Congresswoman Denies Urging Killing of Castro

Congresswoman Denies Urging Killing of Castro
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 11, 2006

MIAMI, Dec. 10 (AP) — A congresswoman says a video showing her calling
for Fidel Castro's assassination is fake, a charge denied Sunday by the
film's director.

The congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican of Florida, appears
in the 28-second clip made available on the Internet by the makers of a
new British documentary, "638 Ways to Kill Castro."

In it, she says: "I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate
Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people."

But Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, a Havana-born lawmaker recently selected to become
the top Republican on the House International Relations Committee, says
the filmmakers spliced clips together to make the sound bite.

"It's twisted in a way that gives the viewer a totally wrong
impression," she told The Miami Herald. "I've said the community has
moved on, that those strategies are not being used today, but apparently
the filmmakers think we're still in a '60s mentality."

Still, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen said it was possible she had, at some point,
mentioned Mr. Castro's potential assassination.

"If someone were to do it, I wouldn't be crying," she said.

The film's director, Dollan Cannell, stood by the authenticity of the video.

"I can assure you categorically and completely that there has been no
distortion of what she said," Mr. Cannell told The Associated Press on
Sunday.

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen said that she had seen the documentary and that the
final cut did not include that video clip. However, the documentary's
Web site has a link to the clip.

The congresswoman said she was not shy about wanting Mr. Castro dead.

"No one advocates assassination," she said. "What we are advocating for
is free elections, freedom for political prisoners, free expression of
ideas and respect for human rights. That's how you get change in Cuba.
Not assassination."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/us/11miami.html