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Fidel Castro Rebuts Rumsfeld on Cuba and Venezuela

Havana, Aug 27 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro has strongly rejected declarations by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who brazenly accuses Cuba and Venezuela of destabilizing Latin America.

Speaking on The Round Table program Friday, the leader of the Cuban Revolution noted that the winds of change blowing in the region are a direct result of the critical social and economic conditions. “People are becoming aware of their problems;misery, unemployment and the lack of medical care are the main causes of dissatisfaction,� he assured.

The Cuban President quoted several news articles dealing with Rumsfeld´s claim that Cuba and Venezuela are involved in the crisis in Bolivia and the Bush administration’s deep concern about the possible election of left wing candidate Evo Morales in December. There’s no need to blame us, it’s their own neoliberal and interventionist policies coming home to roost, said Fidel Castro.

Fidel then referred to Rumsfeld’s request for total immunity for the US Armed Forces

during military exercises in the region. “Who are they going to fight in Paraguay? Where is the threat? They are obviously searching to establish new military bases and create conditions to intercede in Bolivia or Brazil in case of revolutions,� he said.

President Fidel Castro noted that the White House sees force as its only card after the possible collapse of its Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) project and the steady progress of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) that stresses solidarity and regional cooperation.

With Venezuela and Cuba spearheading the ALBA and the efforts to unite Latin America and the Caribbean to work together in the social, economic and political spheres, the Cuban leader said Rumsfeld had nothing left but lies to attack the two countries.