Thank you for the LINK. CNN's Castro profile LINK above gives a hint about reporting coming out of their Havana bureau...aka propaganda machine.
A Purge With a Purpose - "Is it so bad to be a dictator?"***
Propaganda," Fidel Castro instructed a comrade in a letter written in 1954, "is the very soul of our struggle." What, then, was Mr. Castro, champion spinmeister, thinking last week when he tossed some 75 Cuban writers and dissidents into prison for up to 28 years, after a grim procession of quickie show trials worthy of Stalin? Or on Friday, when he summarily executed three men who had hijacked a passenger ferry on April 2? Certainly, it would seem, his timing could hardly have been worse: Cuba has been lobbying to keep its place on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, and that commission has been preparing its annual list of violator countries - Cuba is certain to make the grade, once again.
What, then, was Mr. Castro, champion spinmeister, thinking last week when he tossed some 75 Cuban writers and dissidents into prison for up to 28 years, after a grim procession of quickie show trials worthy of Stalin? Or on Friday, when he summarily executed three men who had hijacked a passenger ferry on April 2? Certainly, it would seem, his timing could hardly have been worse:Actually his timing was precise and designed to make a propaganda point, that despite the US attack on Iraq, he is not afraid of the United States and will do as he pleases to his political enemies without hesitation.
With Title III and IV provisons of Helms-Burton continuing to go unenforced, and increasing clamoring by both parties to open up trade wih Cuba, Castro is betting that W won't make any overt gestures towards him lest W be called a warmonger.
He is therefore eliminating threats to his regime in the Communist fashion.
Come July, Bush will once again prevent Title III from beinhg implemented, and the lefties at the State Department will continue to balatantly ignore Title IV and give visas to officials of companies that traffic in confiscated property.
Unless W calls Castros bluff and smacks him upside his head.
After all, Cuba is in need of liberating as much as Iraq was.