Reflections of Fidel

It isn’t too difficult. After his inauguration, Barack Obama stated that the return of the territory occupied by the Guantánamo Naval Base to its legitimate owner had to be carefully considered, in the first place, in terms of whether it would affect the defense capacity of the United States in the most minimal way.

He immediately added that, in relation to the return to Cuba of the occupied territory, he would have to consider under which concessions the Cuban side would accede to that solution, which is equivalent to demanding a change in its political system, a price against which Cuba has fought for half a century.

Maintaining a military base in Cuba against the will of our people is in violation of the most elemental principles of international law. It is a faculty of the president of the United States to abide by that standard without any conditions. Not to respect it constitutes an act of arrogance and an abuse of his immense power against a little country.

If one wishes to better understand the abusive nature of the power of the empire, statements published on its official Internet website by the U.S. government on January 22, after Barack Obama’s inauguration, should be taken into account. Biden and Obama are resolutely decided on supporting the relations between the United States and Israel and believe that their incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, the principal U.S. ally in the region.

The United States will never distance itself from Israel, and its president and vice president “believe strongly in Israel’s right to protect its citizens,” assures the statement of principles which, on those points, takes up the policy followed by Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush.

It is the mode of sharing in the genocide of Palestinians into which our friend Obama has fallen. He is offering similar sweeteners to Russia, China, Europe, Latin America and the rest of the world, after the United States converted Israel into an important nuclear power that annually absorbs a significant part of the exports of the empire’s prosperous military industry, with which it is threatening, with extreme violence, the population of all countries of Muslim faith.

There are many similar examples; one does not need to be a fortune-teller. For more information, read the statements of the new Pentagon chief, an expert in military affairs.

Fidel Castro Ruz
January 29, 2009
6:17 p.m.

Last Tuesday, the 20th of January of 2009, Barack Obama assumed the leadership of the empire as the 11th president of the United States since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in January of 1959.

No one can doubt the sincerity of his words when he affirms that he will convert his country into a model of freedom, respect for human rights in the world and the independence of other nations. This, of course, offends hardly anyone except for the misanthropes in the corners of the planet. He already conveniently said that the jail and the tortures at the illegal base at Guantanamo cease immediately, which begins to sow doubts among those who worship terror as an unrenounceable instrument of their country’s foreign policy.

The intelligent and noble face of the first black president of the United States since its founding two and one-third centuries ago as an independent republic has transformed himself under the inspiration of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King into a living symbol of the American dream.

However, despite all of the tests passed, Obama has not passed the biggest one of all: What will he do soon, when the immense power that he has taken in his hands is absolutely useless to overcome the unsolvable, antagonistic contradictions of the system?

I have reduced the Reflections as I had planned this year, so as not to interfere or get in the way of the Party or government comrades in the constant decisions they must make, facing difficult objectives caused by the global economic crisis. I am well, but I insist that none of them should feel bound by my occasional Reflections, my state of health or my death.

I read over the speeches and materials I have put together over more than half a century.

I have had the rare privilege to observe events over such a long time. I receive information and meditate calmly about those events. I expect I won’t enjoy that privilege in four years, when Obama’s first presidential term has ended.

Fidel Castro Ruz
Jan. 22, 2009
6:30 p.m.

The conversation lasted 40 minutes, the exchange of ideas was as intense and interesting as I had expected. She is a person of profound convictions. There were no disagreements.

When she spoke at the University of Havana’s Aula Magna, she swiftly replied to the students’ questions, demonstrating talent and an ability to respond.

The encounter at the Latin American School of Medicine was emotive; the songs of the campesino students of Guaraní origin, with typical music and instruments from that ethnic group, gave the event a special tone. They presented her with a white coat and she put it on over her orange trouser suit.

She left ELAM to come and converse with me.

Discussing the United States, I mentioned the historic importance for Cuba of 12.00 p.m. the previous day, the fact that 10 U.S. presidents had been sworn in over the past 50 years and that, despite that country’s immense power, they have been unable to destroy the Cuban Revolution.

I said that, on a personal level, I did not harbor the slightest doubt over the honesty with which Obama, the eleventh president since January 1, 1959, expressed his ideas but, despite his noble intentions, there are still many individuals to whom he will have to respond. By way of example, I wondered: ‘how can such a wasteful and materialistic system par excellence protect the environment?’

We discussed many other aspects of the national and international policies of Cuba and Argentina.

Argentina’s ability to produce food and industrial products using advanced technology are decisive factors in the country’s development. She mentioned the capacity of computer engineering in relation to trading on the international market, in countries such as India, of much interest to her, and which is very strong in terms of creating programs.

Cristina likes to dedicate herself and all her time to work. Nevertheless, she protects her personal rights when traveling to another country by insisting on a number of hours for physical exercise and adaptation, something which everyone respects.

Fidel Castro Ruz
January 21, 2009
6.30 p.m.