I almost forgot that today is the 26 of July -- an important Communist holiday in Cuba which commemorates Castro's 1953 assault on the Moncada barracks in Santiago.
They celebrated by (among other things) blasting Bush:
(AP) Fidel Castro led tens of thousands of Communist Party faithful in celebrating Cuba's Revolution Day on Wednesday, telling a large crowd that his revolution's social achievements exceed anything a U.S.-backed replacement could accomplish.
Returning to his roots in eastern Cuba, Castro also praised Granma province, named for the yacht that carried him back to Cuba in 1956 to launch the battles that led him to triumph three years later.
"Granma (province) doesn't need any Yankee transition plan to vaccinate and teach our people to read and write," Castro said, drawing loud applause from the crowd in this provincial capital. "They should tell Mr. Bush ... to come to Granma to see a development plan."
Here's how the geezer looked today:
What shouldn't be overlooked in any thorough report of this year's Rebellion Day festivities was a very special event held in Alta Gracia, Argentina just over the weekend -- in which Castro and his protege Hugo Chavez visited the boyhood home of Che Guevara:
ALTA GRACIA, Argentina— Fidel and Hugo went on a pilgrimage yesterday to Che’s house.
In an emotional journey, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan ally Hugo Chavez toured the Argentine boyhood home of Castro’s fallen comrade and legendary guerrilla, Ernesto “Che” Guevara. It was a first visit for both.
“Fidel! Fidel!” and “Hugo! Hugo!” the crowd of 2,000 chanted as the 79-year-old Castro, wearing his trademark green military fatigues, got out of his limousine. Chavez was right by Castro’s side as they entered the house amid a crush of security agents.
While Castro made no public comment, he smiled broadly and shook hands with supporters in the crowd. Chavez told reporters the two were delighted by their tour: “Fidel invited me to come and get to know the house. For me, it’s a real honor being here.”
“We feel it! We feel it! Guevara is right with us!” the crowd shouted yesterday. .
Castro first visited Argentina in 1959 after the Cuban revolution and returned to attend a regional summit Friday that inducted Venezuela into the Mercosur trade bloc.
Guevara spent most of his childhood in central Argentina, where his family hoped a mild climate would ease his severe asthma. Guevara’s family later moved to Buenos Aires, where he enrolled in medical school before launching the famous motorcycle trip around South America that inspired him to give up medicine for leftist revolution.
That's the motorcycle trip that launched Robert Redford's Hollywood film, of course... (PR is so important!)
Here's the pair, posing with the little bronze Che:
And here's the entourage posing in front of the famous Korda "T-shirt" photograph that's so in with those who care -- who really care -- about "social justice":
And last but not least, a group hug!
Awwww.....
Where it came to "eliminationist rhetoric," Guevara did more than just talk the talk.
Also; this collection of geezers is enough to make me wish the CIA were as competent as many people think it is. If you, you know, catch my meaning.
Jon Thompson · July 27, 2006 02:46 AM
I'm starting to enjoy the Fox bot. My interpretation of it is that it is there to challenge my powers of interpretation. (Have to say, though, the bot needs to learn not to hit the "Caps Lock" key . . .)
As to the CIA, there's always been plenty of factionalism, to say nothing of penetration. (The common euphemism for visible public spillover -- "leaks" -- while technically accurate, is about as helpful in focusing on the various problems as the term "homeless.")
I'm sick of those Che T-shirts too, but I can think of one good use for them: when a woman wears one at a bar, it functions like one of those warning signs one sees at Disneyland: "You must be at least this good-looking to take this ride!"
Also, I wouldn't mind a Che T-shirt with one of his mamorable quotes surrounding his face: “It was all a lot of fun, what with the bombs, speeches, and other distractions to break the monotony I was living in.”
I read somewhere that there are actually Mussolini T-shirts for sale in Italy, but I don't think they'll be nearly as much of a hit as the "Che" shirts.
Chavez on speaking terms with Fidel Castro. So what? Where else is he going to turn when the US administration is trying to overthrow a legally-elected, popular president? It's not always about "us" (or more correctly, the profits of oil companies HQ'd in Texas)
RayButler · July 27, 2006 02:58 PM
Yes, because, of course, "we" must have been behind the attempt to overthrow Chavez. He's far too great a leader and too beloved by all his people to have anyone try and remove him without our intervention.
Just as "we" placed Pinochet in power, I guess.
Jon Thompson · July 28, 2006 03:08 AM
Well,in Bolivia last month,somebody blew up his statue at a museum,I thought that was very funny.
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