Castro appears on Cuban state TV

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is appearing in his first taped television interview for more than three months.
Mr Castro, 81, who looked thin but healthy, has not appeared in public since July last year when he underwent emergency intestinal surgery.

There have been no official photographs or video footage of him since 5 June.

Mr Castro spoke slowly with long pauses about a range of international topics including the strength of the dollar against the euro.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7007794.stm

---

I guess something got lost in translation - weakness of the dollar might have been more appropriate.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video

Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video
The Associated Press
Friday, September 21, 2007; 6:36 PM



HAVANA -- Fidel Castro looked alert and healthier in a video taped Friday, the first images released of the ailing 81-year-old leader in more than three months. In the video aired unexpectedly on Cuban state television Friday evening, Castro spoke slowly and softly and didn't always look the interviewer in the eye. But he appeared to be thinking clearly.

Officials broke into regularly scheduled programming only minutes earlier to announce that an hour-long "conversation" with Castro would be shown.

The broadcaster said the video was taped Friday, and during a rambling interview with the host of the government's nightly "Round-table" news program, Castro discussed topics ranging from the price of oil to the value of dollar, giving Thursday's closing prices for each.

Castro also talked about an essay he had published Thursday morning, and controversies over proposed anti-missile systems.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092101720.html

[Snarkturian Clone]

2. Of course he looks healthy, he's about to go runnin'! nt

[dipsydoodle]

3. Thanks

The Beeb didn't have a picture up. He looks fine to me which is good and long may he prosper.

Screw those hooligans in Miami.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Damned right, screw'em! Screw their fascist backers in Congress, too.

What a shame for them they have lost their most powerful allies!







Soon to leave, their beloved pResident, with any luck:

[cboy4]

10. He does love his red, white and blue USA running suit

I dunno, if I was a dictator running Cuba, I'd prolly change the colors to something else.

[Scurrilous]

16. That's a Cuban track suit.

In the pic accompanying this article you can make out the word Cuba and the Olympic rings (enlarging helps):

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-21-castro_N.htm?csp=23&RM_Exclude=aol

[Judi Lynn]

17. Kinda makes sense, doesn't it, considering their flag.

[Mika]

5. C'mon people. Those vids/pics are faked. Castro is dead.

Ask DU's assorted drive-by Cuba "experts".

-

[DavidDvorkin]

6. It's a robot

And therein lies the danger.

Clearly, this is one of the new, super advanced North Korean robots. The Cubans are doing this as a test, and if it goes well enough, they will create an army of robots that will march underwater to Florida and begin the invasion of the U.S.

We must bomb them to smithereens now, while there's still time.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Video clip now up on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7007800/7007849.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1&ms3=20

[ohio2007]

13. and they wedged him between the OBL clips..interesting

;)

/sarc

[Judi Lynn]

8. It's no accident circuses winter in Florida. All the clowns live in Miami!

Cuba's Castro Looks Healthy in New Video
1 hour ago

HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro looked alert and healthier during an hour-long interview taped and aired on Cuban television Friday, responding to rumors of his death with a defiant "here I am."

In the first video of the ailing 81-year-old revolutionary seen in more than three months, a pale Castro stayed seated the entire time, spoke slowly and softly and didn't always look the interviewer in the eye. But he appeared to be thinking clearly.
(snip)

Backing up the assertion, Castro mentioned recent prices of oil and the value of the euro against the dollar. He also discussed an essay he signed that was published in state media on Wednesday.

"Yesterday the euro was at US$1.41. Oil I think about US$84 a barrel," Castro said.
(snip)

Arnaldo Fuster, who watched the Castro interview with his wife and children in his old Havana home, said he thought the Cuban leader looked better in the latest video.

"He's whole. He's better, I think, than ever," Fuster said. "He's old, but he's whole. His memory is normal, he looks normal."

But in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, people greeted the Castro video with a mixture of skepticism and disappointment. Some doubted the tape was made on Friday.

"Could be six months ago. Could be one year ago," said Cuban-born Victoria Martinez, 76, of Hollywood, Fla., who called the leader's talk "incoherent."
(snip/...)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jy28oND3HqxhdkJNawMbwugObYDw

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



They've got it all figured out from Miami!



Cuban "exile" "activist," Vigilia Mambisa's
Miguel Saavedra chasing pro-Venezuela demonstrator,
pitching his flying megaphone in the general direction
of the guy's head.

[Judi Lynn]

9. You might get a laugh from the Miami Herald's analysis of the video!

Castro seems aged, slower on TV show
Fidel Castro appeared in a television interview, looking haggard but sounding fairly lucid.
Posted on Sat, Sep. 22, 2007
BY FRANCES ROBLES
[e-mail]

More than three months after his last public showing, ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro made a surprise appearance on Cuban television Friday night, speaking slowly and clearly but looking visibly aged.

The hourlong interview with Cuban TV journalist Randy Alonso that aired on the state network Cubavisión also was the first since a recent outbreak of speculation that the Cuban leader had died.

Castro wore his signature red, white and blue track suit and spoke of international economic issues, such as the fall of the dollar and $84-a-barrel oil prices -- illustrating that the interview was taped Friday. He sat upright in a chair, a far cry from pictures a year ago showing him rail-thin and laying flat on his back on a hospital-type bed.

