris. wanna get dirty?
19 - Emry
Moonraven, do us an even bigger favor, post much more often. We appreciate your input.
BTW, what happened to Franco?
Was he a creation of.... Clavos?
20 - Martin Lav
Might be, since Clavos is a creation of Dave and I think they spread....
21 - Emry
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww.....
22 - moonraven
Cancerous cells--and lies--multiplying at the speed of light.
Martin,
I will stay anywhere I damn please--including in Seattle next week.
23 - zingzing
hahaha---moonraven, welcome to my den of sin!
24 - Martin Lav
Hey, I'll be in Seattle next week!
Shall we meet for coffee and discuss the overthrowing of the US government? Maybe a bagel and some reminisce of the WTO meetings a few years back......ah.......
I presume you'll be the one wearing the red beret with the Che T-Shirt?
25 - zingzing
hey, hey, let's all meet up and see what kind if we end up killing each other. can liberals of different strains really get along? we can report back (once you fuckers are out of the hospital) to b.c., with pictures, official police reports, etc, etc.
it'll be fun! i know a nice quiet place underground...