Former soldier worries about Cuban uprising

Posted on Tue, Aug. 01, 2006

Former soldier worries about Cuban uprising
By CAMY CLARK
cclark@MiamiHerald.com

Arturo Cobo, who fought in the Bay of Pigs invasion for Brigade 2506 and
spent two years in a Cuban prison, said he thinks that either Castro is
dead or that he relinquished power to test the reaction of Cuba and the
world.

''Dictators, they never want to give up their power,'' Cobo said Monday
night while while drinking Cuban coffee in Little Havana. ``My intuition
is he is completely dead and there is a change of power or this is him
playing games.''

Cobo added: ``Even if it is his game, we're going to celebrate anyway.
It's at least closer to the end of his power.''

Cobo, who also was in charge of helping Cubans who landed in Key West
after fleeing Cuba during the 1980 Mariel boat lift, said he has been
told by close friends in Cuba on Monday night that the military has
taken over the big cities of the island nation.

''So it must be really bad,'' said Cabo's wife, Aleida. ``I think he's
dead.''

Cobo is concerned that if Castro is dead, there could be an uprising.

''If there is war inside of Cuba with people demanding their freedom, I
will get in my boat and fight for my country like I was 20 years old,''
he said. ``Now I'm 65, but I'd do it again. Fight again.

Cobo added: ``After he's dead, anything is possible.''

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