Small signal, big meaning? Castro in military duds

[Lightning Count]

Source: AP

HAVANA – Fidel Castro dusted off his full military uniform for the first time since stepping down as president four years ago, a symbolic act in a communist country where little signals often carry enormous significance.

The revolutionary leader wore the olive-green cap and uniform — minus the star and laurels he held as commander in chief — at a speech early Friday to students at the University of Havana. The clothing choice was sure to revive speculation the 84-year-old is seeking a larger role in Cuban politics after turning power over to his younger brother Raul.

Castro repeated his warning that the world stands on the brink of a nuclear conflagration due to tension pitting the United States and Israel against Iran. He has returned to the message almost daily since emerging from seclusion in July.

But Friday's 35-minute speech to thousands of students assembled on and in front of the majestic stairway leading to the historic university was by far Castro's most significant. Previously, Castro has mostly spoken in closed sessions to small groups, and his appearances were usually not announced ahead of time. (more)

Read more: U.S. Consumer Confidence Down, Says Guy Trying To Sell Van

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I know someone else who always wore military uniforms.

[davidinalameda]

1. all of his other clothes were dirty

and this was all he had to wear

:shrug:

[truthisfreedom]

2. In other news, Cuba announced a shortage of laundry detergent...

[Canuckistanian]

32. Those are probably just his pajamas

With foam rubber medals, so he doesn't hurt himself at night.

[rabs]

3. Photos of "the uniform" that the AP is all atwitter about

Sunrise in La Habana before Castro's speech at the university.








Not a bad crowd for a daybreak speech.

[Lightning Count]

4. New shirt

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. That's great. nt

[proteus_lives]

16. Ha.

I've always loved the fact that Che became a capitalist gold-mine. That stalinist thug must roll in his grave. Ha.

[boppers]

30. Guerrillero Heroico has quite the interesting history on it's own...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrillero_Heroico

[AlphaCentauri]

7. He looks in very good shape n/t

[Mudoria]

8. Nothing like giving a speech in front of a poster of a guy

That enjoyed offing people personally.

[proteus_lives]

17. Whom Castro let die or had killed.

[AlphaCentauri]

22. Felix Rodriguez took credit for it

:shrug:

[ShamelessHussy]

25. he was a Doctor

as well as a warrior

[Alamuti Lotus]

19. the old man is looking good!

Thank you for posting these.

[Dogtown]

6. More likely just an old man remembering his glory-days.

The lack of rank is most notable.

Can you picture any of the old time Moscow leaders appearing without full regalia?

If he was bucking for promotion, he'd be sporting his tinsel.

[Taverner]

9. Sounds like he might be officially retiring

I dunno - that's my take

[rabs]

10. Recently Castro has been warning of a global nuclear holocaust

His speech today was more of the same, warning of the consequences of a possible Israeli/U.S. nuclear strike on Iran.

-------------------------
El líder la Revolución Cubana, Fidel Castro, inició este viernes su discurso ante estudiantes de la Universidad de La Habana, en el cual aborda aspectos referentes a los peligros a los que se enfrenta la especie humana, ante la posibilidad de una guerra nuclear.

--(spoke of dangers faced by the human species before the possibility of a nuclear war)

-----------------
“Es sabido y no me queda otra alternativa que recordar el hecho de que ya no estamos viviendo la época de las caballerías”, dijo el líder cubano al referirse al poder destructivo de las modernas armas de guerra.

--(we are no longer living in the age of the cavalry -- referring to the destructive power of nuclear weapons)

-------------------

“La paz con la paz se paga”, afirmó. Y añadió: “Si quieres la paz, prepárate para cambiar tu conciencia”.

-- peace is paid with peace. If you want peace, prepare to change your conscience.

---------------------

En su discurso, Fidel recordó que Estados Unidos fue el primer país en usar armas nucleares para agredir a otra nación, cuando bombardeó las ciudades japonesas de Hiroshima y Nagasaki en 1945, a finales de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

-- United States was the first country to use nuclear weapons against another nation

---------------------------

Advirtió sobre las dimensiones que tendría el empleo de armas nucleares en el presente, al señalar que este tipo de armanento en la actualidad equivale en 440 mil veces al poder destructivo de las bombas atómicas que Estados Unidos lanzó sobre Hiroshima y Nagasaki.

