Critical Mass

No one has seen Fidel Castro since he went into the hospital ten days ago for surgery for stomach cancer (those cigars, don't you know?). No one has seen his brother, Raul, since Fidel handed over power to him while Fidel was in the hospital. Blogs in Havana and Miami are speculating wildly that the 'disappearances' of the two old lions of la revolucion actually portend a military coup, to be announced on August 13, four days from now.

The erratic Mr. Chavez of Venezuela is waiting in the wings to take over the mantle as Latin America's 'true believer' socialist. He has oil, he has an army, he's great on populism, and...he doesn't smoke cigars.

'Be free,' Cuba.