Castro: Criticism of Cuban System Misrepresented

(CBS/AP)  Fidel Castro says his comments about Cuba's communist economic model were misinterpreted by a visiting American journalist.

Appearing at the University of Havana on Friday, the 84-year-old ex-president says he meant "exactly the opposite" of the quote contained in a blog by Atlantic magazine reporter Jeffrey Goldberg.

Goldberg wrote Wednesday that he asked Castro if Cuba's economic system was still worth exporting to other countries. He said that Castro replied: "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore."

It was a rare comment on domestic affairs from a man who has taken pains to steer clear of local issues since illness forced him to step down as president four years ago.

The fact that things are not working efficiently on the cash-strapped Caribbean island is hardly news. Fidel's brother Raul, the country's president, has said the same thing repeatedly. But the blunt assessment by the father of Cuba's 1959 revolution is sure to raise eyebrows.

Goldberg, a national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine, asked Castro if Cuba's economic system was still worth exporting to other countries, and Castro replied: "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore," Goldberg wrote Wednesday in a post on his Atlantic blog.

The Cuban government had no immediate comment on Goldberg's account.

Julia Sweig, a Cuba expert at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations who accompanied Goldberg on the trip, confirmed the Cuban leader's comment, which he made at a private lunch last week.

She told The Associated Press she took the remark to be in line with Raul Castro's call for gradual but widespread reform.

"It sounded consistent with the general consensus in the country now, up to and including his brother's position," Sweig said.

In general, she said she found the 84-year-old Castro to be "relaxed, witty, conversational and quite accessible."

"He has a new lease on life, and he is taking advantage of it," Sweig said.

Castro stepped down temporarily in July 2006 due to a serious illness that nearly killed him.

[mecanik-2009]

We've launched economic war with Cuba for decades now and they seem to survive anyway. If they like their way of life I say let them have it. I see no reason to not trade with Cuba. Why should we keep up economic sanctions against them for choosing a system different then ours. Why are we so arrogant to think ours is the only way. Our system didn't work either until it was tweaked over the years. And now we're not doing so great anyway. Who are we to point the finger.

[kevjustice]

REAGAN TOLD THE SOVIET UNION/EAST GERMANY "TEAR DOWN YOUR WALL". WELL THEY HAVE. NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE U.S. TO TEAR DOWN THEIR WALL(EMBARGO OF CUBA).

[Quantrill13]

Is it really true that Imam Obama is reall the son of Fidel Castro?

[louiville35]

Man that was close thousands of US liberals just about slit their wrists. Valium consumption suddenly up, just fell off in Hollywood. Berkeley's hot line to the Cuban supreme comrade switchboard is cooling off.

[kevjustice]

CUBA IS A SMALL COUNTRY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. DO NOT COMPARE CUBA TO THE ECONOMIC GIANT U.S. BUT COMPARE CUBA TO HAITI WHICH IS MORE SIMILIAR IN SIZE/RESOURCES. CUBA HAS DONE VERY WELL IN SPITE OF THE EMBARGO IN EDUCATION,HEALTH CARE, ETC. THEY HAVE DONE BETTER THAN MANY LARGER LATIN AMERICA COUNTRIES. TOO MUCH COMMUNISM HAS PROBLEMS AS DOES TO MUCH RUNAWAY CAPITALISM. FIDEL SHOULD LET THE PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS(SMALL BUSINESS'). AMERICA NEEDS STRONG REGULATIONS FOR LARGE COMPANIES TO PREVENT FURTHER ECONOMIC DISASTERS.

[Quantrill13]

Yes, Kev. Cuba is a wonderful, clean, loving country. Maybe you should go live there for awhile.

[lucifersshadow]

Americans are really idiots when it comes to accepting the sovereignty of another nation. . . and that is exactly why we are in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the same reason we went to Vietnam. The dumbocrats and the repukelickans both complain about high taxes, but both parties explicitly or implicitly went along with these wars, and now complain about paying the price for it. America has been in more wars than any other country, and that tells you that the problem is HERE not over there. While the USA makes enemies all over the world, China gains allies and cares not what political system they have. Who has the better long-term strategy? Einstein was a socialist, by the way. It is not the socialsts or the communists who are constantly killing civilians, invading other countries without good reasons, and then complaining about high taxes!

[lloydbest1]

I don't think Castro ever meant Cuba should return to the kind of anarchic free-for-all that went on under the Batista system. I believe he merely meant that a relaxation in the strict Marxist ortodoxy hitherto practised there is in order.

Just as I believe that unrestrained Free-Market excesses should be toned down, better regulation of businesses and a better system of safety nets to catch those who fall through the cracks here, I think Castro is pointing out that some freedom of economic mobility would do Cuba no harm and could improve the lot of many who are now struggling. I don't believe he has ever abandoned the idea that a socalistic economic strategy is invalid; simply saying that inclusion of some free-market modifications would make it better.

[rafaeldrc]

I'm not inclined to believe Jeffrey Goldberg. Much can be lost in interpretation/translation. I've had to do a lot of translation for a University in Spain, and at times, I went running to another English/Spanish expert to get their interpretation to see if mine was correct, or close. Spoken interpretation is reflexive, namely, you have to convert from one language to another at an instant. If you miss the correct interpretation, you have to keep rolling so as not to miss the rest of the conversation.

Castro is no dummy and an expert at the use of Spanish and would not mince nor flub his words. Just listen to one of his speeches in Spanish.

For me to believe Jeffrey Goldberg, I would have to hear the tape in Spanish.

Read: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Castro/dice/fue/malinterpretado/capitalismo/sirve/elpepuint/20100910elpepuint_14/Tes

Hasta el proximo.

[tsigili]

Welcome to the so-called "journalism" of America.

[Brokennews]

Castro Reportedly told American Journalist that Communist Economy "Doesn't Work"; Says His Meaning Was "Exactly the Opposite"




Don't worry about that kind of thing Fidel!!
When my Grandma's Alzheimer's started getting really bad, she did the same thing too! Always saying opposite of what she meant!
We all just humored her when she said silly things! I'm sure the people around you are doing the same thing!

[Quantrill13]

Don't you just love the way these Marxist government's lie to you? Kind of like Imam Obama.