In a conversation that was at times difficult to follow, Castro often trailed off mid-sentence and needed prodding by Alonso to remind him of words or bring him back on track.

Alonso fawned over Castro, telling him how his voice sounded strong and that Miami exiles were going to ''fall on their backs'' when they see the latest video.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/246692.html

[dipsydoodle]

11. widespread speculation assuring that Castro had died.........

The stories often came on Fridays, and were usually accompanied with details about when the death announcement was expected...............blah blah blah

That's the problem with the Miami bunch - shit for brains and sharp as marbles.

He was certainly more lucid than Thatcher is these days and vastly more so than Reagan was. So what if it did take mare than hour or so to film.

[ohio2007]

12. Castro is very sick and his son hopes he will out live the busco reign

so,
sounds like his own family leaked out he has months,not years left to live.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Here's another article, from the Chicago Tribune, which has its own bureau in Havana.

Lucid Castro talks on Cuba television
He seems largely alert, criticizes U.S.
By Michael Martinez Tribune correspondent
September 22, 2007

HAVANA - Largely alert and lucid, Fidel Castro made a surprise appearance on a television news program Friday evening in a prerecorded hourlong interview, speaking about an essay he wrote earlier this week accusing the U.S. of threatening the global economy.

His appearance was unusual because Castro has mostly been out of the public eye since he underwent emergency intestinal surgery 14 months ago. The government has at times shown photographs and video of Castro, but his exact illness and prognosis are secrets. Castro's only other long television interview was in early June.

During Friday's interview, Castro's voice remained weak. But he maintained his signature ability for rambling discourse, as well as animated gestures, including once slapping an object that was off screen.

On a few occasions, the interviewer had to coach and prompt Castro, including correcting Castro on the number of "Reflections" columns -- 45 -- he has written during his illness. He seemed to be at a loss for words at points but became energized as time went along.

Castro's appearance comes as rumors about his demise have reached a fever pitch in the Cuban exile community in South Florida, but his appearance Friday suggested he is slowly gaining strength during a more than yearlong convalescence.

More:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/saturday/chi-castro_martinez1sep22,0,3709356.story

[dipsydoodle]

15. Good to see some truth from your news media

which sure makes a change. Very astute of Fidel Castro to mention current news items as to validate the video date.

Didn't know his first name was Lucid - very cool name that. I might refer to by that name in future.........with laughter and respect.

[Judi Lynn]

18. You're right, there! Do you think you could get the ones who claim it was made

a long time ago to grasp that little detail? Probably not. They're pretty busy with their rocket science projects.

Yes, "El Lucido!" Damned catchy. It's not a name you'd want to give to just any politician, is it?

[dipsydoodle]

20. Yo !

All we need now are "El Lucido" T shirts. Well thought up !:toast:

[David__77]

21. I hope he lives to be 110.

Wouldn't that be funny. Of course, he'd be like Deng Xiaoping and retire from public life I'm sure, but it would probably help assure Cuba's stability until it can restructure its economy and develop energy resources.

[dipsydoodle]

19. Added detail now on the Prensa Latina site.

Havana, Sep 22 (Prensa Latina) In a televised interview dressed in a tracksuit, Cuban President Fidel Castro warned about the possible self-destruction of the world, blaming that in a large part to US promotion of war, arms buildup and the right to use any type of weapons.

In an interview broadcast on Cuban radio and television Friday, the Cuban leader asserted the US strongly supports the right to buy the world with dollars lacking gold reserves to back them up.

>

The ideal solution, he pointed out, would be that the world does not fight to self-destroy, and called to preserve it through cooperation, as "everything points to devastation." During his conversation with journalist Randy Alonso, Fidel Castro looked recovered, and jabbed at rumors spread by enemies of the Cuban Revolution.

http://www.plenglish.com.mx/ You'll need to hit the appropriate link.

[Judi Lynn]

22. Photo shows heavier-looking Fidel Castro standing, meeting with Angolan president

Photo shows heavier-looking Fidel Castro standing, meeting with Angolan president
Posted on Sun, Sep. 23, 2007Digg del.icio.us AIM print email
By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press Writer

HAVANA -- Cuba published a photo Sunday of a standing, smiling Fidel Castro looking heavier but still gaunt as he met with Angola's president, the first head of state to see the ailing 81-year-old since June.

The picture, which appeared on the front page of Communist Party youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde, shows Castro in a track suit, athletic pants and tennis shoes. The Cuban leader appears to have gained weight and wears a warm half-smile as he shakes hands with Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, who was in Cuba since Thursday on an official visit.

The image was released two days after Castro gave a surprise hourlong interview on state television, during which he answered rumors about his death that have swirled recently in the United States by saying simply, "well, here I am."

Sunday's photo was the first time Castro has been seen standing in months. He stayed seated during the interview, which aired Friday evening just hours after officials said it was taped.

Held in an undisclosed location, the meeting between Castro and Dos Santos reportedly took place Saturday afternoon and lasted an hour and 45 minutes.

"I could see him recuperating," Dos Santos told Cuba's state news agency, Prensa Latina. "He's strong, with good enthusiasm."

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/247722.html