Castro blasts Obama, says US wants Cuba as slave

[masuki bance]

by Carlos Batista – Fri May 1, 12:28 pm ET

HAVANA (AFP) – Fidel Castro blasted US President Barack Obama Friday in provocative May Day remarks, saying the United States only wanted Cuba to return "to the fold, like slaves."

...

"Today, they stand ready to forgive us -- as if we would resign ourselves to returning to the fold like slaves, who after tasting freedom, go back to the yoke and whip," Fidel Castro said in a defiant address published in Cuban state media to mark May Day.



Obama has said the United States wants to see progress on human rights and political freedom from Cuba. That runs counter to Cuba's main interest in maintaining and projecting the Americas' only communist regime into the future.

Castro, who for decades referred to the United States as the enemy, warned: "The (US) adversary must never delude itself into thinking that Cuba will surrender."

....

Cuba on Thursday accused the US government of being an "international criminal" after Washington lumped Cuba with Iran, Syria and Sudan on a blacklist as state sponsors of terrorism in a US State Department report.

"The author (of the report) is an international criminal," said Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

"We do not recognize any political or moral authorities from the government of the United States to create any list, on any subject, nor to certify good or bad behaviors," Cuba's top diplomat said at a press conference.

"In matters of terrorism, the government of the United States has had a long record of state-sponsored acts of terrorism, not only against Cuba."

...

Havana has demanded that the United States leave the Guantanamo base for decades, but Washington insists it has a right to stay.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/wl_afp/maydaycubauspoliticscastro

Hopefully this is just standard issue bluster.



`edit to add byline/date

[skooooo]

1. Oh whatever, Fidel. nt

[ksoze]

20. We just want the cigars!!

[Sequoia]

2. I'd like to know WHY we occupy Guantanamo at all.

I mean hands off Cuba but WE ARE STILL THERE.

[jberryhill]

21. Because we have a valid lease

We send them a check every year.

[lamp_shade]

3. Who said anything about "forgiving"?? Jeez

[Thrill]

4. "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist"

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

[jillan]

13. Exactly!

Good on you for posting this.

[tonycinla]

18. Guess What!

The alpha male leaders of the 2nd and 3rd world countries have no intention of un clenching their fists so you better make a fist out of yours.Nice talk and friendly smiles (and two dollars) will get you a cup of coffee at the international Dunkin Donuts .

[msongs]

5. the cuban dictator speaks...he's like Specter, an old man who can't give up power nt

[Mika]

7. Umm... FYI, Fidel retired.

Raul is Cuba's Head of State now.

[Auggie]

6. I believe there are a lot of U.S. Capitalists that want that. n/t

[moondust]

16. Yes but are their teeth straight enough?

"I'm sorry, Pedro, but the hotel has an image to maintain for our very wealthy guests from the mainland."

[Colobo]

8. Hopefully he'll rest in peace soon.

[scarletwoman]

9. I can't blame him in the least. He knows very well how all those right wing Miami Cuban exiles have

been salivating for decades to return to the good old days of a thoroughly corrupt oligarchy enriching themselves and oppressing the peasantry.

Cuba should definitely NEVER surrender its sovereignty.

sw

[WinkyDink]

14. ITA. Even if people don't know history, surely they've seen "Godfather II"? Cuba WAS our "slave".

[AllentownJake]

23. Yes it was

and our biggest whore house as well. We enslaved the men in the fields and the women in sexual slavery.

[JVS]

10. You tell em, Fidel!

[SamCooke]

11. Once Fidel dies, then relations between the 2 nations will be better

Raul Castro seems a lil more open minded

[heronkid]

12. Nope. The Cubans will continue to smuggle dope to our shores

Dope smuggling is too lucrative to give up.
Sugar cane & tobacco does not provide enough income, neither does tourism.

[WinkyDink]

15. And what might the U.S. be doing in Afghanistan?

With all the poppy fields?

[rpannier]

17. ok yeah thanks for sharing fidel

You know. I'm gonna buy you a nice fruit basket

[Sultana]

19. Bitch Please!

:D

[AllentownJake]

22. I have no love for Castro

However, not President Obama but Corporate America does want to make Cuba a slave again. Hell they want to make everyone a slave.

[RoadRage]

24. Is he still alive?

I figured he bit it abut 10 months ago, and they were just pulling a "My weekend at Bernies" or something every couple of months!

[Uzybone]

25. I fail to see the blasts of Obama

but I guess intentionally misleading headlines meant to incite outrage are the norm with the media.

Jon Stewart had a great segment during the primaries about how the media loves to use the words blasts, slams, angry and attacks when referring to relatively innocuous statements.