Havana – Troops are massing for a huge parade and guests are arriving from around the world to celebrate Fidel Castro’s delayed 80th birthday party. The only question is whether the ailing guest of honor will appear after four months out of the public eye.
Whether Castro shows up for some of the five days of festivities starting today will give Cubans and the world clues about the leader’s health and ability to resume the power he held for 47 years – or at least feed further speculation about it.
Rows of troops in olive-green fatigues marched Monday morning across Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution to prepare for a big military parade on Saturday honoring Castro and marking the 50th anniversary of the island’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Just outside the plaza, more than a dozen missile launchers were lined up while military helicopters buzzed and MiG jet fighters zoomed overhead.
If Castro does appear, Cuban authorities are likely to celebrate it as a major victory over the leader’s enemies. A no-show is likely to set off a new round of speculation about his health, his chances for survival and the nation’s future.
Details of Castro’s ailment have been treated as a state secret, and his absence from the public scene has fueled persistent rumors about his health.
Despite periodic statements by Cuban officials insisting he is recovering nicely, U.S. officials say they are convinced Castro suffers from an inoperable cancer and won’t live through 2007.
Castro has been seen by the public only in photos and videos since announcing on July 31 he was temporarily ceding power to his 75-year-old brother, Defense Minister Raul Castro, after his emergency operation for sustained intestinal bleeding.
Although the latest images released in late October showed Castro had regained much of the 41 pounds reportedly lost since he fell ill, he nevertheless appeared pale and fragile.
