In Communist societies, the fall of a dictator is often marked by a public statement about the dictator’s failing health that (a) doesn’t make sense, and (b) is not delivered by the dictator himself. That’s what we saw on Monday night . . .
More:
The next day another Cuban official read a more entertaining letter in which Castro purports to explain (again in pure Newspeak) that because of the imminent threat from the United States, the details of his health are now a state secret. But there’s only one detail about Castro’s health that could possibly be a state secret: that he’s dead. Sure, he could be in a coma. But any student of Communism can say now with certainty that his reign is over. The only thing his heirs care about now is figuring out who really controls the estate — and who’s going to end up with it.
He compares the info coming out of Cuba with all the "health" statements regarding Soviet dictators, and rounds up the key players in the power struggle that must be taking place right now.
On a related matter, I enjoyed this euphemistic headline: Cuban Americans keep close eye on ailing Castro. Yes, as the Munchkins kept a close eye on the ailing Wicked Witch of the West. For the record, a Cuba Libre is easy: rum & coke w/ a splash of lime.
