Cuban dictator Fidel Castro made a sudden re-emergence Monday night, by giving a one-hour television interview on Cuban TV. It was the first time Castro has been seen at length by the world in almost a year.
It was not a live broadcast, so the public has still not seen the 83-year-old without careful choreography since 2006.
Castro said the U.S. is building up to nuclear war.
“It’s evident,” he said, citing among other things a Russian report on US defense spending in recent years.
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Castro accused the United States of building up its military and setting the stage for “an imminent attack” or confrontation with Iran and North Korea that he says will launch a global nuclear war to further US domination. He said the US is “playing with fire.”
The Communist leader wore his trademark tracksuit instead of his trademark fatigues of yesteryear. He appeared older, of course, and struggled to find the right words at times.
Castro sounded raspy. He was at times tired and other times animated. He was both sharp and slow to speak.
Castro said nothing new. But Cubans both in Cuba and in the exile community have not seen the dictator talk much in recent years as he has allowed his younger brother Raul Castro to solidify his position as the new president.
This interview comes on the very day the Cuban government is releasing dozens of dissidents from prison. But Castro made no mention of it.
Florida congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says she believes that was quite intentional and was Castro's way of saying he's still in charge.
