President brushes off Cuban criticism

The White House press secretary today brushed off Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's contention that President Obama misunderstood the comments of his brother and president, Raul Castro, about the communist nation's relations with the U.S.

Obama had stated that Raul Castro said he was "willing to have his government discuss with ours not just issues of lifting the embargo, but issues of human rights, political prisoners, that's a sign of progress."

"And so we're going to explore and see if we can make some further steps," the president continued. "There are some things that the Cuban government could do. They could release political prisoners. They could reduce charges on remittances to match up with the policies that we have put in place to allow Cuban American families to send remittances. It turns out that Cuba charges an awful lot, they take a lot off the top. That would be an example of cooperation where both governments are working to help Cuban families and raise standards of living in Cuba."

Whoa! said Fidel Castro in a subsequent newspaper column.

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"Without any doubt, the president misinterpreted Raúl’s statement," he wrote.

"On affirming that Cuba is prepared to discuss any issue with the president of the United States, the president of Cuba stated that he has no fear of approaching any issue whatsoever. That is a demonstration of courage and confidence in the principles of the Revolution. It should not come as a surprise to anybody that he spoke of pardoning those sentenced in March 2003 and sending them all to the United States, if that country would be prepared to release the five Cuban anti-terrorist heroes. The former individuals, as was the case with the Bay of Pigs mercenaries, are in the service of a foreign power that is threatening and blockading our homeland.

"On the other hand, the statement that Cuba charges an 'awful lot' and 'takes a lot off the top' [of remittances] is an attempt on the part of his advisors to cause a rift and divide Cubans," Castro wrote. "Every country charges certain sums for hard currency transfers. If they are dollars there is all the more reason to do so, because it is the currency of the state that is blockading us. Not all Cubans have families abroad who send remittances. Redistributing a relatively small part to the benefit of those most in need of food, medicine and other goods is absolutely fair."

Les Kinsolving, WND's correspondent at the White House, raised the issue at today's news briefing:

"The AP reported from Havana, 'Fidel Castro says President Obama misinterpreted his brother Raul's remarks regarding the United States and bristled at the suggestion that Cuba should free political prisoners or cut taxes on dollars people send to the island.' What is the president's reaction to this statement by Fidel, who is reportedly retired?"

"Look, the president took action many days ago – I forget how many now – to pursue our national interests by lifting the embargo for Cuban Americans to travel back to Cuba and for Cuban Americans to send money to the island," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

"Look, I guess it's a bit amusing that in order to keep what they have, the leadership in Cuba seems a little less sure of themselves based on some of the actions that the president took," said Gibbs.

"We've talked about this many times. I think the – I don't see what that leadership has to fear with the travel of people – of Cuban Americans back to Cuba or the sending of money or the transmission of words and signals over our airwaves. And I think if the Cuban government is serious about reform, then they know the actions and the steps they should take."

Fidel Castro's diatribe finished, a little oddly, according to ABC, with, "We are living in new times. Changes are inevitable. Leaders pass, the peoples remain. We will not have to wait for thousands of years, just eight will be enough, until – in a more heavily armored car, a more modern helicopter and a more sophisticated aircraft – another president of the United States, doubtless less intelligent, promising and admired in the world than Barack Obama, occupies that inglorious office."

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Gibbs declined to respond to a second question, which concerned to a dispute in Connecticut over a city's decision to invalidate a firefighter promotion test because white candidates got the highest scores.

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