Fidel appears with Cuban ambassadors, warns of war
By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press Writer
HAVANA -- Fidel Castro took questions from Cuban ambassadors at the
Foreign Ministry on Friday and warned them of the threat of global
nuclear war in his most overtly political public act since re-emerging
from four years of near total seclusion.
It was the revolutionary leader's fifth appearance in less than a week,
and the first in which he met with senior government officials. The
sudden media blitz has many observers wondering if the 83-year-old
former president plans to reinsert himself into Cuba's political scene
at a particularly sensitive time. The government - now run by his
brother Raul - is in the midst of freeing dozens of political prisoners,
faces a severe economic malaise and has been cracking down on high-level
corruption.
Castro has so far stayed clear of discussing national issues that would
be in his brother's domain, focusing instead on his apocalyptic theory
that war is imminent pitting the United States and Israel against Iran.
"When something like this (nuclear war) begins, all the responses are
preprogramed," Castro warned. "It is only a question of seconds."
With Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez at his side, the former president
took questions for more than 90 minutes from Cuba's ambassador corps,
who were assembled in Havana for a regularly scheduled meeting. A taped
broadcast of the session went out on national television Friday evening,
and an article about the encounter was posted on the government-run
Cubadebate website.
"Thank you, Comandante," the foreign minister said at the end of the
question period. "We are very excited about your presence here this
morning."
In Castro's other appearances this week, he has met workers at a science
think tank, been interviewed on a current affairs program, visited an
economics center and taken in a dolphin show at the national aquarium.
Even at the dolphin show, Castro brought up his fear that America would
unleash a nuclear war, something he has been warning about in opinion
pieces for weeks.
Castro went so far as to predict in one of his essays that the World Cup
recently completed in South Africa would be interrupted by a looming
conflict. He later apologized for jumping the gun, saying he received
outdated information from a low level Foreign Ministry functionary, but
said he still thinks a nuclear conflagration is on the horizon.
The former Cuban leader stepped down - first temporarily, then
permanently - following emergency intestinal surgery in July 2006. He
has occasionally met with foreign dignitaries since then, but the photos
published of him on Saturday at the science think tank were the first of
him in a public setting since his illness.
Now, suddenly, he's everywhere, leaving Cubans to wonder what it all
might mean.
The two Castros have ruled Cuba for more than half a century since
overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Fidel's health has for
years been the subject of frequent rumors - particularly among exiles in
Florida, and his television appearance will undoubtedly be scrutinized
for signs of his aging.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/15/1732947/fidel-castro-in-public-again-at.html
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