Raúl speaks The guy finally made a public statement! Key points:

* Fidel is (allegedly) making a fine recovery, thanks in no small part to the "love and dedication" of his doctors.

* Reserves were mobilized so quickly after the transition announcement because "we could not rule out the risk of someone going crazy, or even crazier, within the U.S. government."

* "Absolute tranquility is reigning in the country." (Translation: we have finally found a temporary solution to our internal Politburo disputes, probably by tranquilizing Pérez Roque.)

And he explains (sort of) his very weird lack of public activity until now:

"As a point of fact, I am not used to making frequent appearances in public, except at times when it is required. Many tasks related to defense should not be made public and have to be handled with maximum care, and that has been one of my fundamental responsibilities. [...] I have always been discreet, that is my way, and in passing I will clarify that I am thinking of continuing in that way. But that has not been the fundamental reason why I don't appear very often in the mass media; simply, it has not been necessary."  ¶ 10:10 AM