[Marxism] Anita Snow: "A 'happy day' for Castro"

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's only in the last few years that the Cuban media has
begun paying attention to Fidel's age. It's spread over
the front pages of both Cuban dailies today in a highly
affectionate tribute to the Commander-in-Chief. With the
giant victory won at the US appellate court in Atlanta,
Fidel indeed has more to celebrate than in the previous
Years. With this extremely authoritative and profoundly
conservative US government instituation having thrown
out the frame-up convictions given the Cuban Five, it's
now possible to begin at last to educate the people of
the US about the real environment created by the Cuban
exile rightist militants in their bastion, Miami. This
hasn't been well understood, even on the left, and even
among people who are friendly toward Cuba, but now it's
possible to turn a new page. US jurisprudence is filled
with examples of innocent people framed up for political
reasons. Geronimo Pratt, Mumia, and so many other cases.
But to have a trial of Cuban revolutionaries thrown out
by a body of the conservative US legal system on the
basis of the inabiility of the defendants to get a fair
trial is an immense accomplishment.

It's said that a lie can go halfway around the world
while the truth is getting its boots on. The Cuban Five
illustrates that perfectly. But in the end, the truth
WILL triumph. We're one step closer to that now.

Feliz cumpleanos, Fidel!


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://www.walterlippmann.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/

=======================================================
FRONT PAGE OF JUVENTUD REBELDE:
http://www.jrebelde.cubaweb.cu/2005/julio-septiembre/agos-13/portadab.html

FRONT PAGE OF THE DAILY GRANMA:
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2005/08/13/plana.jpg
=======================================================

Last update: August 12, 2005 at 7:55 PM
A 'happy day' for Castro
Anita Snow,  Associated Press
August 13, 2005 CUBA0813
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5557976.html

HAVANA -- Cuban President Fidel Castro, the world's longest
ruling head of state, turns 79 today, celebrating a key
political and legal victory over his enemies in exile after
a U.S. appeals court ordered a new trial in the
high-profile case of five alleged Cuban spies.

Castro, who has led the communist-run island for 47 years,
shows no indication of being ready to retire.

The U.S. court ruling gave him a boost as Cubans face tough
domestic problems, including a housing crisis and an
antiquated electrical grid that has caused numerous
problems all summer.

Since the men's conviction four years ago as unregistered
agents of a foreign government, Cuba has campaigned on
their behalf, calling them heroes in the island's most
important ideological battle since Castro's successful 2000
fight for the return of castaway Elian Gonzalez.

While admitting being Cuban agents, the defendants said
they were only spying on "terrorist" Cuban exile groups and
not the U.S. government.

Castro has not publicly commented on Tuesday's ruling by
the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

But other communist officials called it a "happy day" when
the court, citing prejudicial publicity, threw out the
convictions and ordered that the five men be retried
outside Miami, where Cuban emigres abound and anti-Castro
sentiment runs high.

No official birthday celebrations were announced, but
Castro, who assumed power after the Jan. 1, 1959, overthrow
of dictator Fulgencio Batista, typically marks the day in a
low-key manner.

Born in eastern Cuba's sugar country, Fidel Castro Ruz's
official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he
was born a year later. His designated successor has always
been his brother, Defense Secretary Raul Castro, who is
five years his junior.

Castro maintains a busy schedule despite occasional rumors
about his health.



________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism