Meanwhile In Cuba

Dissidents in Cuba report that the Cuban military has beefed up it's presence in the Eastern part of the country. They are being told that the troops have orders to crack down hard on any signs of unrest.

HAVANA (AP) — Dissidents in Cuba's eastern provinces say the country's military has beefed up its presence on the streets and is telling citizens they have permission to respond with force against anyone who speaks out against the government.

In a series of interviews conducted by phone in Miami on Friday, dissidents told the Associated Press they are fearful about retaliations against political opponents of the government.

"Everybody now knows that Fidel is ill, but everyone is waiting," said Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, 41, an attorney from the province of Ciego de Avila. "They are wondering what is going to happen. There is a grave silence. It's like being in the center of a hurricane."

Gonzalez, who became blind as a child and went on to study law in Havana, was accused in 2002 of insubordination to Castro and spent more than two years in prison. His case gained international attention after Amnesty International called for his release.

Gonzalez said officials met with neighborhood watch groups on Tuesday to encourage them to look out for anyone who might speak against Castro.

"My concern right now is for the political prisoners in this country, and what could happen to them," Gonzalez said.

He said that on Wednesday night a mob came to the home of Yamile Llanes, who is the wife of Jose Luis Garcia Penequi, and threatened her. Garcia was among one of 75 political opponents rounded up by the Cuban government in 2003 and accused of being on the U.S. government payrolls. Both the dissidents and Washington denied the allegation. He remains incarcerated.

Gonzalez said he and others are asking that the government hold free elections and urged other Cubans not to participate in mob attacks, or "repudios" as they are called, against dissidents.

Gonzalez said his wife fled to the United States last year after being repeatedly harassed in government-sponsored attacks, but he refused to leave.

I would suspect that the army is deployed because the government is very afraid indeed of what the reaction will be to an announcement of Castro's death. Babalu Blog also notices this USA Today story and calls it a MSM epiphany. Welcome to the real world. By the way, if you are not checking Babalu every day, you are not getting the best and most complete Cuba coverage available.