I'm not sure what's more amazing - that at age 77 the old, ranting communist fool Fidel Castro still has the energy to harangue the poor Cuban people for 3 solid hours in a nationally televised address, or that
this bloody dictator actually expects intelligent people to believe that it's America's fault that he has to deny Cubans their freedom and torture, imprison, and kill dissidents (and by killing I'm not referring to the recent execution of the hijackers, but rather the countless dissidents who have been arrested and executed under the ruthless Castro reign of terror.)

We should give serious consideration to liberating Cuba next.

Castro places blame on US

Says conspiracy led to crackdown

By Anita Snow, Associated Press, 4/26/2003, Boston Globe

"HAVANA - President Fidel Castro claimed yesterday that a conspiracy between the US government and Cuban exiles in Miami was to blame for his dissident crackdown and the executions of three hijackers.

In a nationally televised address that lasted more than three hours, the communist leader also accused America's top diplomat in Cuba, James Cason, of fomenting unrest among opponents of his government.

''The arrest of various dozens of mercenaries who betrayed their homeland for privileges and money from the United States, and the death penalty for common criminals ... were the result of conspiracy stirred up by the government of [the United States] and the terrorist mafia,'' he said. Castro frequently uses such terms to refer to Cuban exiles living in the Miami area who actively oppose his rule.

Cuba has come under heavy world criticism in recent weeks for holding rapid tribunals and giving the dissidents sentences ranging from six to 28 years on charges of collaborating with American diplomats to subvert the socialist system - charges that the opponents and US officials deny.

The American government and various Cuban exiles living in the United States have been especially critical of the Cuban actions, expressing outrage and dismissing suggestions of causing dissent in Cuba.

The communist island has received even harsher criticism for the firing-squad executions on April 11 of three men convicted of terrorism charges in the attempted hijacking of a ferry filled with passengers. No one was injured in the hijack attempt.

Castro also used the speech - his most lengthy public statements yet on the crackdown - to accuse Cason, the US Interests Section chief, of provoking his government by hosting the dissidents who were later convicted.

'' [Cason] came here with instructions to carry out all kinds of provocations against Cuba,'' Castro said.

The US Interests Section was closed for the weekend, and Cason and other American diplomats were not immediately available for comment.

Cason has previously denied provoking Cuban authorities, saying he is simply trying to promote democracy and human rights on the island.

Castro's detailed accounting included the numerous meals, cocktail parties, and other gatherings - complete with dates and names of people in attendance - that he said Cason hosted for dissidents, whom the Cuban president characterized as ''counterrevolutionaries'' and ''mercenaries.''"