Fidel Castro - 83 and Still in Charge?

The 83 year old former Cuban leader made headline news when he appeared on a rare televised interview last Monday. According to Castro the US is pushing for what will become a nuclear war against Iran and North Korea and openly blamed the US for the sinking of a South Korean ship that killed 46 sailors.

Castro said he was disappointed China and Russia didn't veto a UN Security Council resolution for additional sanctions against Iran following it's illegal nuclear program.

Dressed in a dark blue tracksuit and a plaid shirt and at the tender age of 83, Fidel is far from being an old forgotten relic. His recent hour long TV interview on a local Cuban TV sent shock waves on a global scale.

To watch Fidel Castro's TV appearance click here

The recent photos surfacing on Saturday showing an ailing Castro meeting people at the National Center of Scientific Investigations in Havana, were the first sightings the world has seen of Castro in a very long time.

Following his intestinal surgery in 2006 and the rise to power of Castro's younger brother Raul in February 2008, Fidel Castro made very little public appearances for nearly half a decade yet the world seems to be eager to catch a glimpse of the ailing ex Cuban leader.

International news agencies reported that Castro's reappearance deeply resonated in the Cuban capital. According to CNN Cubans still want to " hear him, see him" because they haven't seen for him for a long time, and the world is following suit.

Fidel Castro was one of the most twittered topics on Tuesday and became the most popular topic in the Twitter world following his Monday interview. Is this a sign that we will see more of the ex Cuban leader after his disappearance more than four years ago?

What seems to be certain is that the former president appeared to be lucid and relaxed during the interview and still has his trademark highly opinionated view when it comes to world politics.

According to the Associated Press, during his interview Castro openly discussed topics ranging from America's out of control spending on defense, to China lending money to Cuba to buy energy efficient light bulbs.

To learn more details about Castro's TV interview click here

Even though Fidel Castro ceded power to his younger brother in 2008 and helped Raul Castro solidify his position as Cuba's leader, he still is the head of Cuba's Communist Party and continued publishing his thoughts in the press and is far from being forgotten.

The recent photographs and the hour long interview that sent ripples in the media world, seem to be a well orchestrated stunt to send the message that Castro might have been out of sight for a long time but he still has a say on what matters in Cuba.

Works cited

Associated Press Fidel castro makes rare tv appearance ndtv.com

"Castro blames US for stoking nuclear tensions" CNN.com