On Cancer and Character

When Pres. Santos announced yesterday that he had prostate cancer and would have surgery in a Bogotá hospital it was difficult not to note the contrast with Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chavez's own case of cancer, which he first kept secret and had treated in communist Cuba, where the government-controlled press doesn't do much prying. With Venezuela's presidential election just a few days away, it's still not clear that Chavez has beaten the cancer, because his doctors have never provided a complete report.

For Colombians, the much more important points, of course, are Santos' prognosis and his ability to do his job.

Apparently, the cancer was caught early and the president has a strong chance of beating the illness. But cancer is a terrible disease, and no prognosis is certain. And this illness comes at a delicate time, when Colombia's government is beginning peace talks with the FARC guerrillas. If the president's health is uncertain, will the guerrillas be able to count on the government's commitments? That's especially true when the vice president's ability to govern is uncertain.

The president's cancer puts fresh attention on the health of Vice President Garzon, who suffered a stroke in June. The last time this blogger heard the Vice President speak, a few months ago, he sounded in no condition to govern the country.

Pres. Santos is fulfilling his responsibility to the people who elected him by being open about his health. VP Garzon should do the same by stepping aside so that someone more able

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours