Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Castro, on Cuba's Revolution Day, slams Bush's past drinking

What they think.

China speaks of the religious fanatical, bigoted mindset of the neo-conservatives shared by Bush.
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While in the same light Castro feels Bush uses religion as a defense mechanism, substituting thought.

"He depends on religion as a defense mechanism, substituting thought," said Castro, paraphrasing from the book by the Washington, D.C.-based psychoanalyst and professor of psychiatry during the island's Revolution Day celebration in the central city of Santa Clara. "In some ways, he doesn't even have to think."

-Am



Castro, on Cuba's Revolution Day, slams Bush's past drinking

VANESSA ARRINGTON

Associated Press

Posted on Mon, Jul. 26, 2004



SANTA CLARA, Cuba - Fidel Castro's ongoing battle with U.S. President George W. Bush turned personal Monday night as the Cuban president brought up his American nemesis' past drinking habits.

Summarizing arguments made in Justin A. Frank's book, "Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President," the Cuban president said Bush apparently had replaced his drinking with religious fundamentalism.

"He depends on religion as a defense mechanism, substituting thought," said Castro, paraphrasing from the book by the Washington, D.C.-based psychoanalyst and professor of psychiatry during the island's Revolution Day celebration in the central city of Santa Clara. "In some ways, he doesn't even have to think."

In an autobiography written when he was Texas governor, Bush wrote about swearing off alcohol in 1986, when he was 40.

"I am a person who enjoys life, and for years, I enjoyed having a few drinks," Bush wrote in the book. "But gradually, drinking began to compete with my energy. I'd be a step slower getting up. My daily runs seemed harder after a few too many drinks the night before."

Bush said a spiritual awakening prompted his decision to quit.

Castro began Monday's 1 1/2-hour speech by disputing Bush's recent charges about sex tourism on the island.

Castro said the claims were false, and show that what the White House considers to be the truth about Cuba is "that which the president makes up in his head, whether it corresponds to reality or not."

"There are many in the world who know very little about the Cuban revolution, and could fall prey to the lies diffused by the United States," Castro said. But he said those who know Cuba have witnessed the benefits for children, such as universal education and health care.

During a speech in Tampa, Fla., earlier this month, Bush accused Castro of exploiting Cuba's children by encouraging a sex-tourism industry designed to attract U.S. dollars to the impoverished nation.

"The regime in Havana, already one of the worst violators of human rights in the world, is adding to its crimes. Castro welcomes sex tourism," Bush said at the July 16 conference on "human trafficking" - forced labor, sex and military service.

Bush says Castro has turned Cuba into a major destination for sex tourism, which is "a vital source of hard currency to keep his corrupt government afloat."

Although prostitution does exist on the island, it and has been far less visible since Castro launched a massive crackdown on street crime in early 1999.

Earlier Monday, Communist Party faithful gathered for the speech in this provincial capital, where red, white and blue Cuban flags hung from the sides of buildings in observance of the island's Revolution Day. The celebration marks the 51st anniversary of the failed July 26, 1953, attack on a military barracks that launched the Cuban revolution.

"With the heroism of always," declared a banner hanging over a street in this city about about 125 miles east of Havana.

The top leaders of Cuba's ruling Communist Party were among about 1,000 people attending the annual event in Santa Clara, home to a major monument housing the remains of revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

About 30,000 people originally had been scheduled to attend the event outside, but it was moved inside due to threat of rain. The event was also broadcast live on Cuba's state-run television and radio.

Castro's annual Revolution Day speech is considered among his most important. Communist leaders, who consider July 26 Cuba's true independence day, do not recognize the May 20 holiday celebrated by anti-Castro Cuban exiles to mark the island's break from Spain in 1898.

Castro, who turns 78 next month, has been in power for 45 years, making him the world's longest ruling head of government.


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