Castro Hints His Era As Cuba President May Be Over
(CBS News) HAVANA Fidel Castro hinted that he will not resume his role
as Cuba's president, but refrained from making specific plans about his
future in an essay released Wednesday.
"Today, I am bombarded with questions as to when I will take up again
what some call power," Castro wrote in an essay titled "The Eternal
Flame," written on the first anniversary of his "temporary" departure
from the presidency.
"What will I do? I will fight tirelessly as I have done my entire life,"
Castro said, adding that his brother, Raúl, who has taken over as
president, consults with him on "every important decision."
While Cuba passed the one-year anniversary of Fidel Castro's withdrawal
from power without official mention of the fact on Tuesday, some local
radio stations ran commentaries noting that despite predictions of
uprisings and chaos following the announcement of Castro's illness, the
island remained calm, CBS News producer Portia Siegelbaum reported from
Havana.
Castro, who turns 81 on Aug. 13, has not been seen in public since he
underwent emergency intestinal surgery and withdrew from day-to-day
government on July 31, 2006.
But Cuba's communist leadership has defied predictions it would weaken
without the man who had led it since 1959, functioning smoothly under
76-year-old Raúl, the defense minister and first Vice-President.
Under the constitution, Raúl is in line to succeed his older brother. In
private conversations, government officials say the succession has
already taken place, Siegelbaum reported. Cubans believe Raúl Castro is
now firmly in charge and do not expect Fidel to come back, although many
say they would like to see him recovered and able to make public
appearances.
The struggle against our own deficiencies and against the insolent enemy
which seeks to take possession of Cuba must be unrelenting, Castro
wrote, referring to the United States as the enemy.
He also warned not to expect any possible negotiations with Washington.
However, last week Raúl Castro offered to sit down and talk if the new
U.S. administration is willing. A similar offer made by the younger
Castro last December was rebuffed by the Bush White House, Siegelbaum
reported.
In recent months he has made his opinions known through newspaper
columns entitled "Reflections of the Commander in Chief," weighing in on
Cuba's economy, the U.S. government and proposals to use food crops to
produce ethanol.
"Essays like today's are a way of keeping in the public eye without
actually coming out in public," noted Siegelbaum. "Castro is clearly
backing his brother Raúl, but at the same time is using his essays to
let people know that there has not been a change in ideology."
The last five columns focused on the Pan American games. Earlier in the
month he had said he was so engrossed watching Cuba's performance on
television that he sometimes forgot to eat and take his medicine.
The bearded leader is a lifelong sports fan and played basketball and
baseball in his youth.
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