Report: Castro Has Terminal Cancer

U.S. Officials Believe Cuban Leader Will Not Return To Power

(CBS/AP)  Fidel Castro has terminal cancer and will not return to power as Cuba's leader, anonymous U.S. officials tell TIME magazine.

However, the officials said the intelligence reports on the ailing, 80-year-old Cuban president are not definitive.

Last month, Castro said in a statement that he has lost more than 41 pounds since he had intestinal surgery but added that the "most critical moment" was behind him.

The statement was accompanied by 10 photographs of Castro during his convalescence, in all of them sitting up and wearing either short-sleeved navy blue or light-blue pajamas. In several he is reading or writing.

Most of the pictures showed the leader from the waist up, although one shows his whole body as he sits in a rocking chair with slippers on his feet, reading what looks to be a newspaper.

The Cuban leader announced on July 31 that he was stepping aside as president to recover from the operation. It remains unclear when he had the surgery.

He said he was temporarily turning over power to his 75-year-old brother Raul, the defense minister. It was the first time in 47 years of rule that Castro had stepped aside, even temporarily.

In the weeks since, the nature of his surgery and his specific ailment have been treated as a state secret.

"All of us must understand that it is not convenient to systematically offer information, nor give out images of my health situation," Castro added. "All of us must also understand realistically that the complete recovery time, whether we like it or not, will be prolonged.

"At this moment I am not in a hurry, and no one should be in a hurry. The country is marching and moving ahead," he said.

Even if I don't necesary agree with imposed President Fidel Castro and his inhuman way that got him to power, I sincerely wish him the best and may God have mercy on his soul. Time is the best judge, I think time has taken its toll. I wish the best to our Cuban brothers and the Blessing of god all mighty.

[carlylaine]

rhammerh

You are correct.

bragova!!!

I would like to know why you think Americans are so 'nasty'? Give examples please....and AMERICANS will be able to come up with millions of our caring. We have given more than any other country and get nothing but grief in return because other countries are jealous-but they won't follow our lead and want AMERICA to be perfect and when we fail---that's our humanity---they want to destroy us.

[rhammerh]

No, bragova, Americans are the most kindhearted people on Earth. Castro is a murderer and backstabbing assasin. Don't twist it around. He was known, even during his days in university at Havana, as a bully who carried a gun. He associated with scum, the lowest kind of human beings possible, including one Luis Arcos Bergnes who was nothing but a woman molester, a thief, and a low-life and yet is today venerated as a patriot that he never was. Same thingwith Che. Same thing with Raul Castro. Same thing with all those governing Cuba today: scum. Americans, if you check the records, have been helping humanity with money, missionaries, charities, exchange students, and programs to alleviate poverty all over the world. It is the malcontents, the scum like Castro who envy Americans and try to discredit them. Get some reading done about History and you might see what America has done for the world, in spite of all its defects. And, who is perfect, Fidel? Chavez? As I said, try to think for a change.

[bragova]

Why are Americans such nasty people?

[DannyWR]

I'm hoping that Castro is sick //
And leaves from the Earth real quick //
I'll puff on my tuba //
Libre' For All Cuba //
Well placed by Lucifer's pick//

Democracy will rule the day when the old man dies. His brother may try to suppress it at first, but he'll wind up hanging from a tree because of it.

www.politipoll.net

[dameonmac14]

For bein' so old, he's caused quiet a ruckus. Give credit where due, he's lasted this long. Hopefully things will change for the better when it comes to the people in Cuba

[rhammerh]

Castro is a ***, a back-stabbing creep who fooled everyone into believing he would be for democracy, a return to the Constitution of '40, and elections within one year after Batista's exit. Instead he sent people to firing squads, imprisoned tens or hundreds of thousands, and created apartheid, male and female prostitutes for tourists, and made Cubans the most submissive slaves, the most disheartened people in the world with the highest rate of suicides.

[long_rider]

You have to admire te old boy, he did it his way and stood up to everyone. I wish him the best of luck.

I guess the mofia will be back down there to claim their prior holdings.

If I was Castro I would mail the chimp a pint of P#SS. Put a label on it "fresh from the fountain of youth".

[chicatibu]

Love him hate him Castro was an impotent figure in world politics for many years.
He reminded America it wasn%u2019t the only country with influence in the Americas.
One thing is for cretin one year after Castro%u2019s death Cuba will be flooded with American investment dollars and Cuba will become the Los Vegas of the Caribbean. There is something charismatic about Cuba the rest of the Caribbean doesn%u2019t have, I can%u2019t explain it but I experienced it every time I visited Cuba.

[tibu987]

Hopefully, with Castro's passing on, Cuba can regain, from it's years of backwardness, it's rightful place among democratic nations and let us all enjoy Cuba's people, music, and rich history, a place which Cuba certainly deserves after so many years of hardship. Castro's legacy leaves nothing to be admired.

[peaceforusa]

Gee, isn't old age hell. All the leaders that have been in power will die within the next few years due to old age. It is time to get a new generation of leaders.. leaders that believe in peace and democracy, and not dictatorships.

[pursuit51]

Castro neither deserves to die nor remain in power. He needs to step out of politics and allow Cuba to evolve without his dictatorship.

[nothappyatall]

They always quote ANONYMOUS sources for these stories... the guy is EIGHTY years old, he's already ived several years past the average, so whether he has cancer or not doesn't matter- statistically he can go at any time of anything.
WHen he goes his brother age 75 will take over, he's likely as screwy as Castro is.

[gramto7]

You do know that we are telling our age when we can remember the 5 and dime's!

[gramto7]

Don'cha know? These are the same ones that figured out that Terri Schiavo was very much alert by watching highly edited video, but never once seeing her in person.

[j_flood]

I wish him well, but it could be worse for his country - he could have found a 'fountain of youth'.
John, Ireland