Cuba Calm as Castro Recovers

HAVANA, Aug. 5, 2006 — -- A week into Communist Cuba's long-awaited leadership crisis, it appears there no crisis actually happening.

Official reports, cabinet member statements, comments from estranged family in the United States and Cuban government sources indicate Fidel Castro, 79, has begun recovering from emergency stomach surgery (though he is not out of danger) and his designated successor, brother Raul Castro, 75, is firmly in charge as a carefully scripted succession plan is carried out.

The political and military leadership has closed ranks around Raul, though he remains out of sight. The official -- and only -- media is spewing out endless sympathy and praise for the Castro brothers by sports figures, cultural figures and man-on-the-street interviews, but little concrete information.

Elite military reserves were already being called up Monday evening when the government broke the news that Fidel Castro was seriously ill and no longer governing for the first time in 47 years, albeit perhaps only temporarily. Soon after, internal security forces were placed on alert, as were Communist party cells and the block-level Committees in Defense of the Revolution.

The alert appeared precautionary, as there was no indication of a military threat from the United States or internal chaos that might panic Cuban-Americans into trying to help relatives or other people on the Caribbean island to flee. Both governments appeared determined to avoid an immigration crisis or direct confrontation.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice did send a message to the Cuban people, carried on the U.S.-funded Cuban broadcasters Radio and TV Marti, stating the United States is committed to supporting a future of freedom for Cuba, but a check of major cities and Havana municipalities found no one had heard or seen her for various reasons, including Cuban government jamming.

A huge electronic sign mounted on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana at times also sent out such messages, but a flag field erected on the parking lot when the sign first lit up in January obscures it from view unless one walks directly by the building.