U.S. Interests Section report on Castro's near death (Wikileaks)

[rabs]

Cable is from COM Michael E. Parmly four years ago when Castro suffered a near-fatal intestinal rupture. Report details the illness and operations. It is the first time I see that it happened in mid-flight with no doctor aboard. Note that Parmly calls Castro "dictator" in his report.

COM = Chief of Mission at the Interests Section in Havana.



4. (C) Doctor's Statement:

"The illness began in the plane from Holguin to Havana (Note:
after a full day of July 26, 2006 activities. End note). As
this was a short flight there was no doctor aboard and they
had to land urgently once they knew of his bleeding. He was
diagnosed with diverticulitis of the colon.


7. (C) Comment: We are missing too many variables to be able
to predict accurately how many more months Fidel Castro will
live. Frankly, we don't believe anyone, including Castro
himself, can state that with certainty. However, while he is
still alive, even in a reduced capacity, his presence has a
chilling and retardant effect on Cuban society. The high
expectations for change are still out there, but are mostly
associated with the idea that the dictator has to die first
before anything substantial will happen.
PARMLY


Cable:
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cable/crisis/Castro/pleno/vuelo/elpepuint/20101215elpepuint_22/Tes

[flamingdem]

1. diverticulitis?

I didn't know that can kill someone! I remember the Saturday Night Live sketch with the Whiner family complaining about it.. with that the disease gained a kind of joke status.

It would be interesting to learn what happened after that since there were so many conflicting reports on his treatment.

[rabs]

3. From reading the cable

I understand the original operation to fix the diverticulitis in the large intestine failed and the ensuing infection spread, creating a fistula and necesitating another operation or operations.

[social_critic]

2. I suppose you think he's elected in free elections?

If so, how come they don't allow political parties other than the communists to hold a congress?

[Billy Burnett]

4. Stick to the topic. Like you lecture others to do.

Cheers

[flamingdem]

5. I think that

there's no need to make this forum an extension of the gusano blogs. We can go check those if we want that kind of "information".