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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Fidel wants Latin American troops out of Iraq |
| 2004-03-16 |
| Cuban President Fidel Castro says 1,000 Latin American troops are "cannon fodder" in Iraq and calls for them to withdraw along with the Spanish unit they are serving in. Castro, a fierce critic of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, applauded Spanish Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for his decision to withdraw Spain’s contingent of 1,300 troops by the June 30. In a message published on Tuesday by the ruling Communist Party daily Granma, Castro said "more than 1,000 young men from small and impoverished Latin American countries were sent to Iraq as cannon fodder under the command of the Spanish Legion." This from the same man who sent thousands of Cuban cannon fodder to Angola during the Cold War ... "The death of any of those youths is thus the responsibility of the Spanish state," he said. "The Latin American people have the right to expect the immediate return of those young men." Castro welcomed the Socialist victory in Spain and condemned the attacks that killed 201 people, lamenting that the Spanish people had paid the price of involvement in an unjustified war in Iraq. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #9 Its a brilliant move by Castro. Once again, he just hi-jacked another issue and inserted himself as the voice of the Latin American poor man. While his bit won't play on the streets of Indianapolis but it will resonate in Lima. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-3-16 8:26:23 PM |
| #8 Note to Jose: When Fidel is aligned with you, you are on the WRONG side. Just thought you might want to know that it’s not too late to come back. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-3-16 6:50:42 PM |
| #7 I smoked Cuban cigars while in Korea. Glorious after dinner with good Brit beer. Hurry up and die already Fidel. |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-3-16 5:38:35 PM |
| #6 eL Cuba still has it's share of cigar makers and more importantly the tobacco valleys... we need to get this damn spat over with. The Beard ain't gonna live forever. (iffin he tries I got several broken 32 oz. Louisville Sluggers shrarpened at the end) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-3-16 5:19:03 PM |
| #5 Is Fidel trying to be a hegemon? He gets cozy with Chavez in Venezuela (or vice versa) and now he calls for all the Latin American troops(*) to come home. I wish I new what it was Fidel had to offer to anyone in Latin America, except cigars.(**) (*) None of whom are Cuban (excepting Cuban-Americans, natch). (**) And I heard all the good cigar rollers left Cuba years ago. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-3-16 5:06:39 PM |
| #4 Ya know, the only time I've heard about Kerry meeting with foreign leaders was when he negotiated the "people's peace treaty" with North Vietnam. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-3-16 4:34:35 PM |
| #3 Don't keep these thoughts to yourself B. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-3-16 4:31:54 PM |
| #2 Wonder if Fidel is one of those "important foreign leaders" snicker. |
| Posted by: B 2004-3-16 4:24:07 PM |
| #1 Well, now, a clear alignment is emerging: Zapatero with John Kerry, and Fidel Castro with Zapatero. Wonder if Fidel is one of those "important foreign leaders" who told Kerry, "you've got to win this thing". Gawd, what a farce... |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2004-3-16 3:41:44 PM |