Posted on 07/05/2005 9:19:42 PM PDT by HAL9000
Havana, Jul 5 (EFE).- The outgoing head of the U.S. Interests Section here used his last public speech to defend his confrontational approach to Cuba's Communist regime and to proclaim that change is inevitable on the island because Fidel Castro is close to collapse or death."Castro's jerry-rigged system cannot last long. Everyone knows that it does not work and is held together by the force of one domineering personality. And that personality is literally on his last legs," James C. Cason said Monday night at the mission's U.S. Independence Day celebration.
"Change is inevitable. I'm confident that the Cuban people will not be satisfied with a partial economic opening, but will demand that Cuba undergo a thorough democratic transition," the diplomat said.
Addressing hundreds of guests, including a number of Cuban dissidents and diplomats from other nations, Cason said his dealings with the regime convinced him "Castro's Cuba is one big Potemkin village." He defended Washington's embargo on trade with the island and his own aggressive efforts to publicize the plight of Cuba's more than 300 political prisoners.
"Nothing will come - indeed, in almost 47 years nothing has come - from being polite to a dictator," Cason said, referring to the reign of the now-79-year-old Castro.
Citing the regime's habit of characterizing dissidents as "mercenaries" paid by Washington, the chief of mission stressed that "the U.S. Interests Section has not given and does not give money to members of Cuba's civil society." Cason wrapped up his remarks by urging Cubans to remain on the island in expectation of better days.
"Don't abandon your patria (homeland), is my advice to Cubans. Stay and be ready for when the personality (Castro) withers away. Stay and be ready to work for democratic change. When that time comes, the United States and others will be at your side to help you build a democratic, prosperous Cuba, a Cuba where all Cubans can realize their dreams." Following Cason's speech, section personnel unveiled a 9-meter (30-foot) copy of the Statue of Liberty made of colored lights and crowned with the number 75, an allusion to the dissidents the Castro government jailed in the spring of 2003, 14 of whom have since been released on medical grounds.
Cason's nearly three-year stint in Havana has been marked by controversy, heightened tension between the United States and Cuba and President George W. Bush's hardening of policies toward the island. The Cuban regime has harshly criticized Cason and ridiculed him in comic strips published in the official media.
During his tour of duty in Havana, Cason met publicly with dissidents, organized democracy workshops - which undercover state security agents attended - added signs bearing the number 75 to the interests section's Christmas decorations, and installed a replica of an isolation cell on the gardens of his residence.
Last night, he distributed among some of his guests cigars made from tobacco grown in his garden and labeled "Cabo Cason" (Corporal Cason), as cartoons on Cuban TV and newspapers have dubbed him, possibly dismissing his rank, possibly a reference to "interim corporal," an old-fashioned Cuban way of calling someone simple-minded.
¡Para la gran justicia!
lol
When Castro dies and people are free to leave, we will see the biggest boat-lift so far. The track record in Eastern Europe when communism fell was an immediate mass exodus with a trickle of old exiles returning.
MUEVE 'ZIG'.
"Everyone knows that it does not work...". Except Jimmy Carter and the Hollywood Elite.
Sayanara Sucka!!!
I woulda said Hasta La Vista, baby, but Schwarzenegger's already worn that one out!!!
But Cuba is the model of the western hemisphere. They have national health care and lots of people working and cigars. We need to be more like Cuba.
HAL does this guy know something
I got Fidal on Dead pool rack meee ROFL
God speed.
Of course Fidal Castro dead pool
Hey been last couple years been bad year for a***hole dicator Tailban fell
Saddam got pull out of that spiderhole
Arafat is dead
And don't forget Yassin and Rantisi!
Die! Die! Die!
Obligatory pic.
OH Yeah forgot about them Never mind yeah those guys don't forget somebody try kill Kim Jong 11 with that last year train explosion
Also, they have a higher literacy rate than the oppressive & racist USA. (sarcasm) I'd like to ask Bra-Bra Walters if the Cubans are able to use their high literacy rate to read anything other than communist propaganda. I hope Castro has a nice reunion in hell with Che, Mao, & Stalin.
When future Cubans look back on the Castro years, they're going to feel deeply ashamed that so many allowed themselves to be held captive by one egotistical man and his minions.
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