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Castro Calls 'Giant' March Against U.S. Interference - "Aimed at destroying his socialist revolution." *** Castro called a "giant march" for early Wednesday in Havana. Other marches will be held throughout Cuba in support of constitutional reforms proposed by pro-government groups which appear to be a response to dissident proposals backed by the United States seeking political freedoms.

"I propose the following: let's call a march on Wednesday to support the document presented here," Castro told a meeting of leaders of pro-government worker, student and farmer organizations.

The meeting followed rallies Castro has led for three Saturdays in a row to reject calls by President Bush that Cuba allow freedom of speech and open elections.

In policy speeches on Cuba on May 20, Bush called Cuba a "tyranny" and vowed to maintain a four-decade-old trade embargo against Cuba until its one-party state undertook reforms. Bush also announced increased aid for independent groups in Cuba, including grants for the children of political prisoners.

Speaking to 780 leaders of social groups, who chanted "Fidel, Fidel" and revolutionary slogans, Castro said Bush's speeches to anti-Castro exiles in Washington and Miami were "insulting and threatening." ***

Fidel Castro - Cuba

ya know, i've traded securities and commodities for almost as long as the bearded one has been in power, and if there's one lesson to be learned, it's that markets are unrelenting and quite clearly and quickly tell you when you are wrong, sometimes within minutes, usually within days, almost always within weeks, and certainly within months

you don't have to ride a loser for 40+ years to get the message

bozo should have taken the hint somewhere around 1962 instead of costing 11 million people 4 decades of prosperity

and if he thinks it's bad now, he ain't seen nuthin' yet, and they go into the storm with no reserves...

Cuba's increasing international isolation and chronic credit difficulties have worsened the economic outlook.

I don't understand this -- what "international isolation"?? I thought the reason for Cuba's economic woes was the US embargo. All the other countries of the world love this guy, don't they?

You can send this piece to Paul Gigot at the WSJ -- apparently he needs a refresher course on embargo efficacy.

The Castro government has taken difficult steps long overdue, such as the closing of 71 unproductive sugar mills, but has done nothing to spur output, he said.

Governments cannot design and build high quality consumer products like automobiles and televisions and they cannot design and build efficient sugar factories because governments do not have the motivation or the wealth to do these things.

Governments can expropriate the wealth but that very act kills the desired outcome. The best that government can do is wave a lot of money at the private sector in order to buy excellent fighter aircraft and such. It is the private sector that produces good stuff.