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Jet lag is one thing, but the rapid transition from focusing intently on Middle East diplomacy to today's unexpected developments about Fidel Castro is more than a shock to the system. Two hours after getting home from accompanying Condoleezza Rice on her trip to the Mideast and Malaysia, I got the call about Castro and repacked to head toward Havana.
Until the Cuban government opens the doors to American television journalists, I'll be reporting from Miami about this most enduring, and mysterious, leader. How ill is he? U.S. officials aren't sure, but think he is still alive. Privately, they are urging activists in Miami to remain calm. In extraordinary footage of Castro at his last public rallies, shot by NBC's talented Roberto Leon last week, Castro looks drawn and frail, but was still able to appear at two rallies and speak for more than six hours. He also traveled to Argentina for an arduous summit on July 21.
I first met Castro in 1999, when I was covering the Elian Gonzalez story. A few years later, he told me his brother Raul would succeed him, saying, "I am about five years his senior, and Raul is very healthy, by the way, he is just 70. And he celebrated it by climbing the Torquina mountains, which is the highest peak in Cuba. He did so surrounded by his family. And he did it in a record time, and he's doing so well with his health. Undoubtedly, he is the comrade who has more authority after me and who is most experienced. Therefore, I think he has the capacity to succeed me."
Now the question is whether this is a short-term transition or a dress rehearsal for the real thing.
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HISTORY, HOSPITALIZED
If and when Castro passes we will see the biggest boat lift that we have ever seen. Being in Miami is probably the best place to be reporting from when this happens
Dave, Peoria, Arizona (Sent Aug 6, 2006 11:22:31 PM)
This morning on Today, your report included footage released by the Cuban government of rallies of support for Fidel and ostensibly normal life being carried out on the streets of Havana. How can NBC News, under the pretense of objective journalism, justify using this footage when it has no knowledge of how staged or contrived its content is? It seems to me that until American journalists are able to report from the country themselves, news organizations such as NBC should only air such footage after notifying their viewers that it has been released by the Cuban government, and its neutrality cannot be verified.
Steven, Miami, FL (Sent Aug 2, 2006 4:56:12 PM)
Andrea,
I am interested in hearing a response related to the earlier post regarding the U.S. not allowing television news crews into Cuba vs the Cuban Government not allowing it. Which is correct? Tonight's news cast indicated that Raul Castro may be a hardliner, but could be willing to make some positive economic changes in policy. What information leads you to draw that conclusion? I am always impressed by your reports and look forward to following your coverage on this topic.
Rudy Lienau, Madison, Wisconsin (Sent Aug 2, 2006 1:31:38 AM)
I doubt the Cuban government is keeping US journalists out of Cuba. It is the US government that prevents Americans from freely traveling to Cuba. This is all thanks to asinine policies that pander to Cuban exiles in Florida and make a mockery of the "freedom" we are supposed to have.
It's really stupid that we can buy billions of dollars of goods from Communist China through Wal-Mart, we can buy all kinds of textiles etc. from Communist Vietnam, but we are forbidden from having any economic relations with Cuba.
Jack, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Aug 1, 2006 5:28:25 PM)
Andrea,
Do you think the administration has a plan of action for relations with Cuba when Castro croaks?
George Lynn Clarkston, MI (Sent Aug 1, 2006 4:53:19 PM)
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