-- today's nuclear weapons are 440,000 times more destructive that the two bombs dropped on Japan.

---------------------

El tiempo del que dispone la Humanidad es limitado, alertó. Recordó que no estamos en tiempos de predominio de armas de limitado poder destructivo, como ocurría en el pasado.

-- time is limited.

--------------------

La posibilidad real de que los seres humanos perezcan debe conducir a más de 7 000 millones de terrícolas a tratar de evitar semejante catástrofe.

-- the real possibility that humankind may perish should lead the world's seven billion to try to avoid such a catastrophe.

-------------------

Llamó a seguir librando la batalla, y comentó que le consta que se ha ido ganando conciencia sobre este asunto en el planeta

-- he called for the struggle to continue

[Taverner]

11. Oh well, leave 'em cryin' I guess....

[rabs]

12. Don't get it. Leave who crying? n/t

[Taverner]

13. It was a dumb joke - Castro leaving us all crying because of imminent destruction

[Judi Lynn]

15. Truly appreciate the photos you posted, & thank you for the translation.

Those faces are very open, very interesting.

Recommending your posts, of course.

[superconnected]

14. Before he was sick he always dressed like that, so makes sense he would for his speech.

[Judi Lynn]

18. He certainly did! He started wearing them as a fighter in the Sierra Maestra,

and continued to wear them the rest of his life, except for the period in which he was hospitalized. People recognize him in his uniform.

How many countries' presidents lived outdoors, and dodged bullets for their countries? He's appreciated in his country for his efforts.

[mithnanthy]

20. You, also are always appreciated by me....

...for bringing your perspective and knowledge of Cuba and facts of TRUTH concerning Hugo Chavez. Thank you Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

26. Mithnanthy, once you learn how we've been deliberately misinformed, you never forget it! Thanks. n/t

[bemildred]

21. More media masturbation over nothing. nt

[unkachuck]

23. I still have....

....my Lenin Cap....and he's still kicking ass at eighty four....

....I admire the old guy, he's a true believer....

[Historic NY]

24. Just tell the media its surplus US uniforms....that ought to tighten their panties.

[Old Troop]

27. Maybe his civvies were at the cleaners.

[Judi Lynn]

28. He does look nice when he gets cleaned up! Here he was in Canada,

attending the funeral of his close friend, Pierre Trudeau. He was seated near Jimmy Carter, who visited him several years ago in Cuba, and gave a nationwide live address on Cuban radio and tv.

http://scrapetv.com.nyud.net:8090/News/News%20Pages/Everyone%20Else/images/fidel-castro-and-pierre-trudeau.jpg

http://www.corbisimages.com.nyud.net:8090/images/67/830E64E3-D636-49FB-B0A7-A910023BD5E2/U1858891-11.jpg

http://www.enterstageright.com.nyud.net:8090/archive/articles/101600castrocarter.jpg http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/themes/mimbo2.2/images/fidel-and-jimmy-full.jpg

http://www.aljazeerah.info.nyud.net:8090/News%20photo%20negatives/News%20picture%20negatives/May02%20picture%20negatives/Carter-Castro.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_TahXQ2WiF0s/SaLMwKyPJYI/AAAAAAAAMJ8/8W5Abv7tay8/s400/Fidel+Castro+10.JPG

[Billy Burnett]

29. Here's a real picture of Castro in his military duds.

Doing some of the heavy lifting for poor Cubans against the repression of US imperialism (in the form of the bloodsoaked Batista regime) ...





... not a sociopath coke snortin' frat boy getting a legacy grant from Skull & Bones.

[UTUSN]

31. Yeah, those after-lunch teens that the "army" picks up for him are impressed by a man in uniform

[Billy Burnett]

33. Kids, these days.

You know how kids are these days. Very respectful and enamored by the old former leaders.

:sarcasm:

So, if the army had to pick up kids after lunch, just why would they be impressed?


Your post is so absurd I can't tell if you're joking, or teaparty silly. :shrug: