Bad news for Castro: He says he's stable

Castro's communism is different from the old Soviet brand, but when I read this I began to think back to the old Soviet days.

Fidel Castro told his people he was in good spirits and stable after surgery that has raised speculation his illness might be the beginning of the end of his 47-year rule.

Days short of his 80th birthday, Castro issued a statement on Tuesday playing down talk he might be at death's door after an operation to halt stomach bleeding that forced him to temporarily relinquish power to his 75-year-old brother, Raul.

Back in the USSR, when a statement was issued about an ill leader's good health, he was usually already dead and the wrangling over succession was already taking place. Again, Castro's communism is very different from the USSR, so he may very well be doing quite well. But then again, don't be surprised if he dies soon.