Raul Castro goes public, says he has mobilized Cuba to repel U.S.

Chicago Tribune ^ | 8/19/06 | Gary Marx

[freedom44]

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chicagotribune.com >> Nation/World Raul Castro goes public, says he has mobilized Cuba to repel U.S.

By Gary Marx Tribune foreign correspondent Published August 19, 2006

HAVANA -- In his first public declaration as acting president, Raul Castro said he has mobilized tens of thousands reservists and militia to defend Cuba against a potential U.S. threat.

"We could not rule out the risk of somebody going crazy, or even crazier, within the U.S. government," he said in an interview Friday in the Communist Party newspaper Granma.

Under the headline "No enemy can defeat us," the 75-year-old Cuban defense minister lambasted what was described as President Bush's efforts to derail a peaceful succession of power in Cuba and boasted that "absolute tranquility is reigning in the country."

But Raul Castro did not outline any changes in policy and he conducted the interview from his Defense Ministry office -- not the president's office -- indicating at least symbolically that his brother Fidel Castro still holds power.

Frank Mora, a Cuba expert at the National War College in Washington, noted that Raul Castro spent two-thirds of the interview criticizing U.S. policy, indicating that anti-American rhetoric would remain a hallmark of any post-Fidel government.

"The U.S. card will continue to be part of an effort to create unity," Mora said. "This does not take away or address the real frustrations and pent-up pressure or demands for an improved standard of living among Cubans."

[martin_fierro]

Answers the question, "What if they had an Invasion, and nobody came?"

[alice_in_bubbaland]

LOL! US will invade Cuba? I think we have our hands full with the Islamofascists and North Korea to even give Cuba a second thought.....for the time being.

[gidget7]

Hello...... Cuba?? You flatter yourselves. You aren't even on our radar!

[Sonny M]

This is cover for him "disappering" people and killing and eliminating any and all opposition.

By claiming an impending invasion, it allows him to have a distraction while engaging in bloodletting.

[Paradox]

indicating that anti-American rhetoric would remain a hallmark of any post-Fidel government.

There can be no other way for any Cuban Communist regime. Without the fear of the dreaded Yanqui, their control over the populace will crumble.

[ChiMark]

HE's secretly hoping we will invade. We generally rebuild a country afterwards so why not take a freebie.

[PhillyRepublican]

I think Raul mobilized some loyal troops to quell any potential uprising that may spring up following Fidel's demise. The "US invasion threat" is just his cover story.

[rovenstinez]

Maybe he was just speaking what he 'wished' would happen, then he would have good reason with his brother to go into retirement.

[kingu]

"The U.S. card will continue to be part of an effort to create unity," Mora said. "This does not take away or address the real frustrations and pent-up pressure or demands for an improved standard of living among Cubans."

Glad to see that the communists and the Democrats in this country are both on the same page.

[RobbyS]

he is scared s....

[cake_crumb]

Answers the question, "What if they had an Invasion, and nobody came?"

Exactly what I say whenever I read or hear Cuban wackjobs screaming that "the Americans are coming!!"

No wonder everybody in the Cuban government is nuts: waiting for an imminent invasion to start for the past four decades must play hell with their nerves.

[Recon Dad]

The next invasion of Cuba will be the tourist invasion.

[gogogodzilla]

Maybe we should play Cuba off Venezuala?

Tell them that we'll invade only ONE country... so which one of them wants it?

Then squeeze them for concessions for the honor.

Finally, then, forget to show up.

[fat city]

"The Cuban Defense Ministry"- there's a piece of cognitive dissonance for you.

[in hoc signo vinces]

He's running a play out of the "petty tyranny handbook":

Keep citizenry occupied by the farcical threat of impending attack from a "necessary enemy"...this diversionary tactic helps keep the populace from focusing on the domestic tyrannical regime, which is the real problem, and on a foreign imaginary enemy and an invasion that will never come.

Chavez is running the same game.

[SuziQ]

"What if they had an Invasion, and nobody came?"

*snort* Raul is having delusions of granduer.

[FormerACLUmember]

"Raul Castro goes public, says he has mobilized Cuba to repel U.S."

Correct Translation:

"Raul Castro goes public, says he has mobilized Cuba to repel all pro-democracy forces inside Cuba"

[alecqss]

And I have just mobilized myself to repel space aliens invasion. What is outrageous is that such important news is suppressed by the MSM.

[gidget7]

I never thought of that!! LOL