HAVANA – Ailing Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has issued a dire warning of a nuclear “holocaust” as he mustered enough strength to address the country’s parliament for the first time since his health crisis four years ago.
The soon-to-be 84 father of the Cuban revolution looked much fitter and more energetic than in previous appearances as he rose to the podium of the National Assembly Saturday to expand on his favorite theme of recent days — alleged US preparations for a nuclear war in the Middle East.
In a series of Internet articles and public comments, Castro has been talking about his fear that the United States and Israel are about to launch a nuclear attack on Iran.
With assembly members listening intently, Castro said it would be up to US President Barack Obama to issue an order to carry out such a strike, but that, if he realized the consequences of this action, “he would not give it”.
“Fate would have it that at this precise moment, the president of the United States would be an offspring of an African man and a white woman, of Muslims and Christians,” Castro said. “He won’t give the order if he becomes aware” of the devastation it would cause.
“We are making a contribution to that persuasive effort,” said the Cuban communist leader.
He stressed that should nuclear war be unleashed, “the existing world order would not survive and would immediately collapse.”
According to Castro, Obama’s advantage was that he was not comparable to former US president Richard Nixon, who was forced to resign in 1974 amid a political scandal.
“Nixon was a cynical man,” commented the Cuban leader. “That country has had a lot of cynical presidents, as well as some ignorant ones.”
Castro, who led Cuba for 48 years, was sidelined in 2006 after a gastrointestinal illness and subsequent operations forced him to leave the presidency now held by his brother Raul Castro, 79.
At one point, Fidel Castro was so frail that he could not stand or walk in public.
His address on Saturday, at times alongside his wife, Dalia Soto del Valle, seemed aimed at underscoring that he was physically back and still in the political fight.
Top leaders including the Cuban president and lawmakers cheered and cried out “Viva Fidel!” as the father of the revolution entered the chamber in an event broadcast live on state television and radio.
But Castro, who turns 84 on August 13, spoke for just over 10 minutes a fleeting appearance for a politician once famous for oratory going on for hours.
Castro was last seen at a ceremony marking a key event in the Cuban revolution on July 26, his seventh public appearance in three weeks.
Though no longer president, Fidel Castro does still hold the powerful position of first secretary of the Communist Party and remains a member of Cuba’s legislature.
I love your cigars!
There are 30 countries with 370 nuclear power plants. A Power plant does not mean weapons plant. Iran has stated they will ship the spent rods out of the country. The US media seems to leave out the word “Power Plant”. Power Plant and Nuclear weapons plant or not the same thing. We can’t just bomb countries because they have a power plant. Mexico has 2 Nuclear power plants no one has accused them of making nuclear weapons. Finland has 4, we are not threating to bomb them. They think we are all drinking the water and dumb as toast. NOT.
Donna, Finland? really, Iran is lead by a leader who says he wants to wipe Isreal off the face of the earth, and funds hamas, pays soldies in Iraq and Afganistan to kill American soldiers. They are keeping the fisile material, they are capable ond attemtping to build a nuke, this is no longer up for debate, and they are building secret nuke plants. Why the hell would you want to wait and see if they are telling the truth, the results of that will be very costly to freedom. Nuke Iran now!
stop using nuclear bomb
i agree with this guy
who are you
why would we still have nuclear bombs if we dont even use them? It might be because we need to be feared but who knows