Fidel Castro: Obama Misinterpreted Raul
Fidel Castro said Tuesday that President Obama "misinterpreted" his brother Raul's sentiments toward the United States and bristled at any suggestion Cuba should free political prisoners or reduce official fees on money sent to the island from the U.S.
Raul Castro touched off a whirlwind of speculation that the U.S. and Cuba could be headed toward a thaw in nearly a half-century of chilly relations last week, when he said Cuban leaders would be willing to sit down with their U.S. counterparts and discuss "everything," including human rights, freedom of the press and expression, and political prisoners on the island.
Mr. Obama responded at the Summit of the Americas by saying Washington seeks a new beginning with Cuba, but he also said Sunday that Cuba should release some political prisoners and reduce official taxes on remittances from the U.S. as a sign of good will.
That appeared to enrage Fidel Castro, 82, who wrote in an essay posted on a government Web site that Mr. Obama "without a doubt misinterpreted Raul's declarations."
The former president appeared to be throwing a dose of cold water on growing expectations for improved bilateral relations - suggesting Mr. Obama had no right to dare suggest that Cuba make even small concessions. He also seemed to suggest too much was being made of Raul's comments about discussing "everything" with U.S. authorities.
"Affirming that the president of Cuba is ready to discuss any topic with the president of the United States expresses that he's not afraid to broach any subject," Fidel Castro wrote of his 77-year-old brother, who succeeded him as president 14 months ago.
"It's a sign of bravery and confidence in the principles of the revolution," he said, referring to the rebel uprising that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista and brought the Castros to power on New Year's Day 1959.
Castro compared the prisoners arrested in 2003 to exiles who attacked the island's southern coast during the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and said they were "at the service of a foreign power that threatens and blockades our country," referring to charges they conspired with Washington to destabilize the communist system.
The ex-president had previously expressed his admiration for Mr. Obama, but this time Castro blasted the new U.S. president for showing signs of "superficiality."
He also defended Cuba's right to levy a 10 percent fee on every U.S. dollar sent to relatives on the island by Cuban-Americans, saying if the money arriving from abroad "is in dollars, all the more reason we should do it because it is the currency of the country that blockades us."
All top Cuban leaders routinely call the 47-year-old trade embargo against this country a blockade.
"Not all Cubans have family members overseas that send remittances," Castro said, adding that Cuba uses the revenue from fees on exchanging dollars to provide free health care, education and subsidized food to all of its population.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Raul Castro touched off a whirlwind of speculation that the U.S. and Cuba could be headed toward a thaw in nearly a half-century of chilly relations last week, when he said Cuban leaders would be willing to sit down with their U.S. counterparts and discuss "everything," including human rights, freedom of the press and expression, and political prisoners on the island.
Mr. Obama responded at the Summit of the Americas by saying Washington seeks a new beginning with Cuba, but he also said Sunday that Cuba should release some political prisoners and reduce official taxes on remittances from the U.S. as a sign of good will.
That appeared to enrage Fidel Castro, 82, who wrote in an essay posted on a government Web site that Mr. Obama "without a doubt misinterpreted Raul's declarations."
The former president appeared to be throwing a dose of cold water on growing expectations for improved bilateral relations - suggesting Mr. Obama had no right to dare suggest that Cuba make even small concessions. He also seemed to suggest too much was being made of Raul's comments about discussing "everything" with U.S. authorities.
"Affirming that the president of Cuba is ready to discuss any topic with the president of the United States expresses that he's not afraid to broach any subject," Fidel Castro wrote of his 77-year-old brother, who succeeded him as president 14 months ago.
"It's a sign of bravery and confidence in the principles of the revolution," he said, referring to the rebel uprising that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista and brought the Castros to power on New Year's Day 1959.
He was referring to 75 leading political opposition leaders who were rounded up and imprisoned six years ago. Some 54 of them remain behind bars, though Raul Castro suggested last year that Cuba would be willing to liberate some political prisoners if U.S. authorities would free five imprisoned Cuban spies.
Castro compared the prisoners arrested in 2003 to exiles who attacked the island's southern coast during the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and said they were "at the service of a foreign power that threatens and blockades our country," referring to charges they conspired with Washington to destabilize the communist system.
The ex-president had previously expressed his admiration for Mr. Obama, but this time Castro blasted the new U.S. president for showing signs of "superficiality."
He also defended Cuba's right to levy a 10 percent fee on every U.S. dollar sent to relatives on the island by Cuban-Americans, saying if the money arriving from abroad "is in dollars, all the more reason we should do it because it is the currency of the country that blockades us."
All top Cuban leaders routinely call the 47-year-old trade embargo against this country a blockade.
"Not all Cubans have family members overseas that send remittances," Castro said, adding that Cuba uses the revenue from fees on exchanging dollars to provide free health care, education and subsidized food to all of its population.
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Cuba will be the 51st State in Less then 15 years.
Its been in the works for Years and its a Super Secret American Agenda Plan
Posted by Oregon_State_OSU at 1:55 PM : Apr 22, 2009
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That's some plan.
I seriously doubt this little socialist dictatorship will fall into a free market frenzy when Fidel takes a dirt nap. He's had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel for years.
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Problem here is that in reality there really is no embargo of goods. If Cuba wanted anything they could get it from any of the other American Countries that do not have such an embargo. Pretty sure that if a Cuban wanted an IPod, they could get it. They just have to have pay an additional middleman.
Posted by CLoverNYC1
Until we become energy independent, bowing them to death is about all we can do.
Posted by DefendLiberty"
The embargo should be unilaterally lifted! We have refuted our principles and empowered our enemy by having it. There is no need for negotiating, just end the embargo and watch Cuba change as money flows, tourism grows and everyone can see what a failure the communist system has been for the island. Isolation is the protector of communism - just look at North Korea! The embargo is a powerful tool for the communists, the exact opposite of what you and many others believe it to be...
I saw this first hand in Czechoslovakia, I know what I am talking about!
Posted by tomar01 at 11:26 AM : Apr 22, 2009
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After that very poor showing of power with the Saudi king, I can only ask what is President Obama going to do, bow them to death?
Posted by Joe-NY-4 at 8:07 AM : Apr 22, 2009
Obama is talking to everyone! Communists among them. Better to talk to your enemies than go to war!
Posted by tomar01 at 11:26 AM : Apr 22, 2009
Fidel "the conservative" Castro will be dead soon, and Raul will free the country.
Posted by hungry1968-15 at 11:41 AM
To all this is a TEST. ONLY TEST. It's similar to testing the water before you jump in. Country leaders are being tested...