Small signal, big meaning? Fidel Castro appears in military uniform
By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press
HAVANA -- Fidel Castro dusted off his full military uniform for the
first time since stepping down as president four years ago, a symbolic
act in a communist country where little signals often carry enormous
significance.
The revolutionary leader wore the olive-green cap and uniform -- minus
the star and laurels he held as commander in chief -- at a speech early
Friday to students at the University of Havana. The clothing choice was
sure to revive speculation the 84-year-old is seeking a larger role in
Cuban politics after turning power over to his younger brother Raúl.
Castro repeated his warning that the world stands on the brink of a
nuclear conflagration due to tension pitting the United States and
Israel against Iran. He has returned to the message almost daily since
emerging from seclusion in July.
But Friday's 35-minute speech to thousands of students assembled on and
in front of the majestic stairway leading to the historic university was
by far Castro's most significant. Previously, Castro has mostly spoken
in closed sessions to small groups, and his appearances were usually not
announced ahead of time.
Castro -- who began his political career as a student activist at the
same university 60 years ago -- said it has fallen to his tiny island to
warn the world of the looming nuclear threat, and that it was important
that it did not fail.
``Faced with the skeptics, our duty is to keep up the fight,'' Castro
said. ``I am convinced that a good number of people are becoming
conscious of the reality.''
Castro has said he fears that fresh U.N. sanctions will give the U.S.
and Israel the right to intercept Iranian ships, which will lead to an
armed confrontation that could go nuclear. At one point, he went so far
as to warn that the conflict would break out before the later rounds of
the World Cup soccer tournament in July, only to apologize for jumping
the gun when hostilities did not material
He thanked the university students for their support, saying he has
always appreciated their backing.
``In this, like in many battles of the past, we can win,'' he said of
his efforts to warn the world of the nuclear danger.
Castro stepped down -- first temporarily, then permanently -- in July
2006 after a serious illness that nearly killed him. He stayed almost
entirely out of the public eye for four years while his 79-year-old
brother, a close partner in the 1959 revolution, took the reins of power.
Since bursting back on the scene in July, the elder Castro has
scrupulously avoided mention of domestic issues such as Cuba's economic
woes or its fight against corruption -- presumably to avoid stepping on
Raúl's toes. He did the same on Friday, limiting himself to reminiscing
about the past and warning about a nuclear future.
But Fidel's speeches have grown bigger, and he has crept closer and
closer to at least looking like the revolutionary leader he once was.
While he is no longer president, Fidel remains head of Cuba's Communist
Party.
At Friday's speech, he was introduced as Cuba's ``historic leader'' and
``commander in chief.''
Since taking over, Raúl Castro has instituted some limited economic
reforms and tried to rid the government of corruption -- but his
unassuming style and reticence for public speaking are a marked contrast
to Fidel, who in his heyday could hold the stage for hours.
After wearing a loose-fitting track suit in several early appearances,
Fidel caused a stir by donning an olive-green shirt at a July 24
ceremony outside Havana.
When he addressed Cuba's parliament two weeks later, he was wearing the
top half of his military fatigues. On Friday, he looked completely the
part of a revolutionary, decked out head-to-toe in his military uniform,
with a simple military cap to shield him from the sun.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/03/1806611/small-signal-big-meaning-fidel.html
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