September 29, 2005
Riddle me this....
As George posted yesterday, Spanish President Zapatero has asked his socialist Venezuelan and Cuban counterparts to have their armies march alongside the Spanish army in this year's October 12th parade in Madrid. Perhaps you may recall that Zapatero did in fact disinvite US troops for last year's parade.
Now, here is a opportunity for fidel castro to bathe in the world's limelight. An opportunity to show the world that his regime is indeed legitimate. To have his lauded troops rub elbows in solidarity with European troops. To garner his highly coveted kudos from the MSM. In short, it's a major propaganda tool that fidel has been handed by the Spanish on a silver platter.
Yet castro has declined the offer citing that "Cuba has no troops for this kind of event."
I find castro's response, as with anything stemming from him and his regime, highly suspect. fidel castro is perhaps the world's greatest manipulator of the media and the public in general, and his passing up such an ample opportunity to show the triumph of his revolution to the world is completely out of character. Somethings is amiss.
Could it be that castro is worried about something else?
Could it be that castro has not the means to send troops to Spain?
Could it be that castro may be worried about his troop's reception by some Spaniards?
Could it be that he fears defections from his lauded military?
Could it be that these elite troops are all busy masquerading as doctors throughout the world?
Could it be that castro is worried about negative publicity from human rights groups in a country where he is not in control?
Could it be that castro would be criticized for human rights violations by other members of the EU?
What, oh what could it be? What prey tell, could the answer be?
Posted by Val Prieto at September 29, 2005 01:04 PM
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Comments
As in all communist countries, there are troops, and then there are troops. While the bulk of the army consists of conscripts, there is always a much smaller core of true believers, who keep the bossman safe from the rest of the military.
If castro were to take troops to Spain, he would have to take a large contingent of the true believers, which wouldn't leave many back home to mind the main army...
Posted by: Scott at September 29, 2005 01:18 PM
100 dollars on defections although the other reasons ring true as well.
Posted by: Eleggua at September 29, 2005 01:41 PM
Maybe he's afraid some Spaniards, taking a cue from the late, great, Lojendio will publicly humilliate him - something his megalomaniacal ego could not stand.
Posted by: Alberto Quiroga at September 29, 2005 01:48 PM
I wonder if Zapatero got a call from Washington, warning him that if he took castro's troops and snubbed the Americans, he could look forward to getting his butt booted right out of NATO and could content himself with castro as his ally. As a face-saving gesture, Zapatero called up castro, asked him to bow out so he wouldn't have to publicly disinvite him, and everyone's face would be saved. I wonder.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at September 29, 2005 02:22 PM
Defections and the related negative publicity is probably the main reason. castro is smart enough to recognize he can't let Cubans travel without sending enough other regime supporters along to keep an eye on them. Lately there are less and less regime supporters he can trust and he needs them in Cuba to keep terrorizing the growingly discontented Cubans.
Fuck castro, Fuck zapatero!!!
Posted by: Jose Aguirre at September 29, 2005 03:43 PM
