Did you expect anything but optimism as the official line from the Venezuelan government following President Hugo Chavez's second surgery in Cuba this week?
Vice President Elias Jaua told the country's national chamber today that, "President Chavez is in good physical condition," even after reports surfaced this week via WikiLeaks indicating that Chavez has less than a year to live.
Chavez traveled to Cuba this week, and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his pelvis region. It's Chavez's second cancer surgery in less than a year. He underwent another treatment in Cuba just this past June.
"A total extraction of the diagnosed pelvic lesion was performed, removing also the tissue surrounding the lesion," Jaua said according to the Associated Press. "There were no complications related to the local organs."
Other government officials spread similar statements through out the country's state-controlled media.
But other reports indicate that Chavez's condition is far more serious.
WikiLeaks dumped a trove of e-mails earlier this week that supposedly included information from both Cuban and Russian doctors who are treating the dictator. Russian doctors say he has less than a year to live. The Cuban doctors have a slightly more optimistic prognosis of two years.
Venezuelan officials are mum on the exact nature of Chavez's cancer, but the e-mails indicate the a cancerous growth started near his prostate and had since spread to his colon.
Chavez is up for re-election in October, and has vowed to run despite his health concerns.
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