Castro laments American, Iraqi deaths in war

yahoo.com ^ | March 24, 2003 | AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

HAVANA - President Fidel Castro, who has repeatedly criticized any U.S. military involvement in Iraq, said he was saddened by the deaths in the opening days of the conflict.

"Every death is painful for us, both the young Iraqis and the American soldiers that die, whether it's 1, 10, or 100," Castro said.

The Cuban leader's comments late Saturday night were his first on the war since it began, and he expressed concern about any psychological impact of days of prolonged fighting.

"It's not a just a question of taking care of the oil wells. You have to be concerned about how this will affect the mental health of millions of people," he said.

He said he was particularly concerned about the effects of the bombings on Iraqi women and children.

Castro also insisted many people around the world were disturbed by the "colossal spectacle brought on by those extremely powerful bombs" being broadcast live on television.

Ahead of the war, Castro frequently spoke out against a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, warning it would unleash disastrous human and economic consequences.

On Saturday, he said he was concerned about the impact of the war on the world's poorer countries, saying it could send already high gas prices soaring.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

After 40 years Castro Regime knows how far to go and when, experts say of crackdown*** Despite worldwide condemnation of Cuba's recent crackdown on dissidents, Fidel Castro's government once again appears likely to escape any damaging consequences, according to a variety of policy analysts.

The manner in which the Cuban government has orchestrated the moves designed to silence human rights activists, the analysts say, displays the various techniques and tactics Castro has used over the years to remain in power and to avoid complete isolation within the international community.

These include well-calculated timing -- in this case, amid a major world crisis that distracted international attention; knowing where to draw the line, such as avoiding the arrest of Cuba's best-known dissident, Oswaldo Payá; and taking actions that can later be reversed, to portray the government as lenient.

''Castro is a master of international theater,'' said Steve Johnson, a policy analyst for Latin America at the Heritage Foundation in Washington. ``This is all part of a calculated effort to keep people cowed.''

''But it's a kind of reversible measure that can be taken,'' he said. ``It strikes fear and will always work to their advantage to lighten up and let people out later because then it shows some progress.''***

Locals watch as police drive away with Cuban dissident and independent journalist Raul Rivero, car at right, after his arrest in his neighborhood of Central Havana on Thursday, March 20, 2003. Fidel Castro's government rounded up more of its critics on Thursday, part of a mushrooming crackdown spurred by allegations of dissidents conspiring with U.S. diplomats.(AP Photo/Cristobal Herrera)

[error99]

"...Every death is painful for us, both the young Iraqis and the American soldiers that die, whether it's 1, 10, or 100. Castro said..."
- -
He is SUCH an old softie.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I'm sure the LIBERALS are lapping it up.

[Cindy]

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[Jean S]

Castro was "saddened"? He's getting his talking points from Tom Daschle.

[Mustang]

These "laments" of Castro could very well those of Dan Blather or that CNN bedwetter, Arron Brown.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump for the LINKS!

Fidel Castro - Cuba

[Mustang]

These "laments" of Castro could very well be those of Dan Blather or that CNN bedwetter, Arron Brown.

[Eva]

This is part of an article on Stalinism from FrontPage Magazine:

I reported from a meeting of the British Stalin Society last year, where one elderly "comrade" tried to rally the meeting by declaring, "We still have Cuba and [North] Korea. We are not beaten yet!" He was right. Not only are there Stalinists in power today; there are apologists for them here in Britain.

For evidence of this, we only have to look at the most popular Stalinist nation on earth: Cuba. Every time I write about this, I am inundated with letters from enraged (and no doubt perfectly nice) hippies explaining that Cuban communism is all about being nice to children and cuddling small puppies who resemble Lassie.

Yet Fidel Castro recently, for the billionth time, explained his beliefs, and they are not so benevolent. Stalin "showed great wisdom," explains the billionaire leader of a bitingly poor nation. He continues: "Stalin established unity in the Soviet Union [by suppressing ruthlessly all the surrounding nations, and, for example, deporting the entire population of Chechnya to Siberia, as Fidel doesn't add]. He consolidated what Lenin had begun: party unity [by butchering all his opponents]. He gave the international revolutionary movement a new impetus. The USSR's industrialisation [through forced labour] was one of Stalin's wisest actions."

Fidel runs his country on precisely the same lines as his hero. Amnesty International's latest reports detail the plight of the "prisoners of conscience" (otherwise known as democrats) and notes than even now, the number of people harassed "directly by the state," including "political dissidents, independent journalists and other activists," is increasing. It is worth remembering the name of just one victim of Fidel, plucked from among many: Bernardo Arevalo Padron has been festering in prison since 1997 because he called Fidel Castro "a liar" for failing (as ever) to stick to agreements on relaxing his authoritarian rule.

Yet still Tony Benn brags about the standards of the Cuban health-care system which, preposterously, he says are "better than America's." (If you are ever taken ill on a flight across the Atlantic, Tony, I suggest you test this by insisting on being flown to Havana rather than New York.) Still John Pilger describes the Cuban revolution as "a crucial model for challenging power." (For a man obsessed with hidden agendas, he very rarely discloses this agenda of his own.)

[DoughtyOne]

Propaganda rolls off this guy's tongue like an I love you between lovers. He butters the soft of mind up by lamenting the US deaths, then lays on the "women and children" lines as well as Bubba ever did. Like peas in a pod these two.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We need to open the windows and air out the U. S. Senate.

[GeorgeBerryman]

"I'm saddened... deeply saddened..."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you for the post Eva.

Fidel runs his country on precisely the same lines as his hero.

Now Hugo Chavez is copying his hero Fidel Castro by turning Venezuela into the next communist hell-hole.

Authorities investigate terror link - Venezuelan al-Qaida operative

[this_ol_patriot]

Castro also insisted many people around the world were disturbed by the "colossal spectacle brought on by those extremely powerful bombs" being broadcast live on television.

I'll bet old Fidel is running a bit low on Depends right now. Maybe he should have a colossaltomy too.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bubba and Castro..... Yes.

[Liberty Valance]

Castro is so "over"

Liberty!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes the LIBERAL media love their "Fidel." He hates America, so they naturally flock to him.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Trying to get his foot out of hell. The sister is keeping a strong grip on the snake.

Cuban President Fidel Castro is welcomed by the head of the order of the Most Holy Savior of St Birgid in Havana, March 8, 2003. Castro attended the inauguration ceremony of the new convent in Havana, Cuba. REUTERS/POOL

[DoughtyOne]

I am deeply saddened.  I used to have the energy of a Saddam Hussein, an Iddi Amine, but time marches on.  Today I have to settle for being the latin lover of such noteworthies as Dan Rather, Jimmy Carter and a few other posers with mush filled heads.

I have done so much for my people.  I love them.  I have provided a 1910s lifestyle, complete with the most advanced cars the 1930s could offer.  I also love every child of our state.  When even one of them escapse to the Estadios Unido, I demand they be returned to me.  Even Bill Clinton and Janet Reno agreed with me.

Not only this, I have also been a world statesman interjecting insurgencies in Central and South America as well as the African Continent.

If only I had my youth and Soviet Billions to waste once again.  Ah yes, those were the days.

[Eva]

Venezuela's Castro